Karolina Pelendritou finished in second place in the 50-meter freestyle in Paris.
Karolina Pelendritou won the seventh Paralympic medal of her career on Saturday night (31/8).
The flag bearer of the Cypriot delegation at the “Paris 2024” Paralympic Games finished in second place in the final of the 50m freestyle, in the S11 category, earning her second silver medal in the event.
The three-time Paralympic gold medalist of Cyprus, Karolina Pelendritou, and flag bearer of the Cypriot National Paralympic Committee’s delegation at the 17th Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, kicks off the competition today for the Cypriot team in this Paralympics.
The top swimmer in Cyprus’s Paralympic history competes today at noon at the Paris La Défense Arena in the 50m freestyle heats in the S11 category. Sixteen athletes are participating in this event, divided into two heats of eight. Karolina Pelendritou is competing in the 2nd heat. The race is scheduled to start at 11:46 local time (12:46 Cyprus time). The athletes with the eight fastest times will advance to the final.
Karolina’s goal is to record one of the eight best times to qualify for the final, which will take place later the same day (20:41 local time, 21:41 Cyprus time), with the hope of reaching the podium for the second consecutive time.
Karolina’s coaches are Stelios Kakavoyiannis and Ioannis Alexakis.
Karolina Pelendritou will return to the Paris La Défense Arena on September 5th to compete in the 100m breaststroke. The heats will be held in the morning, and the final will take place in the afternoon of the same day. Eleven athletes are participating in this event, and the top eight times will advance to the final.
Karolina will compete in the 1st heat, and the race will start at 10:19 local time (11:19 Paris time). The final is scheduled for 18:24 local time (19:24 Cyprus time).
This is Karolina Pelendritou’s 6th participation in the Paralympic Games, and she has won as many medals.
Details of Karolina’s medals in the Paralympic Games:
Her journey began at the Paralympic Games in Athens in 2004. In the country that gave birth to the Olympic Games, Karolina won the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke, and the national anthem of Cyprus was heard for the first time at the Paralympics.
In Beijing 2008, Karolina proved that her success four years earlier was no fluke. In addition to gold in the 100m breaststroke, she also won bronze in the 200m.
In London 2012, Karolina continued her success, winning another medal for Cyprus, this time a silver in the 100m breaststroke.
At the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016, Karolina came close to winning another medal, but finished 4th. However, this motivated her even more, and at the Tokyo 2021 (2020) Paralympics, Karolina once again elevated Cyprus to the top step of the podium. The national anthem was heard again in distant Japan, filling all of Cyprus with pride. Bronze in the 50m freestyle and gold in the 100m breaststroke brought her total Paralympic medal count to six (3 golds, 1 silver, and 2 bronzes).
The world record and the Paralympic record in the 50m freestyle have been held by Ma Jia from China since August 29, 2021, at the Tokyo Paralympics, with a time of 29.20.
The world record in the 100m breaststroke has been held by Lukianenko Daria from Russia since April 23, 2024, in Funchal, Portugal, with a time of 1:17.65, while the Paralympic record has been held by Karolina Pelendritou since September 1, 2021, in Tokyo, with a time of 1:19.78.
At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Maria Markou, a Paralympic champion in bench press weightlifting, will participate.
According to a post by the Cyprus Sports Organization (CSO) on Facebook, “Our Paralympic champion in bench press weightlifting has secured her ticket through the World Rankings and will compete again in the world’s premier sporting event.”
It is added that Maria Markou will be the third member of the Cypriot delegation, after Karolina Pelendritou and Victor Pentara, to participate in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“Congratulations,” concludes the CSO post.
Infocredit Group is thrilled to announce its recognition at the Cyprus Responsible Business Awards 2023, organized by Boussias. The company proudly secured the esteemed Gold award. The awards ceremony was held yesterday at Galu Seaside in Larnaca.
The Cyprus Responsible Business Awards 2023 recognize and reward best practices in supporting society. Infocredit Group’s constant support for Ablebook played a pivotal role in this achievement. Infocredit Group claimed the Gold award in the “Society” category, underscoring its steadfast commitment to social responsibility and community support.
