Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides highlighted the importance of prevention and sports in combating addiction, as he opened the press conference for the 22nd Annual Veterans’ Soccer Tournament Against Drugs, which is dedicated to the memory of Phoebus Konstantinidis.
The Minister noted that soccer can serve as a means to spread the message of prevention to more people, and he congratulated the organizers and all participants for their long-standing social contribution.
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Mr. Charalambides emphasized that addiction prevention requires consistent care, reliable information, support for families, and meaningful communication with young people. As he noted, the difficulty people face in asking for help, as well as the anguish parents feel when they see their child struggling, make the presence and support of the community essential.
Referring to the tournament’s message, “My goal is life, not my life as a goal,” he noted that sports offer young people a creative outlet, boost self-confidence and self-discipline, and foster hard work, teamwork, and respect for the rules.
At the same time, the Minister congratulated the veterans of APOEL, Omonia, and Olympiakos Nicosia, as well as the Cyprus Referees’ Association, noting that their joint presence for a social cause demonstrates that their differences remain “exactly that: merely soccer-related.”
He made special mention of the memory of Phoebus Konstantinidis, a longtime member of the Veterans’ Association and, for many years, Director of the GSP, acknowledging his contribution to the construction and development of the modern stadium.
Mr. Charalambides affirmed that the Ministry of Health supports the event and its purpose, emphasizing that prevention becomes more effective when the State’s responsibility is combined with the active contribution of society.
