Athletics in Cyprus and England are close to forging a strong partnership for the future following meetings this week in Nicosia between officials from both countries.
This week, PACE chairman Jimmy Andreou met with Cyprus Amateur Athletic Federation Chairman Antonis Drakos and the two held a productive meeting which could very well see the first games get underway at the GSP’s National Athletics Stadium in Nicosia as early as April next year.
The biggest problem crippling not only athletics but also sport in general in Cyprus is lack of funds, something which Andreou says can be overcome – with regards to the planned games – with the joint-venture thanks largely to the backing of the newly-formed committee PACE (Progressive Athletes from Cyprus and England). PACE, of which Andreou is chairman and Marcos Marcou president, is determined to make the cooperation between the athletics bodies of both countries a success. The committee is made up of English-Cypriot businessmen and entrepreneurs.
“Efforts are underway to secure an athletics meeting for mid-April in which a strong squad would arrive from England comprising of English and English-Cypriot athletes,” he told The Cyprus Daily. “After that, our efforts will be geared towards getting a Cypriot team over to London. Mr. Drakos appears very keen to see this initiative up and running and the feeling is mutual from our side”.
On June 28 next year, around 500 athletes from various clubs will home in on the English capital to take part in a series of athletic events. Cyprus could add to those numbers with a delegation of their own.
Andreou went on to say that the Barnet and District Athletic Club – of which their chairman is London-Cypriot Geoff Morphitis – would be happy to help host the Cypriot team should they arrive to take part in the games.
“Initially, there were efforts to bring the under-15s and under-13s teams of the Enfield and Haringey Athletic Club and who are the national champions in England,” continued Andreou. “But those efforts didn’t materialise due to legal obstacles. So we then decided to try and bring older athletes and I have to say that things are looking very promising.”
Speaking about what such cooperation would mean to Cyprus, Andreou said, “These meetings are very beneficial to both nations. For Cyprus, it is the chance to compete in strong competitions and against strong opponents while the weather conditions in Cyprus are ideal for athletes in the UK wanting to go abroad for training.”