Theodoros Kringou, CEO of Infocredit Group, commented on the award: “We are honored to receive this recognition, and this award is a testament to our commitment to social responsibility. We will continue to support initiatives like Ablebook that make a positive impact on our society. We also invite other companies to join us in supporting these vital initiatives. By working together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all members of our community.”
Andreas Vasileiou, Co- Founder & CEO at Ablebook, expressed his gratitude: “The greatest thanks belong to Infocredit Group and specifically to Theodoros Kringou for his constant support. Symeon Stylianou, Data Transformation & Quality Advisor at Infocredit Group and Co- Founder & CBO at Ablebook, also stated ‘’ The support for other people has enabled us to implement actions that improve the lives of society and the people with disabilities. Our initiatives have contributed to creating a more inclusive environment for everyone. This award crowns our efforts and gives us the strength to continue our mission. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.’’
Infocredit Group remains dedicated to fostering a culture of social responsibility and encourages others to contribute to building a better future for everyone.
Title: Miranda Lysandrou
Even a ten-year-old child knows that the word “sidewalk” is a compound word derived from the words for “pedestrian” and “road.” Pedestrian-road… The road for pedestrians. Not for cars, otherwise, we would call it a parking space; not for bicycles, otherwise, it would be called a bike path; not for scooters, trash cans, trees, and other obstacles. It is the space for pedestrians. It rightfully belongs to them. And no one has the right to take it over.
We all park on sidewalks. Let’s admit it. Without even feeling guilty. Wherever they exist and are functional, that is, constructed with the correct specifications. Because the local authorities also turn a blind eye. You realize that the excuse of parking for just, supposedly, a minute doesn’t hold up. One minute for you, one minute for me, and the sidewalk is permanently occupied. Forcing pedestrians, whether fully abled or those with mobility issues, to step onto the road at the risk of their physical integrity.
In our country, the illegality regarding the occupation of sidewalks has become the norm, with the tolerance and inactivity of everyone, unfortunately, without anyone to remove the obstacles and enforce order.
The Alpha News program recorded, frame by frame, the problems faced by people with mobility issues in all cities because all of us, shamelessly, block their access. Access not just to a road, not just to a disabled parking space, but access to autonomy, social integration, equality, and without exaggeration, to the right to life.
Our fellow citizens with severe disabilities number 15 thousand. In total, 145 thousand people in Cyprus face disabilities ranging from mild to severe. All these people do not want words of comfort, nor do they need our pity. They need the development of an environment without barriers so that they can move around autonomously. So that they can go to their jobs without risk, accompany their children to school, or go out to eat with their friends without feeling different. Equality is their inalienable right, and ensuring it is our responsibility.
More at: https://www.alphanews.live/cyprus/horis-biosimi-kinitikotita-i-kypros-oyte-sto-periptero-den-mporo-na-pao
Several studies with this type of therapy are already underway or being planned worldwide.
An eleven-year-old boy who was born deaf can now hear thanks to a special gene therapy, according to American reports.
The boy from Morocco was the first person in the USA to receive gene therapy, which is still in the experimental stage, at a children’s hospital in the metropolis of Philadelphia on the East Coast, reported the New York Times, citing the hospital and the involved companies.
However, the therapy does not mean that the boy can now understand language and speak on his own: he may never be able to do so, the report said. According to the report, the brain has a window for language learning that starts from the second or third year of life. After the age of five, it closes forever.
According to the report, the eleven-year-old has a very rare genetic defect that affects about 200,000 people worldwide. A single mutated gene causes the deafness, which is replaced by an intact version during the therapy.
After completing several months of therapy, the eleven-year-old now has almost normal hearing, according to the New York Times.
Even if he cannot speak or understand speech, it could at least be useful for recognizing traffic or similar situations where he needs to pay attention to sounds. He can now also listen to music.
Several studies with this type of therapy are underway or planned worldwide, the report continues.
After the success with the eleven-year-old, scientists want to use the therapy on younger children. The inner ear is a small, enclosed space, so the gene therapy applied there does not affect cells in other parts of the body, Manny Simons, CEO of the involved company Akouos, told the New York Times.
According to the report, finding a suitable candidate was not easy for a specific reason: most babies born with this form of deafness receive cochlear implants in infancy to be able to hear and are then no longer eligible for such therapy trials.
