Newsroom / CNA
A bicommunal basketball initiative, ''Youth Empowerment Through Basketball,'' was introduced on Saturday at a press event held at the Ledra Palace Hotel's outdoor basketball court in Nicosia’s buffer zone. Spearheaded by the French Embassy in Cyprus and United Sports Cyprus (USC), the program uses basketball as a platform to bridge divides between Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking communities in Cyprus.
French Ambassador Clélia Chevrier Kolacko highlighted the program’s role in fostering dialogue, trust, and friendship between communities, emphasizing sports as a powerful unifying tool. She noted that since September, weekly basketball training sessions have been offered to girls aged 5 to 8 from all Cypriot communities, aiming to break social barriers and build connections through teamwork.
Stephanie Nicholas, the founder of USC, described the initiative as much more than a sports program, emphasizing its focus on leadership, inclusion, and fostering a lifelong love for sports among young participants.
The program has gained special support from the French Embassy as part of its promotion of Olympic values leading up to Paris 2024. Ambassador Kolacko pointed out that the project aligns with France’s commitment to sustainable development, equality, and inclusion through sports.
Through shared passions and teamwork, the initiative offers an alternative approach to building bridges where traditional methods have struggled. By forming bicommunal teams, the program encourages young girls to embrace dialogue, collaboration, and mutual respect, instilling values that could shape a more united Cyprus in the future.
Ambassador Kolacko expressed optimism that the program would inspire open-mindedness in its young participants, seeing them as the future of a reconciled Cyprus.
