Apollo Executive Review by Angelos Iacovides

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APOLLO EXECUTIVE REVIEW

APRIL/MAY/JUNE - 2011

executive REVIEW

OFFBEAT LONDON QUEEN OF

RHYTHM GET SMART APRIL/MAY/JUNE - 2011

ANTHONY MARAS

LIFE IN FILM

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We began replacing our older aircraft with new three years ago and we consider completing the programme within the specified time frame a great achievement. Without doubt, having a completely renewed fleet makes us more competitive and makes flying with Cyprus Airways a pleasure for every passenger. The renewal of our fleet, the warm hospitality of the people in our company and the ongoing modernisation of our overall infrastructure is what enables us to meet the needs of even the most demanding customer.

Dear Passenger, It is my pleasure to welcome you aboard this Cyprus Airways flight. In March, our airline took delivery of two new aircraft which completed the renewal of our fleet. We named these new aircraft after the two mountain ranges of Cyprus, Troodos and Pendadaktylos. We now operate a fleet of modern Airbus aircraft to ensure that our flights are safe, pleasant and comfortable and we are especially proud of the success of our fleet renewal programme.

We are a small airline with a great history in maintaining a high standard of service. The experience we’ve gained in our 64 years of operation allows us to understand our customers’ needs and do everything possible to cater for them. Thank you for choosing Cyprus Airways for your travel. I am confident that you will have an enjoyable experience flying with us today and I look forward to welcoming you back aboard further Cyprus Airways flights in the future.

George Mavrocostas Chief Executive Officer

WELCOME ABOARD

CYPRUS AIRWAYS ■

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CYPRUS AIRWAYS â&#x2013;

CODESHARE PARTNERS Co-operative and marketing agreements with other airlines are an integral part of Cyprus Airways operating policy. Code sharing agreements enable travellers to take advantage of a greatly enhanced spectrum of global destinations with the minimum of procedural inconvenience.

CYPRUS AIRWAYS OPERATES WITH THE FOLLOWING PARTNER AIRLINES:

LARNACA - AMSTERDAM

Jointly operated services using Cyprus Airways aircraft and crew.

LARNACA-ADU DHABI

Jointly operated services using Etihad Airways aircraft & crew.

LARNACA - ROME AND MILAN

Jointly operated services using Cyprus Airways aircraft and crew. Russian International Airlines

LARNACA - DAMASCUS

LARNACA - MOSCOW

Both parties operate and have a seat exchange programme.

CYPRUS - GREECE Both airlines operate code sharing flights between Cyprus and Greece. The agreement also extends to Greek domestic and a number of international flights.

LARNACA - BAHRAIN

Jointly operated services using Gulf Air aircraft & crew.

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LARNACA-BUCHAREST

Jointly operated services using Tarom aircraft & crew.

CYPRUS ARISTO Developers is an established propert y developer in Cyprus for over 30 years. As the market leaders in both propert y development and golf resorts, we are 100% customer-driven of fering you a wide range of freehold properties in exclusive locations in Cyprus. ARISTO Developers guarantees deliver y dates and title deeds and of fers you propert y to suit all tastes and budgets. With an excellent af ter-sales ser vice and propert y management team behind you ever y step of the way.

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www.aristodevelopers.com Aristo Developers is a member of the DOLPHIN CAPITAL INVESTORS Group of Companies

Located only 100m from the beach in the most thriving and modern town in Cyprus Large communal swimming pool with BBQ area Qualit y finishes and basements in most units Close to a plethora of amenities and ser vices Short driving distances to Troodos, ski resorts, golf courses and the Larnaca International Airport Easy access from the development to motorways linking Limassol to all the other major towns of Cyprus Close to existing and upcoming marinas

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GYM

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GYMNASTICS ■ By Melissa Reynolds

Queen of the rhythm

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Rhythmic gymnast Chrystalleni Trikomiti literally leapt into the limelight when she won five medals for her dazzling floor routines at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last October. This year she has an Olympic place in her sights. and the British. They came, they stayed – sometimes for hen competing, Chrystalleni centuries – epitomises and then Trikomiti the grace and poise of a ballerina, head they left. things tilted up and chinBut set defiantly as she strides purposely onto the competition carpet. Before were never quite her routine even begins, from the tips of her toes to the set of her fingers, every carefully the same. choreographed gesture, smile and step will be

scrutinised by the judges, as the merest hint of uncertainty can have an impact on the final score. “This is one of the first steps to learn before you go to competitions because it makes a difference if you show to the judges that you are afraid, it shows that you don’t have experience, “ the Cypriot gymnast explains. Off the carpet Chrystalleni maintains the same air of confidence but is considerably more down to earth than her competition persona. At times she seems like an average teenager chilling out on Facebook and professing a desire to meet Justin Bieber, yet, for the time being at least, that’s where the similarities with her contemporaries more or less end. For a start there’s the growing collection of press clippings attesting to Chystalleni’s

