Cypriot athletes participate in European U18 and Balkan U20 championships

Cyprus is preparing to send athletes to two major international track and field competitions. The 5th European U18 Athletics Championship will take place in Rieti, Italy, from July 16 to 19, 2026, where 11 Cypriot athletes will compete following the withdrawal of two others due to injury. Additionally, a delegation of seven Cypriot athletes will compete at the Balkan U20 Athletics Championship in Craiova, Romania, on July 11, 2026. The Balkan team, led by Kyriakos Tsolakis with coaches Elli Evangelidou and Kyriakos Antoniou, includes five men and two women. At the Balkan event, Andreas Savva and Loukas Pero are aiming to secure qualification standards for the World U20 Championships scheduled for August 2026 in Oregon, USA. The Balkan championship program has been compressed into a single day, running from 18:30 until midnight to manage costs. Cyprus has a strong history at the Balkan U20 games, having won 27 medals over their previous five appearances.