The Olympic flame’s departure from the island has left a trail of accusations, bitterness and controversy in its wake. GEORGE PSYlLLIDES takes a look at why the torch that has united the world has divided the island – along varying lines
‘PASS the flame, unite the world’ is the motto of the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay.
Yet even under these exceptional circumstances did not help the Greek and Turkish Cypriot inhabitants of the island succeeded in agreeing on something.
Unity and peace were struck off the agenda; the passage of the Olympic flame through Cyprus sparked a war of words and left aftershocks of resentment in its wake.
President Tassos Papadopoulos put the blame squarely on the Turkish Cypriot side on Thursday: “They asked for full equality. That is, whatever happens [in the south] and any officials receiving it (the flame), with the same rank and role.”.
He said the conditions of the Olympic Committee were the same around the world, but the Turkish Cypriots wanted special treatment.
But a group of Greek and Turkish Cypriot non-governmental organisations on Friday accused the Olympic Committee of using delaying tactics and demanding new conditions at the last moment.
The organisations said everything had been agreed on, apart from the route the flame would take.
But Turkish Cypriot side said all attempts to contact the Olympic Committee and iron out the details got no response until the last moment when a completely new set of conditions were introduced.
The Olympic Committee demanded that no ceremonies or concerts take place; the mayor of north Nicosia was not to make a speech and no other authority would be allowed greet the torch.
On top of that, the Committee said no ambulance should be accompanying the athletes and there would be no activity ‘attracting media attention’.
To add insult to injury, the Committee said there were not enough t-shirts for the Turkish Cypriot torchbearers and none could be manufactured in the north either.
“It is further proof that there are forces out there which do not want the reunification of the island and the reconciliation of its people,” an NGO statement said.
They did pledge however that they would not give up the fight and urged all Cypriots to join forces with them for a common peaceful future.
Actor Poppy Avram, who refused to carry the torch in protest came out all guns blazing: “Our side showed once again that it is not pro-peace; I feel like I felt after the referendum, that we must apologise to the Turkish Cypriots; I feel shame,” she said.
Turkish Cypriot academic Niyazi Kizilyurek, who was invited to take part in the relay – but only in his capacity as an academic – charged the government with killing the Olympic spirit.
He said the whole situation was an insult directed at the Turkish Cypriots.
“I protest in the strongest possible way and condemn the Olympic Committee and those who might support or turn a blind eye to their approach,” Kizilyurek said.
Though the political issue took centre stage, a public debate was also ignited concerning the torchbearers taking part in the relay.
A quick look at the names of those participating immediately raised doubts regarding the criteria used in the selection.
But according to the Cyprus Olympic Committee only 73 out of a total of 145 torchbearers were selected by them, in strict accordance with criteria set by the International Olympic Committee and Athens 2004.
Evelina Georgiades told the Cyprus Mail that the 73 participants were chosen for their contribution to society and public affairs.
They included prominent individuals like former athletes, artists, academics and philanthropists, as well as ordinary citizens with contribution to their country.
The remaining 72 were selected by the two main sponsors of the games – Samsung and Coca-Cola – which explained the presence of certain ‘known’ people without any social contribution.
There was yet more controversy on the second day of the relay, when the torch toured the Famagusta area.
Despite protests from the districts residents, the torch was welcomed in the Paralimni municipality by its Mayor Nicos Vlittis.
Though this was the norm in all other towns, the difference in Paralimni was that Vlittis currently faces several charges which include abuse of power and conspiracy to commit felony. Residents did not think he was the most appropriate person to welcome the symbol of the Olympic ideals.
Apart from all that, the relay was smooth and uneventful and thousands of people got a chance to experience a once in a lifetime event.
Torchbearers were also given the chance to keep the torch they carried for 300 euro.