recently acquired fame. Despite the intrusion and her age she’s remarkably at ease talking to the media and comes across as both smart and friendly, eager to talk about the complexities of her sport. Then there’s the extensive overseas travel, on occasion leaving barely enough time for her to catch her breath between arriving home and heading back to the airport. All of which is a breeze compared to a daily schedule comprised of between four to eight hours training in addition to school and homework. When discussing what she might do if training didn’t eat up a large chunk of her time it’s clear that slouching in front of the TV or computer would still be an anathema to her, although she admits it’s getting harder to resist the temptation to spend more time with friends. “From four years old when I started rhythmic gymnastics my life was in a programme – I had to go to school, come back home for an hour then go to the gym and then home to sleep. So from very young I managed this programme... but yes, now it’s very difficult because I want to go out most of the time I do manage because I know every hour what I have to do,” she says. Self-confidence and unwavering focus are Bracelet with onyx beads and silver chased clasp. notThe altogether surprising whenCyprus you and consider original was found in Vouni, dates 475-400BC. Chrystalleni’s background. Thefrom Larnaka teenager has grown up in a household consumed by a passion for competitive sports. Her grandfather excelled in wrestling and rally driving, a sport in which her father Sotos still competes. Judo is the activity of choice for Chrystalleni’s two brothers, while her mother and two of her three sisters share a talent for gymnastics. Until now rhythmic gymnastics hasn’t exactly been at the forefront of Cypriot sports and Chrystalleni credits her sister with raising Cyprus’ profile at international level. “My older sister Loukia was a great athlete, she was the best in Cyprus,” she says. “I think Loukia opened this road because I couldn’t manage if she hadn’t had all these results and gone to competitions. Now when I go people say she’s from Cyprus she’s a good athlete because most of the judges don’t say the name of an athlete, they just say this is Cyprus.”

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QUEEN OF THE RHYTHM ■

Family support is a critical factor in Chrystalleni’s success, both from a psychological perspective and in monetary terms, the latter offering the girls the benefit of their own training gym and the services of Natalia Raskina, one of the world’s best rhythmic gymnastics coaches. According to Chrystalleni, the Belarusian coach has changed ‘everything’ since her arrival almost two years ago. “I think my job APOLLO 08

is not only my effort, I believe it’s 60% my coach and 40% me, because I have to listen to what she says and then do what I have to do. She knows because she has so much experience with previous athletes that she’s trained and her daughter. She can watch me and say exactly what I feel, what I think and what I will do, so we make a very good team.” Over the coming months Natalia’s daughter, Yulia, Olympic silver medallist in the all-round event at the Sydney Games, will also be on hand to help Chrystalleni prepare for what could be her most challenging season yet. In a sport traditionally dominated by Eastern European gymnasts their combined experience will be invaluable in securing a place at the 2012 Olympics when she competes at the World Championships in September. Only the first fifteen gymnasts are assured of an Olympic spot with the final nine places to be decided at an Olympic test event in January. While Chrystalleni didn’t face her Eastern European rivals at the Commonwealth Games, her success against more competitively experienced gymnasts has given her an extra boost

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QUEEN OF THE RHYTHM ■

of confidence. “It was a big step for my career,” she says. “It was a very strong competition for me so I managed to get some more experience. It was my first competition like it and with so many people and such a big organisation I think it’s only for the best.” Although Chrystalleni’s impressive achievement in Delhi means she’ll be under greater pressure to perform well this year, for her it’s still business as normal. “Before last year only a few people believed in what I could do but I don’t blame them because if you don’t have results, then no one knows if you have the talent or if you can manage to do this. Now I just have my aims and, like with the Commonwealth Games or European Championship when I was a junior and got 6th place, I will just work like I always do and I will manage, because it’s not for anyone else that I do this sport, it’s for myself.” That said, Chrystalleni loves to entertain and was delighted to win the hearts of the audience in Delhi. “You can feel the people, you can hear them and it’s better for me psychologically to feel that they are on my side,” she explains. “That’s a good thing not only for me but for the judges because they can see that people who don’t know about APOLLO 10

Each of Chrystalleni’s routines is practised ‘a thousand times’ before she steps onto the carpet, so a change of apparatus is always a challenge. New competition rules means replacing her gold medal winning rope routine with a ‘clubs’ programme

my sport can recognise who’s in the first places, how they feel about the athletes.” Each of Chrystalleni’s routines is practised ‘a thousand times’ before she steps onto the carpet, so a change of apparatus is always a challenge. New competition rules means replacing her gold medal winning rope routine with a ‘clubs’ programme - so spectators will expect a Tricomiti flourish to follow-up the innovative finger spin seen in her ball routine, and which now officially bears her name. “I like dancing and making the moves and steps. I change my music and I have fast and slow music because I can show the crowd and the judges that I am not the same person with every apparatus, I can do many variations,” she reveals. “It’s a plus for me to show both sides.” While she dreams of competing at the Olympics Chrystalleni is also working hard to get the ‘A’ level grades she needs to study law at university next year. After twelve years dedicated to her sport she admits it will be difficult to leave gymnastics behind. “When I stop it will be very strange to have a normal life but when I go to study I will have something to do. It will be like I’ll watch my own videos on YouTube and I will be sad but it will stay as a lovely memory.”

