Athletes achieved ‘best ever’ results for Cyprus at Olympics
The Cyprus Olympic team performed flawlessly on all levels, beyond just their competitive presence at the Paris Games, head of the mission and Vice President of the Cyprus Olympic Committee Yiotis Ioannides said on Sunday.
In terms of competition, the highlight was Pavlos Kontides winning the silver medal, he said, adding that “in most other sports, our athletes achieved the best results Cyprus has ever seen in those disciplines”.
Ioannides said the team consisted of 15 athletes from eight different federations. The number of sports was significant, he said, with fencing making its debut, rhythmic gymnastics returning after 12 years, and judo after 20 years. Cypriot kiteboarding also participated for the first time.
Highlighting the standout achievements other than Kontides’ second silver medal, he mentioned Marios Georgiou’s 6th place in gymnastics, Elena Koulitsenko’s 7th place in athletics (the highest female placement), and Sofia Asvesta’s 9th place in judo. Several athletes, including Dennis Tarantin in kiteboarding and Vera Tougulokova in rhythmic gymnastics, also reached significant milestones.
Ioannides said that the entire Cypriot team operated efficiently on all levels, attributing this to excellent preparation that began years before the Games.
He emphasised the importance of health, noting that all 15 athletes competed without any issues. The medical team, led by Dr George Panos, and various physiotherapists contributed to this success.
He also praised the administrative team for handling the many demanding processes required for the Olympic Games. The logistics, such as preparing the athletes’ rooms and setting up the necessary facilities at the Olympic Village, were executed smoothly, he added.
The immediate sharing of photographic material with the media and the team’s active presence on social media contributed to the mission’s communication success.
Paris, with its modern infrastructure and iconic venues, contributed to theGaems’ success, Ioannides said, alongside the packed stadiums, even during preliminary rounds. Stringent security measures implemented by France, with assistance from other countries, including Cyprus, ensured a smooth event.
The Olympic Committee is now looking forward to events including the Malta Invitational Games and the Games of the Small States of Europe in Andorra.