The ancient amphitheatre at Kourion is a landmark in Limassol, providing a perfect site and acoustic environment for events and productions to be staged in the open. However, little is known about Limassol’s other, second amphitheatre. It is actually part of the Heritage Private School and is based in the school’s grounds. Completed in 2007, shortly after the new school premises were finished, the amphitheatre has been perfectly designed and built to benefit from the same amplified acoustic as its predecessor and its orientation offers fabulous view of mountains, valleys and sunsets.

The amphitheatre was carved on the bill, utilising indigenous rock and from its original construction  it has grown from an auditorium  seating  just 400 people  to the present day 1.500 capacity theatre. It is regularly used for all major school functions and events. However, it is also intended to offer a service to the community of Palodia and Limassol  generally , something that until now has not been  readily known. The beautiful  location makes it a perfect choice for community events and non-school  functions. Dr Kouris , Principal of the Heritage Private School said: “WE are extremely privileged to have the amphitheatre here as part of our school, but what I would love to see is the community benefiting from it in the same way… to see the theatre being used as a unique venue in its own right, servicing the local population, societies and groups for their own private use.

The close proximity to Limassol, with easy access and extensive parking, makes the theatre a very practical venue. The grounds are well lit and the fencing and gateways provide an easily controlled environment for event  organisers, making the amphitheatre an ideal venue for public cultural events such as concerts, drama performances and exhibitions. Recent celebrations have featured a carnival party, firework displays, concerts and a photographic exhibition.

There are a number of events scheduled to take place at the amphitheatre throughout the summer including a fashion show, barn dance and picnic and photographic exhibition, all of which are open to the public. In the meantime, the school administration Department is eager to hear from any other association or individuals who may want to view the amphitheatre for community projects and events. Contact Zoe Kouris om : 25 367018 or  email zoe. kouris@heritageschool.ac.cy for further information.

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There was hearting news for the committee organising a regatta in Yeroskipou this summer when key sponsor. Hermes Airports Ltd shook on  its support.

Delegates from Paphos International Sailing Club (PISC) and the Paphos Nautical Club (PNC), are cooperating on the July regatta which has the full backing of Yeroskipou Mayor, Tassos Kouzoupos.

Red Chorlton, PISC committee’s representative on the regatta sub-committee, was delighted to report back from a Larnaca Airport meeting that Ken Hassard, Hermes Airports’ executive manager of marketing, was very positive about the event. Hassard described the sponsorship as’a strategic fit’with the type of support the multi-national company offers local events and for further development of its community relations.

Hassard also revealed himself as an enthusiastic yachtsman, having spent some time after college sailing in the West Indies.

“Ken is really keen that GSR2011 should be a great success,” said Chorlton.

PISC held its first regatta last autumn at Ayios Georgios in Paphos intending for it to becocome an annual event.

Yeroskipou Mayor, Tassos Kouzoupos is eager to promote the  village as a sports  tourists destination.  With a view to this, he contacted PISC late last year to propose holding the regatta at  Yeroskipou beach this summer.

The sailing event will kick off  several Yeroskipou beach based events scheduled for the summer tourist season concluding with the annual European Beach Volleyball Championships.

PISC was formed in 1999 by a group of local sailing enthusiasts.

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A circle of peace was held at the centre point of Cyprus  last Saturday , as around 100 teenagers from the  North and South held hands on a hill outside Dhali village.

If lines are draw n on the map of Cyprus from east to west and north to south , they on that area near south Nicosia , where the Cyprus  Friendship programme (CFP) Bicommunal Youth Group planted 40 and remembered the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots lost in the war.

Those who lost relatives during  the conflicts of the 1960s and 70s placed flowers in remembrance.

“This is a time when we can declare that we have all suffered enough,” said programme coordinator Nicos Anastasiou in a speech before the group held a minute’s silence.

“This is a time to  declare  that the law of an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth that has left so many people blind and toothless has no place in Cyprus any more.”

“But today as we stand under the same sky , we can also say that we share the hope for lasting peace in Cyprus.”

The teens gave a symbolic name to each tree before planting them.

“They will be going to America together on a trip where they’ll be doing community  work,” coordinator Sarper Ince  said.

The CFP started in 2009 as an initiative of HasNa, a small US non-profit organisation.

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One of diving’s elite has been telling his story to a special Northern Cyprus  underwater event.

Andre Laban, a member of internationally famous Jacques Cousteau’s diving team, was the guest of the eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) at their recent underwater Photography and film festival and 5^th Underwater Research Symposium.

The 86-year-old diving veteran, who a pioneer of underwater imaging, invented the first underwater housing for cameras which is now used by thousands of scuba divers worldwide.

Laban was impressed with the hundreds of underwater photographs taken by the students, which reminded him of his own films.

He collaborated  with Jacque Cousteau for over 30 years.

Andre Laban said that he was surprised at the lack of fish in the waters surrounding the Northern Cyprus, bur added that there  was an increase in global warming and migratory species of fish may be important factor in reducing the number and diversity of local fish.

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The Paphos Tourism Board says that the government of Cyprus and the Ukraine must cooperate to lift a monopoly on air routes from Kiev in order to help local tourism grow.

The Paphos  Tourism Board has just returned from the three-day UITT tourism fair in Kiev where it furthered contacts with travel agents and other industry professionals.

“Only the Ukrainian airline AeroSvit and Cyprus Airways have permission to fly between  the two countries,” a board spokesman told. At present, there are three weekly winter flights between Kiev and Larnaca. During the summer, this rises to seven.

“Visitors from the  Ukraine come to Paphos after landing in Larnaca and there is an upward trend this year. There is definitely a demand for more flights, but there needs to be more competition. An average return ticket between the Ukraine and Cyprus costs euro500 which puts tourists off,”  the spokesman said.”More tour operators are sending tourists to Cyprus. if there were more competitive flight prices we could attract a higher number.” The Spokesman also said that the Cyprioty Embassy in Kiev appears to be understaffed, with tourist visa applications being complicated and taking too long.

“The government needs to address this, too,” he said.

Over the past three years the Paphos Tourism and Hotelier Association have made efforts to attract visitors from former Eastern Bloc countries such as the Ukraine and are hoping for a direct flight between Paphos and Kiev in 2o012.

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