President Nikos Christodoulides has announced state support for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including finding them jobs and abolishing any discrimination.

Speaking during a dinner hosted in Limassol for the athletes that represented Cyprus in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, as well as their coaches, Christodoulides said he was there “to listen to their demands and hear their needs.”

He added that support had already been decided, such as their immediate inclusion in a vocational rehabilitation programme, abolishing any discrimination between Olympic and Paralympic athletes and the creation of a Paralympic centre to encourage more athletes to become involved.

Christodoulides said the state would treat Olympic and Paralympic athletes equally and would strive to secure more seats at the University of Cyprus and Greek universities.

“We must also do something for the heroes behind the cameras, the coaches,” Christodoulides said and asked them to inform him of any issues they considered could be promoted with the help of the state.