One Cypriot to take part in 2022 Winter Olympics

By Lanting Liu

Alpine skier Yiannos Kouyoumdjian will be Cyprus’ sole representative at the Winter Olympics next month in Beijing, the Cyprus Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday.

The games will take place from February 4 to 20 in Beijing and venues near neighbouring towns of Yanqing and Chongli. They are scheduled to include a record 109 events over 15 disciplines in seven sports.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Yantao presented traditional Chinese gifts to members of the Cyprus Olympic Committee and wished Kouyoumdjian good luck.

“I wish to take this opportunity to once again thank Cyprus for its firm support of the Beijing 2022 Games and the adoption of the Olympic Truce during Beijing 2022 resolution at the UN General Assembly, which calls for peace, mutual understanding, goodwill, and respect of the neutrality of the Olympic Games,” he said.

He added that he hopes the Beijing Winter Olympics will also bring about substantial progress in the bilateral sports exchange and cooperation between China and Cyprus. “As good friends and firm believers in the Olympic Ideal, our two countries can pass on the torch of the ancient Greek Olympic philosophy and legacy by honouring the Olympic motto – Higher, Faster, Stronger and Together – for a shared future,” he said.

As several countries have staged a diplomatic boycott of the games, Secretary General of the Cyprus Olympic Committee Andreas Georgiou said the island neither supports nor has reason to support any action against or to be directed against China. “The Republic of Cyprus respects the ideals and values of Cyprus-China friendship,” he said.

Beijing is set to welcome more than 2,800 athletes.