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 | Omodos School

Programme A | 09:10–13:15 | Omodos School

• Inter-school activity involving students from Omodos School and visiting students from schools in the Troodos region and urban areas (including, for example: Mitsis School; Solea Lyceum; a secondary school in the Limassol urban area; Idalion Lyceum)

Programme B | 09:10–12:50 | Omodos School

• Specially adapted activity for people with visual impairment or low vision

Organised by: MountMed Institute

Organisational coordination: Stavroula Kozakou

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

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

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

Presentation and facilitation of the school programme: Maria Papakosta, actress, and Zacharias Zannettou, stand-up comedian

Design and delivery of competitive orienteering activities: Mountain Areas Social Support Network, ORIENTACTION Cyprus and Sibaris Club Hungary

Design and delivery of outdoor sporting activities: Nektarios Alexandrou, former professional footballer, Champions League and Europa League experience, multi-Champion (10) in Cyprus, cup winner in Greece. Currently Coach and Football Director holding the UEFA Youth Elite Diploma. Highly active in education in sports through GDA Sports, especially for Mental Health and Mental Empowerment in Sports, for professionals, youth and children.  

Delivery of traditional games: MountMed Institute, in collaboration with the Physical Education teachers of the schools hosting the activity

Delivery of the culinary workshop and preparation of breakfast: Eleni Georgiou, Chef Pâtissier

Discussion on bees and their products, with honey tasting: Ecophysis Bee & Nature Centre

Partner organisations: Schools and Parents’ Associations

Participation of 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

Students 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 experiences, participants will have the opportunity to discover the importance of physical activity, healthy eating, cooperation, self-expression and everyday self-care.

Traditional games included in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage occupy a prominent place in the programme, with particular emphasis on traditional stone throwing—the throwing of a stone—as a living element of Cypriot tradition that connects skill, physical activity, memory and play.

The programme is supported by a multidisciplinary team of professionals, trainers, athletes, creators and partner organisations, who will explore healthy eating, exercise and healthy habits with the children as part of an active and balanced lifestyle.

Contributors and programme content

The activity begins with a short, entertaining, interactive programme designed especially for children and adolescents, featuring Maria Papakosta, an actress, and Zacharias Zannettou, a stand-up comedian. Through humour, play and interaction, they will communicate messages about movement, nutrition, teamwork and everyday self-care.

Five educational stations will then operate concurrently. Each group’s participation at each station will last 30 minutes.

• Mountain Games Goodwill Ambassador Nektarios Alexandrou will design and deliver the outdoor sporting activities.

• The orienteering activities will be designed and delivered by Mountain Areas Social Support Network, represented by Christos Konstantinou, ORIENTACTION Cyprus, and Sibaris Club.

• Traditional games will be organised by the MountMed Institute, under the coordination of Stavroula Kozakou, in collaboration with the Physical Education teachers of the schools hosting the activity.

• The Agros Youth Multicentre of the Youth Board of Cyprus, represented by Nikolas Christofi, will present interactive team games.

• The educational culinary workshop ‘Mountain Breakfast: Honey, Vine & Energy’ will take place under the culinary curation of Evi Chioti, Executive Chef, with the contribution of Eleni Georgiou, Chef Pâtissier. It focuses on products that have traditionally provided energy to mountain communities and athletes, including pasteli, which will be prepared during the workshop, as well as a honey tasting led by 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. 

• A healthy and balanced breakfast for all: honey, grape molasses (epsima), carob syrup, yoghurt, halloumi, nuts, sesame seeds, pasteli, tahini, fruit, sourdough bread and eggs*.

At Apeiteio Gymnasium in Agros, the activity will be supported by third-year upper-secondary students from the Hotel and Catering Department. At Omodos School, the activity will be supported by students from the Viticulture–Oenology Department.

Teachers from the participating schools will be assigned to the five educational stations and will assist with on-site coordination, group support and the smooth delivery of the activities.

Contribution of European partners

Sibaris Club from Hungary has experience in competitive orienteering, outdoor sporting activities and educational initiatives that promote physical activity and well-being. Within Elevate Your Life, it primarily supports the orienteering activities and the students’ experiential participation.

ORIEL APS from Italy is active in non-formal education, intercultural learning, social inclusion and active youth participation. It contributes to the activity through facilitation, group cooperation and the delivery of participatory educational activities.

Euroactive NGO from Romania has experience in youth education and empowerment, volunteering, non-formal learning and outdoor community activities. It supports group facilitation, cooperation and active participation.

The University of Thessaly contributes scientific and educational expertise in exercise, health, well-being and participatory learning, strengthening the connection between the school programme and the broader objectives of Mountain Games Cyprus 2026.

*The inclusion of eggs is inspired by the ‘One Child, One Egg’ initiative, 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.