HYPERION profile

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Through â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;process optimizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Hyperion delivers solutions that not only reduce operating and supply chain costs, but can also improve safety and increase overall profitability.

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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ■ By Luke Chrysanthou

HYPERION:

Making Waves

A CYPRUS-BASED, CYPRIOTOWNED COMPANY IS MAKING WAVES ON THE INTERNATIONAL SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT STAGE.

The company is Hyperion Systems Engineering PLC, which has staff in 14 countries, and Lemesosborn Dr Symeon Kassianides at its helm.

roviding services to major companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil, Corus, and Arcelor Mittal, and competing with the likes of Honeywell, AspenTech and SAP, in the 18 years since it was founded Hyperion has become a major player on the international stage, with projects across the globe. Operating out of its Lefkosia headquarters, Hyperion is a software company that provides solutions to the global process industries. Through ‘process optimization’, Hyperion delivers solutions that not only reduce operating and supply chain costs, but which can also improve safety and increase overall profitability. The work might be complicated and high-tech, but it’s easy enough to get a feel for what Hyperion does. Take astronauts going up into space, for example. They’re not just strapped into their seats and told to hang on tight… instead, they are given hours and hours of training on simulators to not only ensure that they are comfortable in the work environment and competent with the operating system, but also to reveal any problems that might crop up. An element of what Hyperion does is similar, in that the company’s software offers the chance for staff to train on, say, a simulation of a refinery operating system before working on the real thing. It’s clever stuff and Hyperion is a leading player in its field. The concept stretches back to Kassianides’ university days. Born in Lemesos and raised in Lefkosia, Kassianides admits his passion for business and engineering came late: “Actually back in high school I was into music! I had a rock band… I was giving concerts, but in my later teens, I was working playing a few nights in Agia Napa and it was good fun, but I thought ‘I’m not going to do this for the rest of my life, so what am I going to do..?’ I started studying electrical

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HYPERION: MAKING WAVES ■

engineering, but found I didn't like it, so I went into chemical engineering. ” “During my last year at MIT in the States I got into computing, so I did my thesis on computers and chemical engineering. Then I went on to do my PhD at Imperial College, London. I developed software as part of my PhD and two of the main companies in my field at that time wanted me to go to them to commercialize my research. I thought that instead of doing it for them, if I could raise the money, I would try to do it for myself.” “I worked as a consultant here and there for a couple of years, while raising the funding, then I started the company in December ‘93. I got my first employee in Jan 94, and now we have around 150 people.” “Through process optimization, we deliver solutions to the global process industries – which include oil & gas, refining, petrochemicals, steel & aluminium, pharmaceuticals, power generation and others. Our solutions address many things, including energy efficiency, safety, better procurement, organisation of production, what to do where and how, how you can manufacture faster, better, cheaper… and so on.” “In facilities such as oil refineries, you have to apply software automated solutions because these are very complex systems. So people will come to us and ask us to make their system better. Or they will come with a problem. Or they have a new development and we can work with them to train operators, build a system, or even validate a design building a mathematical model to make sure it works. We can come in at the beginning and create a simulator, test something in theory, then fine tune it. ” “Recently a major client of ours built two new plants, huge projects. They first built islands at the location through land reclamation, then they built two new plants. Hyperion built the simulators that first checked the designs and then, through the simulators, which had real-time representation, we were able to validate the design. “This client has an objective of “flawless start-ups”. Obviously, starting a plant isn’t just pressing a button and off it goes. It’s something that can take days. If you have a new facility, and you find a problem on startup, then you have to stop and go back. By testing and validating and fixing problems APOLLO 14

Dr Kassianides with mementos from his teenage years.

with the control system in advance, you can achieve earlier start-ups – now on a multi million dollar production facility, each day translates into a huge amount of product that could be on the market. That’s why a flawless start-up is so important.” “So we validated the control system, then we used the same system to train the engineers and operators to run the plant. Our systems also allow clients to obtain information about their facility. You can assess Key Performance Indices on production, so you can track what is being done, is it being done well, are you doing something wrong, are you expending too much energy, do you need to optimize something, and so on.” Due to its proximity to the Middle East, Cyprus has worked well as a headquarters for Hyperion. Given the nature of its work, however, most of Hyperion’s staff are located overseas. Around 40 are based in Cyprus, with the rest spread across the globe in countries as geographically diverse as India, the UK, Greece, Russia, Brazil, the USA and Saudi Arabia. Kassianides explains: “We have a global resource pool and we spend a lot of time travelling! But when you hear people talking about their BRIC strategy (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and what they're planning to do, we're

Due to its proximity to the Middle East, Cyprus has worked well as a headquarters for Hyperion.

