President Christodoulides honors Paralympic athlete Stelios Malakopoulos

On September 29, 2026, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, received Greek Paralympic athlete Stelios Malakopoulos at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia. The meeting occurred as part of an event organized by the Acropolis Lyceum, which included a road race that stopped at the Presidential Palace.

During the ceremony, President Christodoulides praised Malakopoulos for his perseverance and strength, labeling him a role model for society and, particularly, for students facing modern challenges. The President emphasized the importance of the athlete's story in teaching the youth not to give up in the face of adversity.

In his address, President Christodoulides also highlighted recent government policy changes regarding the vocational rehabilitation program of the Cyprus Sports Organization (KOA). He noted the implementation of legislative measures aimed at achieving parity in awards and recognition between able-bodied athletes and para-athletes, reflecting a broader commitment to equality within the national sporting system.