Sailors from the two communities, members of the bi-communal Cyprus Sailing Group “Winds of Change”, will sail together around the divided Cyprus.
According to a statement by the Municipality of Larnaca, Mayor Andreas Vyras recently met with representatives of the Bicommunal Cyprus Sailing Team “Winds of Change”, which operates under the guidance and support of the Young Leaders Programme of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
It added that Sophia Papamichalopoulou, Cypriot Olympic Champion and Founder of the Team, addressed young Cypriots aged 18-35 years old and created “Winds of Change” consisting of six Greek Cypriots and six Turkish Cypriots who will embark on a demanding sailing training programme with the ultimate goal of sailing together around the divided island.
It is noted that during the trip team members will further develop their sailing skills, face additional challenges and engage in outreach activities to inspire others to embrace bi-communal activities. The entire trip will be documented in a documentary production that will premiere at the World Peace and Sport Forum to be held next year in Paris ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Mayor congratulated the representatives of Winds of Change for the initiative and noted that actions such as these contribute to improving relations between the two communities. He also mentioned that the Municipality of Larnaca will be a supporter of this effort.