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HYPERION: MAKING WAVES ■

No business can get where it wants without a plan. Hope is not a plan. Hope is not a strategy. But you have to dream. “Cyprus is a good place because life is comfortable compared to some of the places I go to. We have an opportunity for the Middle East… we understand the Middle East, they understand us… so there's an opportunity for Cyprus to be the channel between the Middle East and Europe.” - Dr. Symeon Kassianides

already there! We have 4 people in Shanghai, 20 in Moscow, more than 20 in India and we are in Brazil - which is actually one of our largest markets for the steel industry.” While Hyperion is undoubtedly a Cypriot success story, it hasn’t been unaffected by the global economic downturn. “We started feeling the first impact in August 2008,” explains Kassianides, “and by January 2009 we had cancelled projects. The first 6 months of 2009 were the worst. Things started slowly coming back by mid 2009, and then more so in 2010. “Basically, we see it moving forward. This year is one for us to really strengthen and grow APOLLO 16

our existing Russia and Saudi Arabia operations. We are also setting up our first full blown operation in the United States. The opportunities are there, the market is there, we have business and it’s picking up...” Along with heading a successful international business, Kassianides has also found time to build a family with Beatriz, his wife of 18 years. The couple have three boys. He admits it’s too early to see if they will follow him into the engineering business, but he’s quick to stress that it will be entirely their choice: “I don’t have that expectation for my kids. I just want them to do well in what they do.” Out of the office, Kassianides served on the board of directors of the Cyprus Stock Exchange in the 90s, and is a member of the board of directors of the University of Cyprus. He also maintains interest in the family’s other business – a well-known art gallery in Lefkosia. His advice to budding entrepreneurs looking to succeed in business? “Don't give up! Never give up. Try. If you don’t try, it can never happen. If you don’t buy a lotto ticket, you're not going to win. No business can get where it wants without a plan. Hope is not a plan. Hope is not a strategy. But you have to dream. When you stop dreaming, you're as good as dead... so you have to keep at it.”

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ■ By Luke Chrysanthou

Get

smart

BE PREPARED 2

WORRIED YOUR TECHNICAL PROWESS IS FALLING BEHIND..? BAFFLED BY BLACKBERRYS..? PERPLEXED BY IPADS…? ANGST-RIDDEN ABOUT ANDROIDS? MAYBE YOU NEED A CRASH COURSE IN CURRENT MOBILE TECH… o almost anywhere these days… bus stops, cafes, cinema foyers… and you’ll see people chatting away on mobile phones. There are few people left out there now who haven’t succumbed to their allure. But what about smartphones…? Or tablets..? There are a lot of them out there, but are you one of those who’s just a little concerned by all these flashy new gadgets? Are you happy with emailing and surfing the web at your office or at home, but a bit out of your depth when people start talking BlackBerry, HTC, iPad..? If you answered yes, then try not to worry, because these devices really aren’t as scary as you might think. In fact, you might be surprised at how much these modern mobile gizmos can do for you and your business…

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GET SMART ■

As with so many modern technologies, it’s a case of horses for courses. In other words, just because there are lots of flashy toys out there, you don’t necessarily need the best equipped or the most expensive. But increasing your mobility offers many advantages for modern professionals… regardless of the size of their business. Most large modern companies have already invested in the necessary tools to equip their extended workforces with the latest mobile technologies, but small companies – and even ‘one-man-band’ outfits have as much to gain. Sometimes, even more. After all, if you don’t have a receptionist or other staff ready to take calls or answer emails, it’s vital that you’re able to remain in contact with existing or potential clients whenever and wherever. If you run and operate a business on your own, not only is it easy to get mobile – it’s also surprisingly inexpensive. Assuming you already have a workstation at home or at your office, it’s simply a case of choosing what sort of facilities you want at your disposal while on the move. Do you regularly travel a long distance from your base? If yes, then perhaps it’s worthwhile carrying your laptop and charger. However, if you tend to return to your desk on a regular basis, you might find that a modern tablet, or even a smartphone, is more than sufficient. APOLLO 20

A tablet is best regarded as a small laptop. Smaller invariably means more portable, and there are advantages such as prolonged battery life (Apple’s iPad can run for several hours before requiring a recharge). But functionality is restricted. The iPad, for example, has slim good looks and for fast access to the internet, emails, and online files on the go, it’s a terrific piece of kit. However, it lacks USB ports, is unable to multi-task and doesn’t support flash, which can impact the web browsing experience. Similarly, a smartphone – basically a mobile phone with added whizz-bang features - can offer fast, reliable access to emails and the web, while also providing communications and social networking

