Following the successful organization of the European Throwing Cup in March, the Cyprus Amateur Athletics Association (KOEAS) is proceeding with the organization of the 4th EKO International Athletics Meeting, to be held on Friday, May 23, 2025, at the Tsirio Athletic Center GSO in Limassol.
As stated in “Entrepreneurial Limassol” by the President of KOEAS, Mr. Pericles A. Markaris, the first edition of the International Meeting in Limassol three years ago was a landmark event for Cypriot athletics. The success of previous editions established the EKO Cyprus International Athletics Meeting as the country’s leading annual sporting event, with international recognition. Mr. Markaris emphasized that at the 2024 National KOA Awards ceremony, KOEAS was honored for promoting Cyprus abroad, thanks to the event that attracted world-class athletes. World Athletics ranked the Meeting among the Bronze-level events of the Continental Tour, placing Cyprus among a select group of European countries hosting such competitions. In fact, the Cypriot event surpasses other meetings of the same category in our geographical region in terms of ranking.
This year’s event is a significant opportunity for Cypriot athletes to participate in high-level competition, gain valuable points, and enhance their chances of qualifying for the World Athletics Championships to be held in Tokyo in September 2025. This year’s Meeting will feature major global athletics stars, such as Olympic gold medalist in long jump Miltiadis Tentoglou and Olympic bronze medalist in pole vault Emmanouil Karalis, along with distinguished athletes from 30 countries. Their presence gives prestige to the event and acts as a magnet for sports fans.
Top Cypriot champions will also compete at the Tsirio Stadium, including Milan Trajkovic, Olivia and Filippa Fotopoulou, Daphne Georgiou, Alexandros Poursanidis, and Iosif Kesidis. According to Mr. Markaris, the EKO Cyprus International Athletics Meeting has become especially popular among international track and field athletes. The KOEAS President highlighted Limassol’s role as a sports tourism destination. “Every year, the Tsirio Stadium hosts national teams, delegations, and clubs from Europe, who choose it for their training. Its modern facilities, favorable climate, seaside location, and cosmopolitan character make Limassol ideal for such activities, with significant benefits for the local economy and the development of track and field sports,” he added.
This top-tier sporting event is institutionally and financially supported by the Cyprus Sports Organization. “Of course, without the support of our sponsors – EKO, OPAP Cyprus, Unicars, Cablenet, Public, Wade Adams, Ocean Basket, Medochemie, and Hellenic Bank – the EKO Cyprus International Athletics Meeting could not take place,” Mr. Markaris stated. The Municipality of Limassol, the National Betting Authority, the Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK), and the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) are also among the supporters, to whom he expressed heartfelt thanks.
KOEAS expects the number of spectators this year to exceed two thousand. Promotion of the event is being carried out both by the Association and by its sponsors and supporters. At the same time, as Mr. Pericles Markaris noted, the best international publicity for the event is arguably done by the foreign champions themselves through related posts on social media. Ticket presales have already started via ticketmaster.cy. General admission is €10, while entry is free for children under 15.
The President of KOEAS stressed that the successful organization of the Meeting is the best promotion of Limassol – and Cyprus more broadly – as an ideal destination for high-level athletic events. “The athletic stature and prestige of our country on the international stage is strengthened through such events, which allow us to plan the hosting of even larger international competitions in the future,” he stated.
In conclusion, Mr. Markaris called on the sports-loving public and the business community to actively support the event, which enhances Cyprus’s sporting reputation internationally and contributes to the further development of track and field. He emphasized that the continued and further evolution of the Meeting requires improved facilities and increased government support.
