Sunny Cyprus offers optimal conditions for practicing many sports.
Physical activity is valued as an important factor in personal development and a sign of a healthy and dynamic lifestyle. Commitment to sport is an integral part of the national culture, and the performance of a team under the flag of the homeland evokes justifiable pride in the compatriots and effectively unites the society. First and foremost, this applies to top-level sports.
The Cypriot national team first took part in the 1980 Olympic tournament in Moscow. Since then, Cypriot athletes have regularly competed at the Summer and Winter Games. However, they managed to take a prize-winning place only once. Pavlos Kontides became the first Cypriot to win an Olympic silver medal in sailing at the 2012 Olympics in Great Britain. At the same time, the yachtsman was honored with the prestigious international award "Athlete of the Year". And according to the results of the last year Kontidis was among the best athletes of Cyprus.
Another outstanding Cypriot is track and field athlete Kyriakos Ioannou, who has won a number of awards in international competitions. He has also set several national records in his sport. However, the most popular and recognizable athlete of Cyprus is tennis player Marcos Baghdatis. During his career, he has won the ATP series, reached the finals of Grand Slam tournaments and became the eighth ranked singles player in the world.
The Cypriot Paralympic team took part in the 1988 Seoul Games for the first time. To date, the Cypriots have 8 medals, including 3 gold medals. In continuation of the topic we will tell you about the most popular team and individual sports on the island.
Soccer
The most popular sporting game on the planet has not left the sunny island behind. Both adults and children love to cheer for their favorite team or play football in Cyprus. Soccer was first arrived to the island with British colonizers in the early 20th century. This was the beginning of the formation of teams in all the towns and the holding of amateur tournaments between them. The intense growth of popularity of this sport led to the establishment of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) in 1934, which later became a member of FIFA and UEFA.
Today, 14 teams take part in the top division A of the Cypriot championship (another name is the CYTA league). The most titled of them is the capital's APOEL. Competitions are held from August to May, including six stadiums with a capacity of more than 10 thousand spectators. In recent years, soccer in Cyprus has steadily moved to a higher level, which made it possible to attract more qualified and prominent players to local clubs.
Basketball
A popular and universally recognized sport in all Mediterranean countries. The National Basketball Federation was founded in Cyprus in 1966 and eight years later became a full member of FIBA (International Basketball Federation), under whose patronage the major international competitions are held. Basketball received an additional impetus for promotion on the island after the triumph of the Greek national team at the Eurobasket tournament in 1987.
As a consequence, investment and the number of talented young players attracted to Cypriot clubs increased. In addition, modern indoor arenas have been built in all major cities on the island, such as Eleftheria in Nicosia or Kition in Larnaca. At the moment there are 11 teams participating in the men's top division competition and 6 teams in the women's championship. The most titled men's club in the league is AEL from Limassol. Basketball in Cyprus is developing quite intensively, and in 2025 the country will host the prestigious Eurobasket.
Rally
Rally is a type of motor sport involving navigational or speed tests that take place on different types of roads. The Cyprus Rally has been held annually since 1970 and has gained a wide audience of fans from the first round. One of the reasons for the appeal of such races is the profound transformation of affordable civilian passenger cars into high-speed, high-tech but recognizable vehicles. The competition is held under the auspices of the Automobile Association of Cyprus on winding dirt roads near the Troodos mountain range.
Since 2009 the races on the island have been part of the WRC world rally championship. It should be noted that over the past five years Cypriot athletes have achieved significant success and regularly get among the medalists. The Cypriot championships attract thousands of motorsport fans from all over the world, which has a positive impact on the income of the tourism industry.
Volleyball
This team sport appeared in Cyprus back in 1920 and soon became part of the All-Cyprus Games program. On a regular basis, matches began to be held in the format of a student championship, and in the early 70's the first official tournament among men's teams began. The official date of the birth of volleyball on the island is 1978 - the year of foundation of the Cyprus Volleyball Federation (CVF).
