Christodoulides: We are investing in EuroBasket 2025

The government is approaching the holding of EuroBasket 2025 in Cyprus as an investment in the country's new generation, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides has said.

He was speaking at the official dinner on the theme 'On the road to FIBA ​​EUROBASKET 2025', which took place at the Presidential Palace on the evening of 4 February.

Stressing that the organisation of EuroBasket is not limited only to basketball itself and the matches that will be held, but also constitutes a unique opportunity to promote and consolidate important ideals that shape both our athletic and social life, President Christodoulides pointed out that it is in this context that the government is strengthening the entire effort with a total investment of €17.5 million.

"The reason we decided in the Cabinet to strengthen this great effort and invest €15 million for the 'Spyros Kyprianou' stadium in Limassol and €2.5 million for the Cyprus Basketball Federation, was exclusively and solely for our children. We see it, we approach it as an investment for the new generation of our country," he emphasised.

The President of the Republic gave assurances that the government will provide all the necessary infrastructure and conditions, not only for the success of this event, but for a unique EuroBasket.

"Be assured," said Nikos Christodoulides, "that our country will be an example of hospitality, integrity and unity, leaving the best impressions on all participants and spectators at this unique celebration of sports."

At the same time, he thanked the International Basketball Federation, the President of the European Basketball Federation, the Executive Secretary of FIBA ​​Europe and all the officials and the President of the Cyprus Basketball Federation, Andreas Mouzourides and his associates "who believed in our capabilities and supported the assignment of this very important event to our country."

Read the President's full speech below:

It is with particular joy and pride that I welcome you to the Presidential Palace at tonight's festive event, in the presence of many members of the Cabinet.

This massive presence is just a small indication of the importance we attach to this event, to this celebration of sport. It is a pleasure to welcome you to this event within the framework of one of the top moments of Cypriot sports at the level of events.

Hosting one of the EuroBasket 2025 groups in our country for the first time, one of the most important sporting events in the world, is not only a vote of confidence in our country and our ability to organise high-level events, but also an indication of our strong will to invest in Sports.

I previously heard my friend Andreas Mouzourides (referring to the greeting of the president of the Cyprus Basketball Federation) refer to the economic and tourist benefits that will arise from this major event, and I am sure that the Minister of Finance took notes to carry out his evaluation after the completion of the EuroBasket.

But the reason we decided, in the Cabinet, to strengthen this great effort and invest €15 million for the "Spyros Kyprianou" stadium in Limassol, €2.5 million for the Cyprus Basketball Federation, was exclusively and solely for our children. We see it, we approach it as an investment for the new generation of our country.

For us, this event is not only a celebration of the sport of basketball, but also a highlight of ideals and values ​​that today face many challenges, principles and values ​​that we want to instill in our country, that we want to pass on to our children, such as cooperation, solidarity and mutual understanding.

Allow me, before I mention anything else, to express my warmest thanks to the International Basketball Federation, the President of the European Basketball Federation, the Executive Secretary of FIBA ​​Europe and all the officials and of course the President of the Cyprus Basketball Federation, my friend Andreas Mouzourides and his associates who believed in our capabilities and supported the assignment of this very important event to our country.

The trust you show in Cyprus is yet another incentive for us to meet the high expectations of the global sports community and organise a perfect sporting event, have no doubt about it, which will remain in everyone's memory as an example of excellent hospitality and organisation.

The Government as a whole and I personally firmly believe in the power of sport, which, among many other positive effects, promotes universal human values.

Moreover, sport, as a language that unites peoples and cultures, has the ability to bridge differences and create bonds of friendship and cooperation. And we have seen this on many occasions.

Within this context, hosting EuroBasket 2025 in Cyprus gives us the opportunity, among many other things, to highlight the values ​​of fair play and teamwork, elements that are not limited only to the sporting field, but also to our everyday lives in general.

