The Cyprus Swimming Federation and the Paralimnii-Derynia Town Hall are ready to welcome the biggest international event ever held in Cyprus: The first, of the five legs (to be followed by Setubal, Paris, Barcelona and Razanak), of the European Open Water Marathon Cup. The importance and significance of the European Swimming Federation and the fact that Cyprus will be attended by its President Antonio Silva, its Secretary Noam Svi, as well as members of the European Technical Committees, who have been put in charge of the race.
And this thanks to the response of the Town Hall of Paralimniu - Deryneia and especially the honorable Mayor George Nikolettos, who from the first moment responded positively to the Federation's proposal to take over the event. The 10km race will be held on Saturday 3 May at the Fig Tree Bay sea area and the start time of the men's race will be at 8.00 am, while 15 minutes later the women's race will start.
The countries started arriving in Cyprus from today. 100 escorts and officials and 90 athletes (including world champions) from 16 countries have been accredited to the race: Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Israel, Israel, Monaco, France, Croatia, Netherlands, Great Britain, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Greece and Cyprus, who will compete in the deep blue waters of Protaras for the first time this year, as the race is the first leg of five to be held. Among the athletes and two of our own children, Yannis Ergatoudis and Andreas Gavriel who will give their best for a decent presence.
On Friday 2 May at 19:00 will be held in the square of Fig Tree the opening ceremony of the games, which will include greetings from the Mayor of Paralmeni Deryneia Mr. George Nicoletto, the President of the European Federation Antonio Silva and the President of the Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee Alexandros Christoforou, presentation of the groups and artistic program with traditional dances and songs. An event which apart from the fact that it honors us as a country and "raises" us many steps in the international sports scene, should and WILL succeed in taking on even greater scope of games.
Responsible for the race has been appointed the curator of the Federation and member of the Technical Committee of the European Federation for the open sea Petros Arestis, who will have at his disposal international judges both from Cyprus, and from abroad, who together with George Houzouris (competition manager) and Iakovos Hadjikonstantinou (venue manager) will do their best to ensure that Cyprus succeeds with excellence in this difficult undertaking, but also to establish Protaras on the world map as an attractive sporting destination.