Most large modern companies have already invested in the necessary tools to equip their extended workforces with the latest mobile technologies, but small companies – and even ‘one-man-band’ outfits - have as much to gain tools such as Skype, Facebook and Twitter… all easily accessed, wherever you are. You’ll still want to prepare presentations and the like on your workstation back at the office, but thanks to your smartphone you’ll be perfectly equipped to read and reply to an urgent email, or quickly access critical online info, whether you’re on the bus, in a meeting, or relaxing at home. And, just as it is with your regular mobile phone, roaming agreements mean that you can maintain this connectivity when you travel overseas (although higher costs could be incurred). When you get home, simply plug your device into your desktop or laptop and the devices will quickly update each other with any changes. For an individual, getting connected is a doddle and as simple as popping down to your local electronics store. Retailers will be able to demonstrate the various brands and models on offer and advise according to your needs. They’ll also have info on local mobile internet providers and their packages. These are based on data usage and start at surprisingly affordable prices. Take

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professional advise on what device/data plan suits your needs best. Introducing a mobile network for a number of users, say for a small company with a number of sales staff, or similar, is where things get more complicated, but even more exciting! In an office environment, members of staff will typically have desktops or laptops that are connected to a central server. This server operates as a central ‘hub’ through which emails and all internet traffic is routed. By installing specialist software on this server, IT managers are able to unleash the true professional potential of portable devices. Chris Lazarides, IT Manager of a major international PR company headquartered in Cyprus with offices across the region, explains: “One of the key advantages is synchronicity. Imagine you have a team of salespeople who divide their time between the office and the road. They need fast APOLLO 22

COURTESY OF APPLE

GET SMART ■

Introducing a mobile network for a number of users, say for a small company with a number of sales staff, or similar, is where things get more complicated, but even more exciting!

access to emails, IMs, calendars, contact details… all the vital information that allows them to do their job successfully and efficiently. By using the appropriate software, your smartphone or tablet can be kept in immediate contact with your Exchange server, which means that your mobile device and your desktop/laptop will instantly mirror each other – automatically updating any changes you made on either device. Send and receive emails? Your inbox and sent items will be identical. Set a reminder on your calendar? Both devices automatically update. Need a phone number? You have instant access to your full contact details. “An Exchange Server really does allow a smartphone to be exploited to its full potential. Plus you can get added security. And for anyone worried about a mobile device containing sensitive information being lost or stolen, some have the facility for your IT manager to wipe them remotely – restoring the device to its default settings and keeping what’s secret, secret.” A feature of this size can barely skim the surface of the many, many advantages to be enjoyed by embracing the latest mobile technologies. But with costs tumbling, the number of applications increasing all the time, and the abilities of mobile devices now more impressive than ever, there’s never been a better time for small businesses – and individuals – to get smart. And let’s not forget, modern smartphones and tablets also come with some pretty cool games. After all, you know what they say about too much work and not enough play..!

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sports

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Getting

inside

Sport Psychology

DR COSTAS KARAGEORGHIS HAS WORKED IN SPORT PSYCHOLOGY FOR TWO DECADES AND ESTABLISHED AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE FINEST EXPONENTS OF HIS DISCIPLINE. He has been called upon to assist hundreds of sportsmen and women with their mental approach â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from humble club-level performers to Olympic and World champions.He has also plied his craft among performing artists and business executives.In this exclusive article for Apollo, Dr Karageorghis shares some of the psychological techniques he has used with elite performers to help you achieve your own health, fitness or sporting goals.

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LIFESTYLE ■ By Dr Costas I. Karageorghis

Sport psychology is an applied science in which psychological principles are used to enhance athletes’ performance levels and maintain their wellbeing.We will touch on four key areas – motivation, imagery and mental rehearsal, stress management and the power of music – each of which will be illustrated by techniques that encourage you to practise during your flight, and perhaps beyond.

MOTIVATION: THE WILL TO SUCCEED “The beginning is the half of every action.” (Greek proverb)

The term motivation is used to describe the powerful inner force that inspires us to direct behaviour in a certain way. We often refer to this force by other names such as get-up-andgo, zip, desire, and even ‘oomph’. Its impact is absolutely fundamental to our daily lives. A complete absence of motivation would mean inertia, no activity at all. This is a totally unnatural state for the human species, because we all possess a deep-rooted need to explore and master our environment in order to promote our own survival. Nobody is entirely devoid of motivation. What people sometimes need to discover is the key that unlocks their own motivational reserves. Were you to look around, you would probably see several individuals who have conquered a fear of flying and demonstrated strong willpower in doing so. As well as enabling us to overcome such seemingly large obstacles, motivation can affect our behaviour even at a microscopic level; for example, whereas some passengers would prefer to sit back, eat a snack and stare out of the window, you have chosen to read the articles in Apollo. Motivation Exercise: Exploring Your Motivation What characterises your motivation? Reflect on what motivates you in these key areas of your life: your work, your most important relationships, your pastimes and your physical exercise. Take a moment to consider your first experiences in each of these domains and whether you have held on to this original drive to succeed or somehow lost it along the way. Doing this is a really good way of rekindling motivation in a variety of areas.

