The university sports movement in Cyprus began with the establishment of the Cyprus University Sports Federation (CUSF) in 1986. The initiative was taken by the then President of the Cyprus Olympic Committee, Mr. Kiki Lazaridis, and Judge Takis Iliadis, who was also the first President of the Federation. Today, the CUSF represents Cyprus internationally in university sports. The CUSF participates in international events, and has become a member of various international and European organisations that are involved with university sports.
At present, the CUSF has five members: University of Cyprus, Cyprus University of Technology, European University of Cyprus, Frederick University, and University of Nicosia. There are approximately 30,000 students taking part in university sports events and activities in Cyprus today.
Apart from the development of university sports, the CUSF’s role also incudes social and cultural education of the youth as well as the development of friendship and cooperation between people. The federation actively promotes gender equality and organises competitions for both, male and female athletes in a variety of sports including judo, futsal, basketball, handball, volleyball, beach volleyball, table tennis and tennis.
The federation cooperates with various national bodies such as the Ministry of Education, Cyprus Sports Organization, and others linked to sport. The CUSF is in continuous contact with university sports officials in order to provide information to students by various means; information on websites, as well as publishing magazines and bulletins.
The CUSF also organises lectures on sports and the development of sportsmanship, and sends coaches, athletes and officials abroad for training and skill development.
One of the most special events of the CUSF was the Napoli 2019 Summer Universiade, in which Vasilios Nikolas won a gold medal in shooting, men’s skeet. Kyriaki Kouttouki took 3rd place and a bronze medal in taekwondo, 49kg category for women.
The Federation aims to continue to provide the means and motivation to all the students of Cyprus to engage in sports. It also aims to participate in as many EUSA and FISU competitions as possible, so as to promote Cyprus sports internationally.