Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou on Tuesday praised the athletes who represented Cyprus in the Commonwealth and Mediterranean games, saying they have “made Cyprus proud once again”.

“Our athletes have made Cyprus proud once again,” Prodromou said, pledging state support for sports through the Olympic Committee and the Cyprus Sports Organisation (Koa).

He also thanked Koa for its work in supporting the athletes, emphasising the importance of turning athletes into role models to those who want to follow their example.

“Through sports, our country can be heard and it is important to have ambassadors abroad,” the minister said.

Olympic Committee chairman George Chrysostomou said that “success lies with the athletes, their families, and their federations,” assuring that the committee will continue supporting young athletes as a duty.

“I want to remind the athletes in particular that for us at the Olympic Committee, medals and distinctions are not the end-all, be-all,” he said.

“For us, the goal is a good effort; if you do your best on and off the playing field, success will come”.