Taking the example of work, did you find yourself reflecting on the social networks involved and perhaps a sense of mastery? When it comes to exercise, did you think of your state of health and fitness and how this has changed over the last few years? We experience innate drives to pursue certain activities; drives which are chemically controlled by what scientists refer to as the brain’s dopamine system. Nevertheless, we still need to consider WHY we are chasing particular objectives so hard. Do they make us happy or are we merely captivated by the pursuit, striving always to be a little better than we currently are? Leading psychologists have questioned how good people are at actually knowing what makes them happy. Take smoking as an example; although we are compelled to smoke cigarettes, brain research has shown that the act of smoking does not provide us with much immediate pleasure, merely enough to form a habit. IMAGERY AND VISUALISATION: SEEING IS BELIEVING “Imagination gallops; judgement merely walks.” (Anon.) Bracelet with onyx beads and silver chased clasp. The original was found in Vouni, Cyprus and dates from 475-400BC.

Great achievers in history are characterized by having a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve; Euro 2004-winning manager Otto Rehhagel, statesman Nelson Mandela and revered scientist Rosalind Franklin to name but a few. Visualization is the key that will unlock your potential and turn your dreams into reality. By recreating desired outcomes in your mind using multisensory images (i.e. sight, sound, touch) you greatly increase the chance of attaining superior performance in your workouts, and in important work-related performances, such as giving presentations. The more vividly you can create images and the better you engage each of your senses, the more effectively you will prime yourself for superior performance. This holds true in all spheres of human achievement – sport, politics, science, engineering, humanitarianism, art and literature.

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Imagery Exercise: The Spotlight of Excellence Imagine you are standing on a stage and there is a spotlight, 1 metre in diameter, beaming down onto the floor about 1 metre in front of you. • Now think back to a time in your working life or in any field of achievement in which you were performing at your very best. Each action you made brought about a successful outcome, and everything just seemed to click into place. • See yourself in the spotlight excelling. Imagine exactly what the you inside the circle is seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting. • Now step into the spotlight and become fully connected to the experience so that you are sensing events through your own eyes and in real time. Again, notice what you are seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting. • Notice exactly what this feels like so you can try to reproduce it at will in the future. STRESS MANAGEMENT: KEEPING CONTROL OF MIND AND BODY “Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.” Nikos Kazantzakis (Greek writer and philosopher)

There will inevitably be a certain amount of stress involved in our daily lives, especially in the arenas of work and familial relationships, just like the way that walking in the rain without an umbrella will always make us wet! However, when levels of anxiety become extreme then people begin to perform well below their usual standard in any performance domain. In fact, in activities where an emphasis is placed on performance, anxiety could be considered public enemy #1! Anxiety Control: The Five Breath Technique Once mastered, this technique can be used anytime you feel yourself tensing up; even when you’re coming in to land! Just 5 minutes of practice most days for a few weeks should enable you to relax at will. Read these instructions slowly to yourself:

APOLLO 26

• Sit upright, head in a neutral position, hands in your lap, and feet flat on the floor. You should inhale slowly, deeply, and evenly through your nose, and exhale gently through your mouth as though flickering, but not extinguishing, the flame of a candle. • Take a deep breath. Allow your face and neck to relax as you breathe out. • Take a second deep breath. Allow your shoulders and arms to relax as you breathe out. • Take a third deep breath. Allow your chest, abdomen, and back to relax as you breathe out. • Take a fourth deep breath. Allow your legs and feet to relax as you breathe out. • Take a fifth deep breath. Allow your whole body to relax as you breathe out. Continue to breathe deeply, and each time you breathe out, say the word ‘relax’. Enjoy this state of relaxation for as long as you like. • When you wish to return to full alertness, count slowly from 1 to 5. Remind yourself that you will feel as relaxed and alert as you want to be for the task at hand. This sense of calm alertness will remain with you when you open your eyes. Count 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5, eyes wide open. Notice how good you feel.

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THE POWER OF MUSIC “Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul.” (Plato)

Music is an art form that pervades many aspects of human existence: worship, entertainment, communication, socialisation, healing, and not least athletic performance. The powerful effects of music are also the stuff of legends: The Pied Piper of Hamelin reputedly entranced children with his beautiful music and led them away, never to be seen again. Similarly, in Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus told of the songs of Sirens that cast a spell on sailors whose ships were subsequently dashed against the rocks. In American history, the blues emerged from the dark shadows of slavery and oppression to lift the spirits of African Americans and give them hope for a brighter future.

