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 In 1975 the Council of Europe recognised the movement “Sports For All” as a social service.
The Cyprus Sport Organisation brought the Programme into operation in 1985 following the suggestion of Mr. Kyriacos Neocleous, then president of the Organisation.
The Programme aimed at people being involved in sports in a healthy way for joy, sensibility, recreation, fitness and health purposes.
Three hundred sport centres have been operating in the free part of Cyprus and have 11.000 members of all ages.
Eighty qualified teachers of physical education work in these centres on a national level. The success of the Programme lies directly upon the high level of the training and approach of the teachers.
The child is the leading actor of the Programme. The child has the opportunity to be involved in sports for the first time and love it through the Programme of general physical exercises; the Programme is attended in the sport facilities of the Schools. The child may be educated through sports and enjoy this healthy hobby as an adolescent and adult later in the future.
Over the recent years stress has been laid upon the development of Special Sports. The children have embraced these programmes through which they may choose their favourite sport and practise it exclusively.
However, the Programmes for Adults (Men and Women) are organized while the third age people join them gradually. It is with a very great pleasure that we have realized the considerable increase in the number of people who participate in these Programmes.
The Programme “Sports for All” comprises:
Programme “General Physical Exercises”
It is attended in the sport facilities of all the Elementary Schools. The children have the opportunity to be involved in basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, and track and field athletics and acquire skills that will help them to enjoy sports.
Special Programmes
This category comprises those programmes, which cannot be held within the framework of the Programme “General Physical Exercises” and are attended in specially tailored places.
A detailed list of such Programmes, which are attended, is the following one:
- Rhythmic gymnastics
- Tennis
- Taekwon-Do
- Dance
- Judo
- Instrumental Gymnastics
The Child and Swimming
Swimming is practiced during the summer months: May, June and July in all the towns and in the country.
The following centres are more precisely operational:
- Nicosia Olympic Swimming Pool
- Limassol Swimming Pool
- Larnaca Community Swimming Pool
- Paphos Swimming Pool
- Ayia Napa Private Swimming Pool
- Kornos Private Swimming Pool
- Kakopetria Private Swimming Pool
- Agros Private Swimming Pool
- Kalopanayiotis Private Swimming Pool
Sports For All in the Pre-elementary Education
During the school year 1999 – 2000, children of a pre-elementary education age joined the programme. It was initially attended in the Limassol region with very positive results and it is planned to be operational in all the regions of Cyprus in 2001.
It aims at the children of a pre-elementary education age being involved in moving and educating their psychic and intellectual world through the game.
Programme Sports and Woman – Man
It covers great urban areas and is extended to country centres.
The following programmes are attended:
- Aerobic gymnastics
- Basketball
- Swimming
- Tennis
Sports and Third Age People
It has recently attended for the first time on a test basis with a view of being extended in all the regions of Cyprus.
It aims at ensuring a continual physical exercise activity for all the ages.
They are implemented in co-operation with the Municipalities and the respective Old People Clubs.
Programmes for People with Special Needs
The Cyprus Sport Organisation ensures the implementation of special programmes for people from the Blind School and students of the Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta Special Schools, putting into practice its philosophy about the Sports For All Programme with view of offering equal sport opportunities to all the people, independently to their sex, age, social position and mainly their level of psychic and body health.
Sport Events
Regional and district championships are organized in the following sports, aiming at getting the participating children involved in competitive activities, cultivating their spirit in the fair play and selecting those who have particular sport qualities:
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Football
- Cross-country race
- Track and field athletics
- Tennis
Mrs Efi Mouzourou Penintaex, First Officer in Rank, is in charge of the above Committee.
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