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It is with great pleasure that
I welcome you to the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth for the signing
of the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education, Sport
and Youth of the Republic of Cyprus and the National Institute of Sports,
Physical Education and Recreation of the Republic of Cuba on Cooperation in
the field of Sports”.
Today’s event proves in
practice the will of the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus and
the Republic of Cuba to promote and strengthen the cooperation between the
two countries in the field of sports.
Cyprus has traditionally had
friendly relations with Cuba and our intention is to strengthen these
relations in the rapidly growing field of sports and physical education.
Cyprus’s government gives much
weight to the promotion of sports and the sporting spirit in general. Among
our goals is the further development of competitive sports, which we consider
to be the best ambassador of our country abroad.
In this direction, we have
prioritised the substantial support of our country’s athletes, both at the
team and individual level. In this context, our effort is to contribute to
the Internationalization of the Cypriot sports. Cooperation with other
countries in the field of sports strengthen the prestige of Cypriot sports,
communicate its practices internationally and introduce innovative methods
applied by other sport systems. Sport brings the peoples of the whole world
closer, fosters a spirit of peace and cooperation between different nations
and can be an effective foreign policy and diplomatic tool.
With the Memorandum we are
signing today, we seek to upgrade our cooperation with Cuba in matters of
mutual sporting interest, as well as to promote sporting relations between
the two countries at the highest possible level.
More specifically, this Memorandum
of Understanding aims to strengthen the cooperation between the competent
sports authorities of the two countries, through activities such as:
(a) organisation of sports
events;
(b) participation of national
sports teams and athletes in major tournaments of the two countries;
(c) exchange of visits by
athletes, sports delegations, experts, competent officials and specialists in
the field of sports and physical education;
(d) exchange of invitations to
athletes and sports delegations to participate in bilateral or international
sports events to be organized in the two countries;
(e) cooperation in matters of
sports management, sports facilities and equipment;
(f) exchange of information on
sport and matters related to physical education and other areas of mutual
interest, such as anti-doping control and sports-related information
technology.
In conclusion, I would like to
thank the Cyprus Sports Organisation, which, as the competent authority
responsible for the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding, took
the initiative for completing the text of the Memorandum, in consultation
with the Embassy of Cuba in Cyprus. Warm thanks also to the Ambassador of
Cuba in Cyprus, Mr. Suarez Cordero, for his immediate response to this matter
and his efforts to further strengthen our bilateral relations.
I am confident that this
Memorandum of Understanding will broaden and deepen our cooperation and will
create many opportunities in the field of sports for both countries.
IP
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