The boy in question was not in a school in Morocco and learned sign language only in a special school in Barcelona after moving to Spain, according to the New York Times.
The overwhelming majority of the Parliament rejected a proposed law to increase the extrajudicial fine for parking in parking spaces designated for disabled persons by non-entitled individuals, from €300 as it stands today to €500. Four members of Parliament voted in favor, 35 against, with one abstention. The relevant proposal was submitted by MP Andreas Apostolou of the EDEK party.
The proposal that was rejected also provided that in case of repetition of the offense, the person who illegally parked would be subject to prosecution, with provisions for imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine of up to €3,000 euros.
Speaking in the plenary session, Members of Parliament noted that the existing fine is sufficiently deterrent, while the need for additional measures beyond extrajudicial fines for better compliance was emphasized.
The proposer of the bill, MP Andreas Apostolou, stated that he does not believe he has more sensitivity than those who do not support the proposal. He noted that his proposal was supported by all the relevant authorities called to the Transportation Committee.
He expressed the opinion that there is no justification for this particular violation, as those who commit it are consciously not parking in another parking space.
He also stated that he does not believe that compliance can only be achieved through increased fines, emphasizing the need for better policing, empathy, and education on the matter. Furthermore, he welcomed the Minister of Transport’s intention to introduce legislation in the near future for measures such as towing vehicles and removing license plates. He added that he himself will submit further legislative proposals for people with disabilities soon.
MP Alexandra Attalidou also supported the bill, emphasizing the importance of respecting parking spaces for people with disabilities, whose independent mobility, she said, is crucial. She also advocated for additional measures, involving education and campaigns.
MP Christos Orfanidis of DIKO opposed the increase in the extrajudicial fine, stating that it is the beginning of a series of legislative proposals for changes in the law that provide for increases in fines for traffic violations.
He noted that an increase in a fine should occur when there is a surge in violations, and in this case, there has been a 60% decrease in complaints since 2019.
He emphasized the need for penalties to be proportional, stating that imposing such a high fine could be devastating for some families. He also mentioned that he proposed to the competent Minister the towing of vehicles, which, however, has not yet been implemented. Additionally, he characterized as populism reports he heard in the media suggesting that only those who support the proposal should be voted for in the European elections, stating that sensitivities are not a personal matter.
MP Stavros Papadouris of the Movement for Ecologists – Cooperation mentioned that some will not tolerate others invoking more sensitivities than any other colleague. He noted that there has already been an increase in penalties for the issue twice, from €85 to €300, and in the first session of the relevant Committee on the matter, both the Legal Service and the Police and the Ministry of Transport stated that further increases in penalties no longer help.
He emphasized the need for other measures such as towing of vehicles and removal of license plates, stating that both Mr. Orfanidis and himself made this recommendation to the competent Minister, who told them that they cannot proceed with these measures now. He also noted that for someone who has financial means, the increase in the fine will not make much difference, but for a vulnerable household, it creates a survival problem.
MP Marinos Mousiouttas of DIKO – Cooperation stated that in the Transportation Committee, there are still 8 proposals, most of which involve relaxing the existing measures. He mentioned that he submitted an intermediary proposal through an amendment, suggesting that the fine be increased by €100 for the first offense and €200 for the second offense, in order to reconcile opposing views. However, he said that even if his amendment is rejected, he will vote in favor of the bill. It is noted that Mr. Mousiouttas’ amendment was also rejected by the plenary.
MP Zacharias Koulias of DIKO stated that the Parliament has already passed strict legislation for a €300 fine. He also opposed large administrative fines and said, “We have gone too far on this issue.”
MP Valentinos Fakontis of AKEL stated that everyone is sensitive to the issue; however, fines should be proportionate and not have a devastating effect on society during difficult times.
He also noted that the state has much more to do before the parliament institutionalizes fine increases, such as implementing better traffic controls to curb illegality, improving the marking of disabled parking spaces, and addressing the issue of parking on sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. Additionally, he suggested that the money from fines should be spent on education to foster prevention.