The powerful effects of music are also the stuff of legends: The Pied Piper of Hamelin reputedly entranced children with his beautiful music and led them away, never to be seen again There are several ways in which music can influence physical performance. Firstly, people have a strong tendency to respond to the rhythmical qualities of music. Indeed, the great Elvis Presley once said, “Music should be something that makes you gotta move, inside or out.” Researchers investigating this area have discovered hardwired connections in the brain between areas which deal with music perception and those that govern movement; maybe that’s why we find ourselves tapping our toes to a lively beat! The implication of this is that by coordinating a repetitive physical task such as exercise or even housework to music, we make that task far more pleasant. Secondly, music can stimulate or sedate us, much like a drug. Loud, upbeat music increases breathing rate, heart rate, sweat secretion, and other indicators of physical APOLLO 28

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr Costas Karageorghis is a reader in sport psychology and deputy head (research) of the School of Sport and Education at Brunel University in London. His parents come from Anaphotia, Larnaka and immigrated to London in the late 1960s. Costas grew up in South London and studied sport psychology in the UK and USA before becoming a chartered psychologist. He served as a visiting lecturer at Oxford University from 2003-2009 and was recently elected a Fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. Costas’s new book Inside Sport Psychology (Human Kinetics, 2011) is available from Estia bookstore in Larnaka, on amazon.com and all major bookstores in the UK.

arousal; soft, slow music generally has the opposite effect. Arousal is often increased through associations; in other words, the music promotes thoughts that inspire either physical activity or heroic deeds. For example, think of the theme tune from the 1981 film Chariots Of Fire, written and performed by Vangelis. The opening bars of this powerful piece sound like the throbbing of our own hearts. If you have some form of music at your disposal during this flight, then try this exercise: Listen to about 20 songs and identify any associations which spring up -these might be an old friend, a place of work, a memorable night out or a really special time in your life. Reflect on how you might use certain pieces of music to consciously regulate or modulate your mood. Using the techniques described in this article will enable you to become a little more self-aware, imaginative, focused and motivated towards the activities that really matter to you. Remember that your mind is like a parachute: it works best when open.

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PROFILE ■ By Sean Chamberlain

Anthony Maras: Life in film ANTHONY MARAS IS AN AWARD-WINNING, AUSTRALIA-BORN FILMMAKER WHOSE LATEST WORK IS A MOVING INSIGHT INTO THE EVENTS OF 1974 IN CYPRUS, FILMED WITH AN INTERNATIONAL CAST AND CREW AND SUPPORTED BY CYPRUS AIRWAYS. IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH APOLLO EXECUTIVE REVIEW, MARAS TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE IN FILM, HIS INFLUENCES, AND HIS LATEST PROJECT – THE PALACE.

Where were you born and raised, and what sparked your interest in film? I was born and raised in Adelaide, Australia. A very lucky country to grow up in, where you really get to meet people from all walks of life. Australia is a young country whose fabric is woven from people of literally every ethnic background on earth. When I was young – my older brother, sister and cousins were always watching and talking about films I wasn’t allowed to see. Horror films, gangster films, raunchy comedies. So, naturally, as a young kid you really want to see what you’re being told you can’t. I’ll never forget my first viewing of The Godfather. My brother and his mates were crazy about it but my parents were dead set against me watching it. So, home sick with chicken pox and being looked after by my old non-English speaking grandma, one day she asked what I’d like to watch. I remember casually picking up The Godfather VHS. And so, as a 9-year old, with my grandma sitting alongside dabbing calamine lotion on my spots, I first watched The Godfather. APOLLO 30

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Kubrick… this list will be too long, so I’m stopping now!

Was it always your intention to pursue a career in film? I ended up studying law at University but I always loved film. With friends, I’d been making films and mucking around with cameras and characters since high school. But it was really when I got accepted to spend a year on an Education Abroad scholarship at the University of California that I was really able to take a focused interest in filmmaking. It was also just an amazing life experience. Which directors – past and present – do you admire? Who would you say are your influences? That’s a hard question that all filmmakers, I presume, hate answering. Everyone from Polanski to Mann, Coppola to PT Anderson,

Director Anthony Maras accepting the Best Short Film prize at the 2007 AFI Awards, the Australian equivalent of the Oscars. Top: From the opening scene of “The Palace”, shot within a stone’s throw of the United Nations Green Line that still divides the island.

Living your life in film… is it all glitz and glamour? There might be dashes of glitz here and there, but that’s definitely not what my time in film has been about. The real reward for the filmmaker is being able to explore the world, stories, characters, people’s lives. The experiences I had in making The Palace for instance, the characters I’d met, the life experiences they shared with me – I wouldn’t change it for the world!

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What would you say has been your career highlight to date? Making The Palace with a truly amazing cast, crew and supporters, who sweat blood and tears for our film. Easily this. Does your Greek heritage impact your approach to film at all? Does it influence your choice of projects? Well yes, but so do all those fragments that make us who we are. Being of Greek heritage in a new country like Australia certainly forces you to do one of two things – either shrink into the security of your own kind and culture, or embrace the fact that there are countless people from countless cultures around you. Would you like to see Cyprus used for more international film productions? Absolutely. You only have to look at nearby Malta or countries like the Czech Republic or Bulgaria to realize that some vision and hard work can bring hundreds of millions of dollars of film production to your door. Cyprus has a solid legal system, is an attractive base for all manner of offshore companies, has sunlight

Behind the scenes on “ The Palace” , cinematographer Nick Matthews lines up a shot as producer Julie Ryan and director Anthony Maras look on.

