Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides announced on Wednesday evening the government’s decision to prepare a strategy for the upgrade of sports in Cyprus.
In his speech at the first National Sports Awards ceremony, organised by the Cyprus Sports Organisation (CSO), the President referred to the need to further upgrade sports in Cyprus, starting with education and announced the government’s decision to draw up a strategy for the upgrading of sports in the country under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth and with the assistance of the new Board of Directors of the CSO.
He explained that this strategy will include actions concerning pre-school, primary and secondary education and higher education, as well as citizens in general.
The President stated that strengthening, in all possible ways, the efforts of athletes was at the heart of the government’s policies.
He added that the general plans in the field of sports also aim to improve the physical and mental health of all citizens,
without any discrimination whatsoever. At the same time, he said that they aim to promote sports as a tool for a healthy lifestyle, enhancing the possibilities for sports activities inside and outside schools.
With regard to the education sector, he said that they were promoting the creation of programmes for cooperation with athletes-role models and highlighting new talent, the implementation of actions to promote lifelong exercise, of mass sports programmes and the integration of Olympic Education in school curriculums.
At the same time, he said, actions were being promoted aimed at equal sports opportunities for everyone and the inclusion of people with disabilities in sports.
President Christodoulides also referred to the importance of the quality and adequacy of sports facilities and noted that they will work towards promoting their further upgrading and use, with the aim of strengthening competitive sports, assisting the effort for mass sports and attracting international events such as EuroBasket. H
e noted that, on the latter, work has already begun in Limassol. He added that they will work for the promotion of sports tourism.
The President also talked about strengthening the funding of sports federations and, by extension, athletes.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
ANKARA: The Turkish parliament speaker stressed on Thursday the need to intensify efforts to foster unity among Islamic countries and strengthen the humanitarian front for Palestine.
Numan Kurtulmus received Hayef al-Mutairi, chairman of the Kuwait-Trkiye Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly, and the accompanying delegation in Ankara.
Kurtulmus said the Turkish and Kuwaiti people are friendly and highlighted the fraternal ties between the two nations.
He appreciated increased contacts between the friendship groups of both parliaments to enhance bilateral ties.
He stressed the need for urgent aid delivery Gaza, where Israeli attacks since the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion has killed nearly 26,000 people, and achieving a cease-fire.
Kurtulmus also conveyed his condolences on the passing of the late Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, and expressed hope for improved relations with the formation of the new government in the Gulf country.
He stressed the importance of incr
easing, developing, and strengthening relations in all areas between Trkiye’s Grand National Assmebly and the Kuwaiti National Assembly.
Al-Mutairi, for his part, expressed his appreciation for Trkiye’s political stance on the Palestinian cause. He expressed the desire for increased cooperation among Islamic countries, highlighting the importance of relations with Trkiye in various fields, including the economy, and hoped to see more Turkish investors in Kuwait.
The Turkish parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Fuat Oktay also met the Kuwaiti delegation.
Source: Anadolu Agency