InTouch Magazine Articles Archive

Issue 21, August 2008

Going for Gold

By Gina Coleman.

On July the 27th, the first batch of sportsmen and women from the Cyprus National team left Larnaka, headed for Beijing and the Olympic Games. Altogether, there are 18 team members seeking those ever-elusive Gold Medals. An impressive number of athletes from a country which is small in both land area and population, according to the Chinese ambassador to Cyprus, Zhao Yali, [who incidentally speaks fluent Greek, having completed his university studies in Greece!]

The Summer Olympics, focus of world attention, will have 205 Olympic committees represented; there will be around 10,500 athletes, 30,000 journalists and media representatives, and 80 Heads of State, Heads of Government or Prime ministers will be attending the spectacular Opening Ceremony at the National Stadium [known as ‘the Birds’ Nest’in Beijing. Of course, we talk about the ‘Beijing Olympics’ but there are in fact six centres – not just Beijing – and the equestrian events are to be held in Hong Kong.
The flag of the Republic of Cyprus will be raised in the Olympic Village on August 9th, in a ceremony attended by President Demetris Christofias and high ranking Chinese officials. And when they exchange the traditional gifts, insiders say the President is likely to hand over a beautiful scale model of the Kyrenia Ship. The Opening Ceremony for the Games is on August 8th and, unsurprisingly for a country known for its fireworks, there will be a spectacular display!

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