Two alpine ski athletes are in Bakuriani in Georgia to compete for Cyprus in the 2025 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival (EYOF), between February 9 and 16.

The main events of the 17th festival will take place in Bakuriani, as well as at auxiliary venues in Batumi and Tbilisi.

Team Cyprus includes athletes Danae Papachristophorou and Ioannis Athinakis, as well as head of the Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC) mission Demetris Papatheodorou and coach Christian Gauthier.

The team left for Tbilisi on Friday and travelled by road to Bakuriani.

Before departing for the event, the team received sports material at the Olympic Hall in Nicosia, where COC general secretary Yiotis Ioannides called on the athletes to do their best.

Administrative officer Giorgos Panayides referred to the participation of the athletes:

Alpine Skiing / Giant Slalom, Ioannis Athinakis – February 10, 1st Run at 9am, 2nd Run at 11.30am

Alpine Skiing / Giant Slalom, Danae Papachristophorou – February 11, 1st Run 9am, 2nd Run 11.30am

Alpine Skiing / Slalom, Ioannis Athinakis – February 13, 1st Run at 9am, 2nd Run at 11.30am

Alpine Skiing / Slalom, Danae Papachristophorou – February 14, 1st Run 9am, 2nd Run 11.30am

Athletes aged 14 to 18 are taking part in the games, which include eight disciplines, namely Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross Country, Figure Skating, Free Style Skiing, Ice Hockey, Short Track Speed Skating and Snowboarding.

Vice-president of the Culture & Education Committee of the European Olympic Committees Clea Papaellina will also be in Bakuriani to oversee the European Young Olympic Ambassador (EYOA) programme that aims to strengthen Olympic values ​​among young athletes.

The training programme in Bakuriani, taking place for the sixth time since 2016, invests in a group of young people who are inspired by sports and Olympic values ​​and who want to contribute to building a strong base of young ambassadors for the international sports community.

This year’s programme has brought together 50 young people who share the same passion, energy, motivation and aim to inspire young athletes to follow the Olympic values ​​on and off the field. In Bakuriani, Cyprus will be represented by young ambassador Orestis Logidis.

COC has extended its gratitude to platinum sponsor OPAP Cyprus for its cooperation and support to implement the mission.