Nicosia, Cyprus. Sports professionals on Tuesday called for substantive reforms, effective control mechanisms and full implementation of the law following a special report issued last week by the Audit Office that raised concerns over the Cyprus Sports Organisation’s oversight powers.
The Cyprus association of physical education and sports science graduates, Pasypefaa, said the report’s findings were worrying and pointed to serious weaknesses in supervision of gymnastics federations and private schools.
Concerns over supervision
Pasypefaa said observing the law was not a bureaucratic procedure but an issue of public safety, protection of people, safeguarding the quality of services, and protecting legally licensed businesses and professionals.
It said KOA’s responsibilities are regulated by law and include issuing permits for schools and checking the qualifications of those who provide services to the public.
Questions over KOA decision
According to the report, KOA decided in July 2025 to avoid prosecuting certain sports centres.
Pasypefaa called for clarifications on the legality of that decision and for information on how KOA ensures these sports centres comply with legal requirements.
Call for action
The association said that if understaffing is one of the main reasons for the serious shortcomings recorded in the report, KOA should publicly state whether it had submitted documented requests to the state in time for staffing and strengthening its services.
It added that if such requests were submitted, society has a right to know who did not respond to them and for what reason.
Pasypefaa also called on KOA to immediately implement the Audit Office’s recommendations and advance its modernised regulations for private gymnastics schools, which it approved in January 2024.
