Apart from catering to the needs football, athletics, aquatics, triathlon and cycling, Cyprus also offers a whole host of sports and activities guaranteed to make any visit to the island an exciting and invigorating experience.
GOLF
Many of today’s professional sportsmen and women will admit that they’re addicted to golf, and it’s a game rapidly growing in stature here in Cyprus. With 300 days of sunshine and several exceptional courses, golfers return to Cyprus time and time again.
A number of international standard 18-hole courses are now in place and many international competitions have already been held. An impressive infrastructure has grown to support the Cyprus golfing boom and with lively clubhouses, equipment rentals, luxurious hotels, and properties to buy or rent just yards from the fairway, the island serves everything the modern golfer could need.
WATERSPORTS
With the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean always close at hand, Cyprus is the perfect watersports destination, summer or winter. Crystal clear with minimal tides, the waters off Cyprus are ideal for professionals and fun-seekers alike. Small wonder then that sportsmen and women head here to prepare for international competitions in windsurfing, sailing, swimming, canoeing and more.
SAILING & WINDSURFING
Cyprus is regarded as a top sailing centre and extensive sailing and windsurfing facilities enable athletes to save time by storing their sailing equipment without disassembling it. Trained professionals representing the island’s sailing associations can provide every assistance. The relatively calm waters off Cyprus are ideal for sailors of all standards, and many vessels of all sizes can be seen sailing off-shore, from single-person boats to chartered yachts.
“Besides wonderful all-season conditions for windsurfing training, Cyprus also offers other attractions and no one can be bored there,” commented Zofia Noceti-Klepacka who is Poland’s Women RS-X Windsurfing Bronze Medallist at the London 2012 Olympic Games. “My sport requires very specific weather conditions and I therefore visit many places in the world. For me, Cyprus is not only a place to prepare for competitions, but it’s also my sanctuary… a place where I can relax with friends. I sincerely urge you all to visit Cyprus.”
Nicos Kaklamanakis – an Olympic Windsurfing Gold Medalist for Greece – added, “There is no better place for high-level competitions. The only thing I can say is that Cyprus is the place to be.”
DIVING
For those looking to explore beneath the surface, everything from cave to wreck diving is available, with the sunken wreck of the Zenobia – lying on the seabed off Larnaka – rated as one of the world’s top dives. Many of the diving centres situated throughout the island are members of the Cyprus Federation of Underwater Activities. These centres provide quality diving equipment under the professional guidance of instructors.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Given the quality of the island’s beaches, the reliable sunshine and the stunning backdrops, it’s no real surprise that Beach Volleyball has found a natural home in Cyprus. The island’s resorts have hosted a number of FIVB world and CEV events in recent years and have seen many of the sport’s most acclaimed performers demonstrate their skills in the sand.
MOTORSPORT
For decades, Cyprus has been a focal point for international motorsport. Every year, the island hosts the Cyprus Rally, a highly-acclaimed event that has appeared in no less than the FIA World Rally Championship, the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. The event has regularly seen the world’s top drivers go head-to-head on the island’s challenging special stages, bringing the passion and excitement of international motorsport to Cyprus. As well as the annual Cyprus Rally, the Paphos International Rally has become a firm favourite of rally fans, as have the many other rallying and sprint events that take place throughout the year.
SHOOTING
Shooting is a popular sport in Cyprus and the Cyprus Shooting Sport Federation is very active, organising local, national and international events, as well as providing facilities in every town, covering the trap, skeet, double trap and sporting disciplines. Arms and ammunition are safely stored, while shooting centres also offer a number of facilities including cafeterias.
Along with the Olympic shooting range in Nicosia, a new Olympic standard shooting range was recently completed in the Larnaca district. Both ranges boast excellent facilities for professionals and keen amateurs and have hosted many world-class events.
