The government’s goal for EuroBasket 2025 is to inspire the younger generation to follow the example of athletes who compete not only for victory but also for the promotion of sports values, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, addressing an official gala dinner “On the Road to FIBA EUROBASKET 2025” on Tuesday evening at the Presidential Palace.
He said that hosting one of the groups of EuroBasket 2025 in our country for the first time is not only a vote of confidence in our ability to organise high-level events but also “a sign of our strong will to invest in sports”.
Fifteen matches of the EuroBasket 2025 will be played in Limassol, Cyprus, on five different days: 28, 30 and 31 August, 2 and 4 September 2025.
The President further said the reason the Council of Ministers decided to support this significant effort by investing €15 million for the “Spyros Kyprianou” Stadium in Limassol and €2.5 million for the Cyprus Basketball Federation “was solely for our children. We see it as an investment in the new generation of our country”.
He noted that this event highlights ideals and values that today face many challenges, such as cooperation, solidarity, and mutual understanding.
“Our government, through its sports policies that span all ministries, wishes to highlight the values of cooperation, mutual respect, and healthy competition, with one of our main goals—this is the message we want to convey through this event—which is to inspire the younger generation of our country to follow the example of athletes who compete not only for victory but also for the promotion of sports values.”
At the same time, he pointed out that “we are working on a specific plan to develop mechanisms for identifying and promoting new talents across all sports, while a key goal is to make mass social sports a conscious choice and to enhance sports education”.
In this context, he said that the budget for the national plan to support young athletes with prospects has increased, and similarly, through the Young Champions Programme for athletes up to 23 years old, increased sponsorship is provided.
Additionally, through the National Plan for Supporting Developmental Sports, “we are investing in strengthening the coaches of the teams in both team and Olympic sports”, he added.
“EuroBasket 2025 is a unique opportunity for our youth,” continued President Christodoulides, noting that he views this major event and its positive impacts on the country similarly to Greece’s European Championship in 1987.
“We see it as a unique opportunity for our young people to witness firsthand the standards of top athletes, to be inspired by their hard work, persistent efforts, and dedication, and to shape their own ambitions for the future. We approach it with the hope of cultivating a new generation of athletes and citizens in our country who truly believe in the power of sports to change lives and create communities based on the values of effort and collective spirit,” he noted.
Concluding, the President assured that the government will provide all necessary infrastructures and conditions not only for the success of this event but “for a unique EuroBasket. “Rest assured that our country will be an example of hospitality, excellence, and unity, leaving the best impressions on all participants and viewers at this unique celebration of sports,” he added.
