High jumper Elena Kulitsenko will be the flag-bearer for the Cypriot delegation, and athlete Maria Markou will carry the Cypriot torch at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Commonwealth Games, which will take place on July 23 at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, as announced by the Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC).

According to the COC, the two athletes were selected based on the established criteria for flag bearers, which take into account their overall competitive record at the national and international levels, with particular emphasis on their performance during the most recent Olympic cycle, their recent international achievements, and their availability during the opening ceremony. Kulitsenko represented Cyprus at the “Paris 2024” Olympic Games, where she placed seventh in the high jump.

The Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC) notes that at this year’s Commonwealth Games, athletes and para-athletes are participating as a unified national delegation, as part of efforts to promote inclusion and equal participation in the Paralympic movement.

For this reason, Maria Markou’s participation in the opening ceremony, carrying the Cypriot torch, was deemed significant.

The Olympic Committee also notes that the two athletes embody the values of Olympism and serve as role models for the younger generation, while expressing its best wishes for success to all members of the Cypriot delegation.