With great emotion, we combed the newspapers of 1981 (from 2-5 August) and searched for extracts about the Veteran Antonis Papadopoulos. Below are few of the articles written then.
Anotonis Papadopoulos’ death came as a great upset
Antonis Papadopoulos has died. The man who dedicated most of his life to bettering Cypriot sports is no longer with us. The hole he leaves behind cannot be measured nor can his inestimable contribution to sports. Antonis Papadopoulos died on Sunday night after a heart attack.
The Athletic nation of Cyprus mourned yesterday (Tuesday 4th August 1981) its worthy offspring Antonis Papadopoulos who so unfairly and prematurely left behind his family, friends, relatives, fellow athletes and fellow fighters. Many people attended his funeral yesterday. Great sorrow could be seen in the eyes of all who attended. Cries of sorrow were heard during the ceremony, at his burial when the Archbishop Chryostomos sang Psalms and when wreaths were laid down on his grave. Attendees included the President of Cyprus Mr Kyprianou, and the ministers of Tranport and Finance, the Internal undersecretary, representatives from the Greek Embassy and many other officials.
The many wreaths that were laid down in his memory included the President of the Democracy Spyros Kyprianou, the Head of Parliament Glafkos Clerides, the first secretary of the Greek Embassy Mr Paizos, on behalf of the Foreign Ministry of Greece Mr Mitsotakis, the secretary to the Embassador of Greece Mr Kountoumas, Ministers Mr Anagnostakis on behalf of SEGAS, Mr Marsellou, Mr Michaeilides. The Presindent of the Cyprus Sports association Mr Kikis Lazarides and representatives of many federations and sports associations.
Antonis Papadopoulos was an influential supporter of sports, his was for his whole life a visionary and ideologist. His vision of Ethnic freedom made him follow Afxentiou in his youth to the tops of the mountains to battle. When this fight was over, and the “master” left forever, Antonis never forgot his role model. He fought in every track and honored his ideals. In his life, repeated upsets deprived him and his family financially but he always remained respectable in society and work; a fighter, a hero
His sudden death shocked us all and left us speechless. It was the only type of death becoming to such a brave man, who wanted to be remembered with us honor to the end. A tall and proud Cypress tree hit by lightening in a clear blue sky and grows old without complaint or bearing a grudge. His death upset his family greatly who were left without a protector. We hope they find comfort in the recognition given to him in Cyprus who mourned him with sorrow and despair, Antonis belongs to all of Cyprus, to a nation that should grieve him.
Constantinos Riris
