Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
Sometimes, even the man running Cyprus needs to put down the briefing papers, step away from the Presidential Palace and enjoy the island’s summer like everyone else.
For President Nikos Christodoulides, that apparently means grabbing a beach racket and treating every point as though national pride depends on it.
A video showing the president playing rackets with one of his daughters on a beach along Cyprus’ eastern coast has gone viral, offering a rare glimpse of him without the suit, tie or carefully arranged row of flags behind him.
Dressed in swimming trunks, sunglasses and a watch, Christodoulides looks like any other Cypriot dad enjoying a Sunday at the beach, at least until the ball threatens to hit the sand.
Then the presidential reflexes take over.
In the video, he drops to his knees and dives into the sand in an attempt to keep the rally alive. There were no medals at stake, and, as far as we know, no emergency meeting would have been called if the ball landed. But the president was clearly not prepared to surrender the point without a fight.
@must.com.cy Ο Πρόεδρος της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας παίζει ρακέτες, και ναι… είναι πολύ καλός!
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For a few minutes, there were no EU summits, Cyprus talks, or economic figures. Just sun, sand, family time, and one very determined man with a racket.
The footage quickly caught attention online precisely because presidents are normally seen behind podiums, greeting foreign leaders, or entering official cars, not throwing themselves across a beach to save a plastic ball.
It also showed that Christodoulides is in good physical shape, although this should not come as a complete surprise. He exercises regularly and has appeared at several sporting and charity events.
In March, he took part in Ayia Napa’s Run for Autism, trading his usual formal clothes for shorts and a T-shirt. He has also tested his basketball skills during a Telethon charity match and even tried fencing.
cyprusbasket.net
He is a keen football supporter as well, following Pafos FC, the team from his home district, and regularly congratulating Cypriot athletes competing abroad.
Still, beach rackets may be his most relatable sporting appearance yet. Almost everyone in Cyprus has either played the game, been hit by a stray ball, or quietly moved their sunbed to escape two people taking it far too seriously.
On this occasion, the very serious player happened to be the president of the Republic.
The country may have plenty of difficult matches ahead, but for one sunny Sunday, Christodoulides was focused on the only contest that mattered: keeping that little ball off the sand.
*Source: MUST
