Police report flags safety gaps at 11 indoor sports venues

Local policesafetysportsTop News Police report flags safety gaps at 11 indoor sports venues Giped 1536x1024 Relevant News Police report flags safety gaps at 11 indoor sports venues 20 July 2026 Cyprus marks 52 years since Turkish invasion 20 July 2026 Cyprus police make 13 arrests, issue 286 traffic citations overnight 20 July 2026 Michalis Hadjivasilis 20 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The same problems recur across 11 indoor venues used for basketball, volleyball and futsal matches. Monitoring systems are only installed at venues owned by the Cyprus Sports Organisation (CSO), while recommendations for the rest repeat year after year. In one case, a venue sits next to a fuel station. At most grounds, the stands, including one with wooden seating, have no numbering and no protective measures for athletes. Spectators are able to spit onto the court at several venues, and two rival teams’ locker rooms sit side by side with no fencing between them at all. Here is what a Police report found. Apollon Limassol indoor hall The Apollon Limassol indoor hall drew the longest list of recommendations. Police want CCTV installed, along with an electronic spectator and ticket control system, upgraded external lighting, numbered seating and sectioned stands. The venue lacks parking that meets spectator needs and signage for people with disabilities. Police also want protective netting installed on the court to prevent objects being thrown or spitting. Fencing is required too, since the hall sits next to AEL’s indoor hall. Tension between the two clubs’ fans runs high whenever both teams play at the same time. Paralimni Municipal indoor hall The Paralimni Municipal indoor hall has one grandstand and can only be used for matches in the presence of home team fans, police found. They are also requesting stewards to supervise the court to prevent fans from entering it. The venue has no crisis centre, no CCTV, and no electronic ticket or fan control system. Metal structures are needed outside the entrances so fans enter one at a time. Police also want signage for the collection point of prohibited items, numbered seating, and canopies outside the entrances. Anagennisi Deryneia indoor hall The Anagennisi Deryneia indoor hall has two wooden stands without seats and a single shared entrance, police report, meaning the venue can only be used for matches in the presence of home team fans. Supervision of the court is required. The venue has no CCTV, no electronic fan control or ticket control, and no crisis centre. External lighting needs upgrading and disability signage is required, while numbering the stands is impossible since there are no seats. Parnassos Strovolos The venue has CCTV, but police say it needs upgrading, and there is no crisis centre. There is no electronic system for checking incoming spectators and tickets. The venue’s security officer must ensure all emergency exits are continuously monitored throughout every match, police say. Because the court sits very close to the stands, police are also requesting measures from the security officer to prevent fans entering the court or throwing objects onto it. Alcoholic drinks may not be sold from the kiosk on match days. Kostas Papaellinas hall, Strovolos Broadly similar findings apply to the Kostas Papaellinas hall in Strovolos. The venue has no CCTV, no electronic spectator or ticket control system, and no crisis centre. Police are requesting numbered seating in the eastern stand, supervision of the venue’s emergency exits, and measures to stop fans entering the court. AEL Nikos Solomonidis, Limassol Police raised extensive observations about the AEL Nikos Solomonidis stadium in Limassol. The venue has no crisis centre. Police recommend installing CCTV and an electronic spectator and ticket control system, along with stronger external lighting, metal entrance structures, and improved protective measures around team benches. The stands are continuous and can only be used by one team’s fans at a time. A suitable dividing barrier is required at the curved ends of the stands, along with a 1.5-metre anti-vandal barrier around the perimeter. Alcoholic drinks may not be sold from the stadium’s cafeteria on match days. Protective netting is also required on the court, beneath the main stand, to prevent objects being thrown or spitting at players, officials or referees. Next to a fuel station For the Agios Dometios community stadium, police recommend installing CCTV. The venue does have a crisis centre, but lacks the necessary equipment. An electronic system for checking incoming spectators and tickets is installed but not connected, and police recommend connecting it. The stadium sits next to a fuel station, which police say poses a risk. The stadium must obtain a special permit from the Fire Service to hold matches. In the event of disturbances or the use of dangerous objects, police warn, the venue could become a risk to public order and safety both within the stadium grounds and in the surrounding area, and they do not rule out the possibility of casualties. Themistokleio indoor sports centre, Limassol Police findings on the Themistokleio indoor sports centre are numerous and serious. The venue has no crisis centre, and as a result has no dedicated room for use by the security officer and the policing officer. External lighting needs upgrading, and police recommend installing CCTV and electronic spectator and ticket control systems. The venue needs metal entrance structures and signage for disability access and for the collection point of prohibited items. Police also recommend measures to stop fans entering the court and a ban on alcohol sales from the canteen outside the stadium. Kition indoor hall, Larnaca CCTV is being installed at the Kition indoor hall in Larnaca, police report, requiring an electronic system for checking incoming spectators and tickets. Police are also requesting that dry grass be cleared from the fenced outdoor area around the stadium to prevent fire. Aphrodite Paphos CCTV is being installed at the Aphrodite Paphos venue, police report, and an electronic spectator and ticket control system is required. Recommendations were also made regarding disability access, numbering the seating, and protecting the windows behind the stands. Lefkotheo and T. Papadopoulos – Eleftheria Police raised several significant observations about the two indoor venues owned by the Cyprus Sports Organisation (CSO). For Lefkotheo, the installation of CCTV is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. An electronic spectator and ticket control system must also be installed, police say. Supervision of the toilet windows is required to stop dangerous objects being brought into the venue, along with continuous monitoring of emergency exits throughout every match. The stadium has no crisis centre. Police want all entrances upgraded so spectators are searched before entering the stands rather than afterwards, and recommend installing bars on the glass windows. Work to install CCTV at the T. Papadopoulos – Eleftheria stadium is also expected to be completed. The venue has no crisis centre, and police say an electronic entry and ticket control system must be installed. External lighting needs upgrading. Police do not recommend opening the “folding stands” for safety reasons, since the railings separating them from the pitch are low and sit very close to the playing area. The folding stands should only be opened with prior approval, police recommend. They also want special protective bars fitted to the glass windows located behind the stands. Read more Four Cypriot football stadiums fail safety inspections as authorities race against time for league kickoff Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Cyprus marks 52 years since Turkish invasion Cyprus police make 13 arrests, issue 286 traffic citations overnight 40 degrees and clear skies expected Cyprus and Greece to co-produce small drone with strike capability Christodoulides expected to announce cabinet reshuffle Three inmates set fire to Central Prisons wing Spain win World Cup as Torres extra-time strike dethrones 10-man Argentina Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.