The MP of DISY, Fotini Tsiridou, mentioned that there has been significant improvement with the existing penalties, and she does not believe that further draconian measures should be imposed. Regarding the second part of the proposal, she stated that the goal should not be to burden the courts with more cases on this matter. She emphasized the need for campaigns and better marking of disabled parking spaces. She also noted that the DISY government was the first to introduce a national strategy for people with disabilities.
MP Dimitris Dimitriou of DISY stated that raising awareness cannot solely rely on fines, as there are other measures that can be implemented, such as vehicle towing. He also mentioned that some might suspect Mr. Apostolou brought forward this proposal because he is a candidate for the European Parliament, but he clarified that he doesn’t believe such claims, as Mr. Apostolou has consistently been sensitive to these issues over time.
In response, Mr. Apostolou stated that the amendment in question was submitted on October 5, 2023, long before he even considered running for European Parliament.
The Member of Parliament for the Greens, Charalambos Theopemptou, mentioned that if there were good public transportation, this discussion would not be
Member of the AKEL Party, Georgios Loukaidis, stated that sensitivity is demonstrated in action in various ways, and that the €300 fine is sufficiently deterrent.
ΚΥPΕ
The card aims to facilitate the exercise of the right to free movement.
Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) on the occasion of his speech about the European Disability Card at the National Informative Meeting “Endocrinology in Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease,” which will take place from April 19 to
For the European Disability Card to become a reality, as Mr. Vardakastanis points out, it is not enough for it to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, to become a Directive and to be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, but it must also be incorporated into national legislation within 42 months of publication. He notes that the matter will progress after the European elections and the reconstitution of the European Parliament, and he estimates that publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities will take place next September.
“The purpose of the European Disability Card is to serve the exercise of the right to free movement, which is one of the fundamental principles on which the EU is based. Along with this, there will also be the European Parking Card, which already exists but comes to correct some issues. The European Disability Card concerns all people with disabilities. We wanted, but it was not accepted, the mutual recognition of disability certification. That is, when a person with a disability goes to a European country, the disability certification they have from their country of origin should be recognized, and they should not need a new certification.”
“When a person with a disability goes to another country for studies, work, etc., there is a gap created until their disability is certified in that country. The European Disability Card will cover this gap because the disability certification from the country of origin will be temporarily recognized until the disability is certified in the foreign country. However, mutual recognition of disability is not provided for with the European Disability Card. The important thing is that we are laying the foundation to continue our efforts for a fully integrated approach, which will take some more time. Each country has its own legislation, its own problems, its own history regarding these matters, and it takes time. I don’t justify them; I believe they should have accepted mutual recognition,” added Mr. Vardakastanis.
Eight small buses equipped with wheelchair seating were delivered today, and the National Strategy for Disability will soon be submitted to the Cabinet.
These vehicles, which include provisions for people with disabilities, were given to the “Apostolos Loukas” Special School in Limassol, the “Apostolos Varnavas” Special School in Liopetri, the “Apostolos Pavlos” Private Center for people with intellectual disabilities in Liopetri, the “Evangelismos” Special School in Geri, the Ministry of Education for Secondary Education, and the Social Welfare Services of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.
At the delivery event were the Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeadis, and the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou.
Ms. Evangelou noted that, as the responsible Deputy Ministry for the integration of People with Disabilities, the mobility of people with disabilities is a necessary prerequisite for their participation in education, creative employment, independent living, and therefore their social integration.
She also noted that in the coming period, they will investigate additional similar requests to meet other needs. Moreover, she said, they are in dialogue with the directly involved stakeholders to develop a new, modern legislation that will govern all issues related to social integration, inclusion, and support for People with Disabilities.
The revised National Strategy and Action Plan for Disability, which will be in effect until 2028, has been completed and will be submitted to the Cabinet next week. It includes a total of 73 new actions and goals from 8 Ministries and 4 Deputy Ministries. For the first time, the National Strategy and Action Plan is organized into thematic pillars that follow the life of a Person with Disabilities from birth to old age, she said.
It concerns the following three important chapters:
>>Preparation of differentiated educational material
>>Preparation for the needs of school assistants and companions for the new school year
>>Teacher training
Regarding the third point, teacher training is expected to be intensified from the new school year so that educators can fully utilize the differentiated educational material that has been prepared.