Cyprus Olympic mission to take part in the Summer Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to 21, 2016 has been presented during a press conference held here today by the head of the Cypriot mission and Director General of the Cyprus Olympic Committee Olga Piperidou Chrysaphy.
Chrysaphy said, inter alia, that the main objective of this year`s Cyprus Olympic mission is to deservedly represent Cyprus to the 31st Olympic Games combining the competitive and dignified presence at the games with the excellent behavior of all members of the mission promoting our country in the best possible way.
The Cyprus Olympic Team comprises 17 athletes, eleven men and six women who will compete in eight different sports. Pavlos Kontides the Cypriot Olympic silver medalist and sailing champion will carry the Cypriot flag in the Opening ceremony of the Games.
The number of the athletes and the number of sports is higher than the average of the nine previous participations from 1980 onwards, Chrysaphy said.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will also visit Rio between 3-8 August to attend the Olympic Games opening ceremony and view the first efforts of the Cypriot athletes.
The President of the Cyprus Olympic Committee Dinos Michaelides said that this year`s Cyprus Olympic Team might be the best team Cyprus has ever sent to the Olympic Games, adding that even if we do not win a medal, though we have too many chances to win medals, the fact that 17 Cypriot athletes have qualified for the Olympic Games is considered a great success by itself.
We are expecting that Cyprus will have a decent presentation in the Olympic Games, he concluded.