And precisely through this reasoning and being fully aware of the importance of sports for our country, during these two years of governance we have been investing - because we approach it as an investment - in Sports, implementing a multitude of policies that demonstrate in practice our clear political will for the importance of Sports.

It is in this context that, as I mentioned above, for the purposes of preparing for EuroBasket, we invested an amount of €15 million for the complete upgrade of the "Spyros Kyprianou" sports center in Limassol, to meet the requirements and needs of the organisation, as well as the additional sponsorship of €2.5 million to the Cyprus Basketball Federation.

These actions of ours, among others, are indicative of the importance we attach to the general improvement of infrastructure and the multi-level strengthening of Cypriot sports.

As I mentioned before, Sport, by promoting ideals such as peace, cooperation, justice and solidarity, constitutes the universal language that unites peoples and cultures.

The organisation of EuroBasket is not limited only to basketball and the matches that will be held, but also constitutes for us a unique opportunity to promote and consolidate important ideals that shape both our sporting and social life.

Moreover, through noble competition, athletes and teams teach the importance of competing with respect for the rules and the opponent, while at the same time, the cooperation and teamwork that stem from team play serve as an example for life and the daily challenges we face as a state and society.

At the same time, through the hard work, self-discipline and dedication that characterise sports, the value of struggle and effort to achieve goals is highlighted, while tolerance and respect for diversity teach that diversity is a source of strength and not division, as some may suggest.

Additionally, the health and well-being that sports promote underline the importance of a balanced life based on physical and mental well-being.

And our Government, through its Sports policies that touch all Ministries horizontally, which is why so many Ministers and Deputy Ministers are here tonight, wishes to highlight precisely the value of cooperation, mutual respect and noble competition, with one of our main goals - this is the message we want to send through this organisation - which is to inspire the new generation of our country to follow the role models of athletes who strive not only for victory, but for the promotion of the values ​​of sports.

At the same time, we are working on the basis of a specific plan to develop mechanisms for detecting and highlighting new talents in all sports, while a key goal is to make mass social sports a conscious choice, to strengthen sports education - this is our main goal - and to create sports education.

It is in this context that the budget of the National Plan for Supporting Young Athletes with Prospects has also increased - I am glad because the Minister of Finance is always positive on sports issues, responds positively - while on the same basis, through the Young Champions Plan for athletes up to 23 years of age, increased sponsorship is provided, while through the National Plan for Supporting Developmental Sports we invest in supporting the coaches of the Associations of team and Olympic sports. What I mentioned above is a very small sample in relation to what we have decided and implemented for sports in the last two years.

EuroBasket 2025 is a unique opportunity for our youth. I had recently mentioned that I personally approach this top event and the positive impacts it will have on our country, like the European Championship in Greece in 1987.

We approach it as a unique opportunity for our young men and women to see up close the role models of top athletes, to be inspired by their work, their hard and persistent efforts and dedication, and to shape their own ambitions for the future.

We approach it with the hope of cultivating in our country a new generation of athletes and citizens who truly believe in the power of sports to change lives and create communities based on the values ​​of effort and collectivism.

It is truly our great joy that our homeland will be a place where all these values ​​that I mentioned above will be highlighted, through the sport of basketball and the gathering of athletes and sports fans from around the world in our homeland.

In closing, I want to assure, especially our guests from abroad, that the Government will provide all the necessary infrastructure and conditions, not only for the success of this event - take this for granted - but for a unique EuroBasket.

Be assured that our country will be an example of hospitality, integrity and unity, leaving the best impressions on all participants and spectators at this unique celebration of sports.

Thank you very much for your presence here tonight and for the support of the sponsors in this great effort. Without the support and cooperation of the private sector in all areas, nothing can be achieved.

I am certain that together we will succeed, through the organisation of EuroBasket, but also the path towards it, in leaving a legacy that will inspire future generations to follow the path of sports and the values ​​that sports advocate.

(Source: InBusinessNews)