London Olympics silver medalist Pavlos Kontides leads the Cypriot athletes into the Maracana stadium in Rio.
Cyprus is competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with 16 athletes in seven different sports from 5 to 21 August 2016.
According to the Union of Cyprus Sports` Writers, even if the Cyprus team is smaller this year, it is considered strong since it comprises athletes of international standard.
Some of the athletes are seeking a medal while others said they would like to reach the finals.
The Cypriot team will enter the legendary Maracana Stadium which will stage the opening and closing ceremonies with Pavlos Kontides the flag bearer.
The Athletes are
Sailing –
Pavlos Kontides in the Laser Event, who has won a silver medal in the London Olympics, is now seeking a gold in Rio.
Andreas Kariolou in the RS-X, an experienced yachtsman who participates in his fourth Olympic games.
Athletics
Kyriakos Ioannou in the high jump event. He is described as one of the greatest Cypriot athletes with three medals in the World Championships and the only track and field athlete that made it to the finals of an Olympiad.
Demetris Chondrokoukis in the high jump event. He is competing with Cyprus` National Team for two years now and after going through to the World Championships in Beijing, he is considered one of the elite athletes.
Leontia Kallenou in the High jump event. She is competes for the Georgia Bulldogs, while studying at the University of Georgia, is the reigning American collegiate champion in women`s high jump, in both outdoor and indoor. Her ambition is to get as much experience from the Olympics as possible.
Apostolos Parellis is a track and field athlete specializing in discus throw. He is the current Cypriot national record holder with 65.69 m (215 ft 6 in) since May 2016.
Eleni Artymata is a track and field sprint athlete, who will compete in the 200 metres. She aims to reach the semi finals. One of the most experienced sprinters, she is ready to take her participation at Olympic Games a step further.
Ramona Papaioannou is a sprinter who will compete in 100 metres and 200 metres events. She has had an impressive course in the last years and has the capabilities to reach the semi finals.
Milan Trajkovic is a Serbian-born Cypriot athlete specialising in the sprint hurdles. He has won two gold medals at the Games of the Small States of Europe. He will compete in the 110 metres hurdles.
Shooting
Andreas Hasikos is a Cypriot sports shooter who will compete in men`s skeet. After winning a bronze medal in the 2015 ISSF World Cup, he is now aiming for an Olympic medal.
Andri Eleftheriou will compete in women`s skeet. She is considered one of the leading shooters in the world with a number of medals in international and European championships. Eleftheriou is aiming to get an Olympic medal.
Andri Christoforou is a professional racing cyclist and will compete in the women`s road race. A young mother, in 2016 she became the National Champion for Cyprus in both the road race and individual time trial.
Marios Georgiou is competing in gymnastics. He has claimed his Olympic spot in the men`s apparatus and all-around events at the Olympic Test Event in Rio de Janeiro.
Swimming
Iacovos Hadjiconstantinou will compete in the Men`s 400 m freestyle. He aims to make a personal record during the Rio Games.
Soteria Neofytou will compete in the women`s 100 m butterfly. The youngest Cypriot athlete in the games, in Rio she wants to improve her personal performance.
