Cyprus and Cuba are strengthening their cooperation in the field of sports and physical education by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. The event took place on Thursday at the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, in Nicosia. The Memorandum was signed by Prodromos Prodromou, Minister of Education, Sport and Youth, Andreas Michaelides, President of the Cyprus Sports Organisation, and Angel Gustavo Suarez Cordero, Ambassador of Cuba to Cyprus.
Speaking after the signing ceremony Prodromou said that the MoU “proves in practice our will to promote and strengthen the cooperation between our two countries, especially in the field of sports.” He went on to say that Cyprus has traditionally had friendly and close relations with Cuba and expressed his intention “to strengthen these relations in the rapidly growing field of sports and physical education.”
He pointed out that the government gives much weight to the promotion of sports and the sporting spirit in general, adding that among its goals is the further development of competitive sports. In this direction, he explained, the government has prioritised the substantial support of the country’s athletes both at individual and team level and its effort is to contribute to the internationalisation of Cypriot sports.
“It is very important that we can have exchange of good practices, introduce innovative methods and apply them in the sports systems,” the Education Minister said. “Sport brings the people of the entire planet closer, fosters the spirit of peace and cooperation between different nations and can be an effective foreign policy diplomatic tool,” he added.
Prodromou emphasised that with the Memorandum “we seek to upgrade our cooperation with Cuba in matters of mutual sporting interest as well as to promote sports relations between the two countries at the highest possible level.”
In particular, he explained that the MoU aims to strengthen the cooperation between the competent sports authorities of the two countries through activities such as organisation of sports events, participation of national teams and athletes in major tournaments of the two countries, exchange of visits by athletes, sports delegations, coaches, experts and competent officials and specialists in the field of sports and physical education.
It also aims to foster the invitation of athletes and sports delegations to participate in bilateral or international events to be organised in the two countries, cooperation in matters of sports management, sports facilities and equipment, exchange of information on sport and matters related to physical education and other areas of mutual interest such as anti-doping and sports related information technology.”
Prodromou thanked the Cyprus Sports Organisation and the Ambassador of Cuba to Cyprus. “I am confident that this Memorandum of Understanding will broaden and deepen our cooperation and will create opportunities in the field of sports for both countries,” he concluded.
On his part, Andreas Michaelides, President of the Cyprus Sports Organisation (CSO), said that “the participation and representation of our national level athletes in international sport events is one of the main purposes and goals of the Organisation.” He further added that cooperation and collaboration with as many countries as possible in the field of sports is considered very important.
Michaelides pointed out that the signing of protocols, memoranda and other sports cooperation agreements between Cyprus and other states primarily allows the exchange of athletes, teams, coaches and experts to participate in training camps, friendly matches and tournaments, seminars, lectures and other areas of mutual interest or any other form of cooperation.
“In order to promote cooperation though agreed memoranda, the Cyprus Sports Organisation has included in its budget a special fund which, on the basis of specific criteria, further strengthens the sports federations for the preparation and participation of their national teams in training camps and tournaments with these states,” he went on to say.
In addition, CSO President underlined that the Sports Cooperation Memorandum with the Republic of Cuba creates new opportunities for the Organisation since it encourages the exchange of information, knowledge and expertise about the contemporary problems faced by sports on a global scale. “With the signing of the Memorandum, we once again demonstrate our interest, will and efforts and the strengthening of our friendly relations with the Republic of Cuba and of course the development of sports in both countries,” he said.
Angel Gustavo Suarez Cordero, Ambassador of Cuba to Cyprus, said that the MoU “is inspired by the desire to promote bilateral relations between our two countries.”
He further noted that “as the Minister said, it is really a huge opportunity to bring our people closer and strengthen our relations,” adding that “to me, this is what is most important.”
He also expressed his satisfaction over the signing of the MoU in the field of sports, “in which Cyprus and Cuba share many things.”
Source: Cyprus News Agency