Sport in Cyprus

Cyprus due to its population and size does not have many international sporting achievements. Most sports are governed by associations under the umbrella of the Cyprus Sport Organisation ( _el. Κυπριακός Οργανισμός Αθλητισμού).

Football

Football is the most popular spectator and participation sport in the island. The Cypriot national team has not succeeded any major events, while major Cypriot clubs compete at European competitions with limited success. The first division league is semi-professional with a few professional clubs.

Basketball

Basketball is also quite popular in Cyprus. The Cypriot league is semi-professional, but Cypriot teams have had good European campaigns. Recently, EKA AEL has finished 3rd in the FIBA EuroCup.

Olympic Games

Cyprus has sent athletes to every Olympic Games held since 1980, but the country has never won an Olympic medal.

Cyprus Rally

The Cyprus Rally is a rallying competition held yearly in Cyprus since 1970. The event is run by the Cyprus Automobile Association [1] and is based in the city of Limassol (Lemesos). It is run on the winding gravel roads of the nearby mountains of Troodos. It was part of the FIA's World Rally Championship from 2000 to 2006. In 2007, the event was part of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship. The same applies for 2008. It is due to rejoin the World Rally Championship in 2009.

Tennis

Tennis in Cyprus has recently received more attention mainly due to Marcos Baghdatis' success in the ATP rankings.