Cyprus Olympic athletes ‘have ability to win medals’

Track and field athletes Milan Trajkovic and Elena Koulichenko will serve as Cyprus’ flag bearers during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, it was announced on Tuesday.

Cyprus’ Olympic mission comprises 15 athletes – nine women and six men – competing in eight disciplines.

Presenting the mission, the Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC) said this would be the first time a Cypriot athlete would compete in fencing. Cyprus is also making a Judo comeback after two decades.

Education Athena Michaelidou said the hard work of Cypriot athletes had paid off and their sacrifices were being acknowledged and rewarded.

She said the state owed it to the athletes to support them with all available means.

Addressing the athletes, the minister said “on the road to Paris we are all Team Cyprus.”

COC vice-chairman Yiotis Ioannides said Cyprus was going to the games with athletes who “have the ability to win medals. Reaching the finals or high rankings is a realistic goal,” he said.

The team leaves on Thursday while the games run from July 26 to August 11.

Cyprus’ athletes are Pavlos Kontides, Dennis Tarantin, Marilena Makri and Natasa Lappa in sailing, Antri Christoforou in cycling, Marios Georgiou and Vera Tugolukova in gymnastics, Sofia Asvesta in Judo, Alex Tofalides in fencing, Konstantia Nikolaou in shooting, Kalia Antoniou and Nikolas Antoniou in swimming and Elena Koulichenko, Milan Trajkovic and Olivia Fotopoulou in track and field.