After 23 years in soccer and decades of community service, Panikos Xiourouppas now faces a different challenge.
The political arena, as he describes it, is an “away game.” However, the experience he has gained from sports, his connection with the community, and his many years of volunteer work are the tools he is using to take on his new role.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Speaking about the transition from sports and community service to politics, he expresses the hope that this new journey will prove to be just as fulfilling and meaningful as his soccer career.
“Driving Force”: Personal Experiences
When asked what inspired him to become actively involved in volunteerism and charitable work, Mr. Xiourouppas referred to his personal experiences, noting that as a father he has faced health issues involving his children.
This personal experience, combined with his many years as an active citizen supporting people in need, appears to have been a significant factor in his decision to take the next step.
As he explains, volunteering gradually led him to feel the need to work—now through Parliament—to contribute to decision-making that affects vulnerable population groups, particularly people with disabilities.
“I know my capabilities,”
he notes, emphasizing that he has firsthand knowledge of many of the problems facing society. Thus, he makes supporting vulnerable groups and people with disabilities a priority.
As he notes, in Cyprus in 2026, there is still much to be done to create better living conditions for people facing health challenges.His goal, as he explains, is to promote even small changes that can make these people’s daily lives easier and more dignified.
As he told us, he chose to serve on the Parliamentary Committees on Labor, Health, Institutions, and Defense. He mentioned that he would have liked to serve on the Education Committee as well, particularly given his background as an athlete. However, the constraints imposed by the schedule and meeting times made this impossible.
Sports on the Agenda
As he pointed out, “no one is stopping anyone from adding items to the agenda,” noting that a series of issues related to sports has already been prepared and will be discussed both within and outside parliamentary committees.
When asked whether he has already taken steps to introduce bills, Mr. Xiourouppas explained that each proposal must first be reviewed by the legal services to ensure that no issues of unconstitutionality arise.
At the same time, he revealed that he has already prepared specific issues, which he will discuss with both the party’s legal advisors and the legal advisors of the Parliament, in order to determine whether they can be pursued at the legislative level.
Among the issues he considers worthy of discussion are the contracts of soccer players and coaches, as well as a particularly important issue concerning the future of people with disabilities or dependent children when their parents or guardians pass away or are no longer able to care for them.
The goal, as he himself puts it, is for this new political journey to be as comprehensive, fulfilling, and meaningful as possible—just as his career on and off the field has been to date.
