2024 Paralympic Games: Athletes from Cyprus and Botswana trained in Lozère

Des athlètes paralympiques et internationaux sont venus s’entraîner au Complexe euroméditerranéen de Montrodat. Midi Libre – Anaïs Da Silva

Several days before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which takes place this Wednesday, August 28, 2024, a Cypriot athlete and two Batswana athletes traveled to the Montrodat Euro-Mediterranean Complex to train and acclimatize.

Who says 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, says a lot of training to be efficient. International athletes went to Lozère, to the Euro-Mediterranean Complex of Montrodat, for several days, in order to take advantage of the adapted infrastructures and to acclimatize to the country's weather. Among them, a Cypriot athlete, Victoras Pentaras, with a motor disability in the leg, accompanied by his coach Elias Agapiou; and two high-level athletes from Botswana with visual impairments, Gloria Majaga and Edwin Masuge, alongside three team supervisors.

“Perfect facilities”

These three athletes had the opportunity to practice in their respective disciplines: the Botswanans in the 100 metres and 400 metres; the Cypriot in the long jump. The latter explains: “I train twice a day. The training conditions and climate in the area are very good.” Before his coach added: “There are many facilities here: the stadium, the gym, the spa…" Montie Ratlou, general manager of the Botswana team, described them as  “perfect, even if the tracks were a bit tough." Not to mention the many infrastructures that make up the Euro-Mediterranean Complex. The supervisors of both countries unanimously thanked the staff and managers of the premises “for their hospitality and welcome”.

Athletes ready to give their best

Following two or even three weeks of training in Lozère, the participants in the Paralympic Games feel ready to succeed in their events. “I prepared myself physically and mentally for this event. I feel ready! “, emphasizes the athlete suffering from a motor disability in the leg.

The two Cypriots are Victorias Pentaras (right) and Elias Agapiou, her coach. Midi Libre – Anaïs Da Silva

"I have no idea what color medal the youngsters will win, but we should be on the podium, smiles Montie Ratlou. We will have no excuse if we do less because we have had a lot of time to train for this occasion." For his part, the Cypriot Victoras Pentaras does not position himself in the future ranking. He has only one idea in mind: "To give the best of myself. Beat my own record and exceed six meters!” To be continued…

I subscribe to read the rest