At the moment the federation includes 25 active clubs in men's and women's competitions, and the most titled team is Anorthosis Famagusta, which is based in Limassol. Special mention should be made of the equally massive and spectacular beach volleyball. It owes its popularity in Cyprus to the landscaped and stretched along the coast beaches, where players of different ages and skills can be found almost all year round. The most important competitions are held in Geroskipou and Protaras.
Tennis
Lawn tennis, invented in England, began to gain popularity and mass popularity in Cyprus in 2006. This is due to the successful performances of the aforementioned resident of the island Marcos Baghdatis at the world's leading tournaments. Locals and tourists alike are enthusiastically practicing this affordable sport professionally or to keep their bodies toned. There are courts of the highest standard in all parts of the country, including public beaches and private clubs. A number of tournaments are organized in Cyprus for players of various qualifications, including:
- Cyprus Open, an annual international professional tournament in Limassol;
- ITF Junior Cup. The competition is held annually in Nicosia and is open to young players from all over the world.
- The Aphrodite Hills Easter Tournament every year, for players of all ages and levels, is organized by the Aphrodite Hills Tennis Academy in Paphos.
Professional Cypriot tennis players also participate in the Davis Cup. Beach tennis since 2009 is under the auspices of the Cyprus Tennis Federation, which regularly organizes tournaments that attract large numbers of spectators.
Water sports
It is obvious that the inhabitants of the Mediterranean island cannot remain indifferent to active recreation and competitions on the water. Yachting is a mass hobby and sport that enjoys well-deserved popularity on the sunny island. The Cyprus Sailing Federation was founded in 1978, and two years later Cypriot yachtsmen took part in the Olympic Games in the USSR for the first time. The leading training centers are Larnaca and Limassol, whose maritime club was the originator and driving force behind the development of this spectacular rivalry. The sea currents in the coastal waters form ideal conditions for sailing, so yachts flying the flags of many countries can be seen in local ports. Regattas for different types of boats are held in Cyprus in any season. Last year the European Championship in Fareast 28R class was held here for the first time - the largest offshore race ever organized on the island.
The favorable winds will please wind and kitesurfing lovers. And while the first of them originated in the early 60's, the combination of sail and board first appeared on the beaches of Ayia Napa relatively recently. Training and equipment rental for these sports disciplines are available in almost all resorts of Cyprus.
The clear coastal waters attract underwater explorers from all continents. Accredited centers with experienced instructors and the necessary equipment are located on city beaches and the territories of large hotels. The coastline of Cyprus is rich in marine life, and there are some noteworthy objects frozen at the bottom. In the nature reserve, created in the waters of Limassol, you can see two forcibly submerged ships - "Lady Thetis" and "Constandis". Tragically sunk in the port of Larnaca, at a depth of 40 meters, the ferry "Zenobia" is among the top ten most popular underwater sites for divers.
Golf
In recent years, sunny Cyprus has gained a reputation as one of Europe's golfing centers. The Cyprus Golf Federation (CGF) was organized in 2000 to administer and promote the sport on the island. In addition, domestic and international tournaments are organized under its auspices with players of all ages and qualifications, aided by the weather conditions and the excellent quality of the courses. Modern, world-class golf resorts provide the ultimate in competition and recreation. Among them are Aphrodite Hills, Elea Estate, Minthis Hills and Secret Valley.
Another reason for the popularity of golf is the organization of courses to improve playing skills. The head of one such program is the legendary player of all times - Sir Nick Faldo. The efforts of such masters exclude any doubt that golf on the island will be systematically developed for the benefit of athletes and the prosperity of the tourism industry.
The expansion of Cyprus' sports infrastructure is being implemented through targeted government programs. On the other hand, private investors are directly involved in the opening of training centers and playgrounds. The popularity of physical activity among the islanders is noticeable even during a walk along the promenades of Limassol or Larnaca, where one can meet enthusiastic runners or cyclists. This phenomenon, first of all, contributes to the formation of a healthy nation and happy longevity.
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