Thursday 24 September 2026

09:10–13:15 | Apeiteio Gymnasium, Agros

• Inter-school activity involving students from Apeiteio Gymnasium and visiting students from schools in the Troodos region and urban areas (including, for example: Pancyprian Gymnasium, Nicosia; Zakaki Gymnasium; Solea Gymnasium)

Friday 25 September 2026

09:10–13:15 | Omodos School

• Inter-school activity involving students from Omodos School and visiting students from the School for the Blind, as well as from schools in the Troodos region and urban areas (for example: Mitsis School; Solea Lyceum; Idalion Lyceum; and a lyceum in an urban area of Limassol).

Organisation: MountMed Institute

Scientific oversight of educational programmes: Dr George Metsios, Professor of Clinical Exercise Physiology

Scientific oversight of sporting activities and traditional games: Dr Nikos Komoutos, Professor of Physical Education and Sport Psychology

Curation of the Gastronomy Workshop: Evi Chioti, Executive Chef, President of Disciples Escoffier Cyprus, International Culinary Judge and Consultant on Food Culture and Sustainable Gastronomy

Partner organisations: Schools and Parents’ Associations

Participation by Mountain Games partner organisations: Sibaris Club, Hungary; ORIEL APS, Italy; Euroactive NGO, Romania; University of Thessaly, Greece

Institutional support: Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, Cyprus Sports Organisation, Cyprus National Paralympic Committee and Cyprus Youth Organisation

Brief description

Children take part in a comprehensive programme of learning and activity that combines play, movement, gastronomy and tradition. Through experiential activities, creative workshops, team orienteering games, sporting activities and artistic events, participants will have the opportunity to discover the importance of physical activity, good nutrition, cooperation, self-expression and daily self-care.

A special place in the programme is given to the Traditional Stone-Throwing and Target Games ‘Ditzimin and Skatoulika’ from the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, as living elements of Cypriot tradition that connect skill, physical exercise, memory and play.

The programme is supported by a multidisciplinary team of professionals, instructors, athletes, creators and partner organisations, who, together with the children, will explore issues relating to good nutrition, exercise and healthy habits as part of an active and balanced lifestyle.

Contributors and content

• Design and delivery of competitive orienteering activities: Christos Konstantinou, Social Worker with the Mountain Areas Social Support Network, with the collaboration and support of ORIENTACTION Cyprus and Sibaris Club Hungary, a member of the Mountain Games Cyprus 2026 partnership. Sibaris Club has experience in competitive orienteering, outdoor sporting activities and educational initiatives that promote physical activity and well-being.

• Design and delivery of outdoor sporting activities: Nektarios Alexandrou, former international professional footballer with experience in the Champions League and Europa League, ten-time champion in Cyprus and Greek Cup winner. He is a coach and holder of the UEFA Youth Elite Diploma, and recently took up the post of Director of Football at Anorthosis Famagusta. Through GDA Sports, he is highly active in sports education, with an emphasis on mental health and empowerment in sport for professionals, young people, and children. Dr Panayiotis Tsimeas, a member of the teaching staff of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at the University of Thessaly and a member of the Mountain Games Cyprus 2026 partnership, will also contribute to the activity. He has extensive teaching experience (over 30 years) in basketball, both competitively and academically, and has been a member of the Hellenic Basketball Coaches Association since 2001. As strength and conditioning coach of men’s basketball teams, he won the Thessaly regional championship (2007–08) and the Greek C National Division (2009–10). As coach of a women’s basketball team, he won the Thessaly regional championship (2013–14). His research focuses on exercise, physical activity and team-sport coaching for children.

• Traditional Stone-Throwing and Target Games ‘Ditzimin and Skatoulika’ from the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Stavroula Kozakou, researcher at MountMed Institute, with the collaboration and support of teachers from the schools where the activity will take place. ORIEL APS Italy, a member of the Mountain Games Cyprus 2026 partnership, will also contribute to the activity. ORIEL APS is active in non-formal education, intercultural learning, social inclusion and active youth participation.

• Delivery of interactive team-building games: Nikolas Christofi, Youth Worker at the Agros Youth Multicentre of the Cyprus Youth Organisation. Euroactive NGO Romania, a member of the Mountain Games Cyprus 2026 partnership, will also contribute to the activity. Euroactive NGO has experience in youth education and empowerment, volunteering, non-formal learning and outdoor community activities.

• Hands-on pottery workshop: Andreas Fasoulides, an artisan ceramist since 1987 and a member of the Cyprus Potters and Ceramists Association, will lead a specially adapted workshop at Omodos School for students who are blind or have low vision. Through touch, clay exploration, and sensory-based creation, each participant will have the opportunity to express themselves and create their own pottery while enjoying a meaningful, hands-on experience with ceramic art. 

• Gastronomy workshop ‘Mountain Breakfast: Honey, Vine & Energy’: Eleni Georgiou, Chef Pâtissier and Brian Mark Petri, Executive Chef, will present a gastronomy workshop centred on products that traditionally gave strength to mountain people and athletes, such as pasteli, which will be prepared as part of the workshop, alongside a honey tasting from a local producer. Lazaros Lazarou, a clinical dietitian and exercise physiologist, will take part in the workshop to highlight the nutritional value of a healthy, balanced breakfast. At Apeiteio Gymnasium, Agros, the activity will be supported by third-year upper-secondary students from the school’s Hotel Studies Department. At Omodos School, the activity will be supported by students from the school’s Viticulture–Oenology Department.

As part of the activity, all children will be offered a healthy and balanced breakfast: honey, grape molasses (epsima), carob syrup, yoghurt, halloumi, nuts, sesame seeds, pasteli, tahini, fruit, sourdough bread and eggs*.

*The offering of eggs draws inspiration from the ‘One Child, One Egg’ initiative, which is implemented in Bhutan with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and highlights the contribution of eggs to protein and micronutrient intake through school meals.