“Times, movies and economic and distribution models are changing... but one thing hasn’t changed, and won’t anytime soon.The NEED for people to tell and be told stories.“ Anthony Maras, on location during the shooting of "The Palace".

11 months of the year and is literally at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. These are major factors which, with a real push, could see the next Titanic or Gladiator being shot in Cyprus – as opposed to elsewhere. Now that you’ve been so involved in the nuts and bolts of making films, do you still enjoy the ‘magic’ of the movies? Do you ever just kick back with a tub of popcorn and enjoy a movie for the sake of it? I just saw True Grit by the Coen Brothers and was captivated from start to finish. This is storytelling at its best. If the filmmakers do their job well – the magic is bulletproof. If they don’t – you cringe and sometimes want to walk out as quickly as possible. How do you feel about modern cinema? In this time of sequels, remakes, reboots, many criticize the lack of imagination out there… how do you feel? A lot of people are saying cinema is dying, that other forms of entertainment are taking over and all that. Largely I disagree. Of course times, movies and economic and distribution models are changing – but they always have. Maybe they are changing faster now – with the internet and new technologies, but one thing hasn’t changed, and

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won’t be anytime soon. The NEED for people to tell and be told stories. It can be hard to grasp, but storytelling is such a fundamental part of being human that we simply would not be able to function in society without it. From biblical stories that are told with the intent of teaching kids right from wrong, to political narratives to get some new politico elected – they are an integral part of life. If you could give any budding director… or actor… one piece of advice, what would it be? Make sure you really love it, work hard, and with good people. What projects are you currently working on? An international crime drama and a psychological political thriller. Regarding The Palace, could you give me a brief overview of the project? And what led you to make a movie about the events of 1974? The Palace follows the intersecting struggle of a young Turkish Cypriot soldier and a Greek Cypriot family caught up in the 1974 hostilities. Several years ago, while interviewing refugees for another project, I heard a heartbreaking tale about a Cypriot mother faced with an impossible decision when trying to protect her child in 1974. Her story really ‘put the hook’ in me, as did the real life confessions of Atilla Olgac, the famous Turkish actor, who confessed on air in 2009 to murdering 10 unarmed people during the 1974 conflict. Such things make you realize that we must outgrow war. Now.

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Above and Left: Scenes from “The Palace” Scene from “The Palace”

The Palace follows the intersecting struggle of a young Turkish Cypriot soldier and a Greek Cypriot family caught up in the 1974 hostilities.

What are you hoping to achieve with this production? Of course, the Cyprus problem is a hot button issue, of course it is controversial. And of course any filmmaker tackling it, particularly of Greek heritage, will cop some criticism as to bias. But this film is not antiTurkish, it is anti war. This film is not proCyprus, it is pro-justice. While our team went to great lengths to ensure the authenticity was there in the overall story and the specific details, it’s really a story about civilians and soldiers caught up in conflict, and how people related to one another. The wider politics of the invasion is not something that we really sought to capture, what we were really interested in was the human story. We really focused on the question of ‘what does war mean to civilians?’ What does war mean to a mother and her kids? What does

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ANTHONY MARAS: LIFE IN FILM ■

war mean for a young conscripted soldier who doesn’t want to be there? So while the wider concerns of what happened in 1974 are important to where the story fits in the wider historical context, it’s not really so much what the film is about. It’s more about how humans function in the most unnatural circumstances, which is death and destruction. Where will the movie screen and how will people get to see it? The Palace will screen at major film festivals internationally, and be available on DVD, the internet and television broadcast down the line.

Erol Afsin as Private Omer Argun in “The Palace”

Where was it filmed? The Palace was filmed on and around the Green Line in Lefkosia, Cyprus. A key venue for filming was actually the House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornessios – a beautiful historic mansion in Old Town Lefkosia. Who is in it? The Palace stars Christopher Greco, Daphne Alexander, Monica Vassiliou, Erol Afsin, Tamer Arslan and Kevork Malikyan. A truly incredible cast. Daphne had a role in the recent Polanski film The Ghost Writer, while Kevork Malikyan is a highly renowned theatre actor in London who has had key roles in films like Indiana Jones and Midnight Express. The Palace has 6 key cast, 5 supporting, and 100 extras, it was filmed in Greek and

APOLLO 36

Christopher Greco as Taki in “The Palace”

Right: Anthony Maras with Oliver Stone at the Austin Film Festival Below: Behind the scenes

Turkish and runs for 15 minutes. It was funded primarily through the South Australian Film Corporation and Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund. We made the film as a co-production with Andros Achilleos’ AB Seahorse Films, and from this attracted co-production funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture. Other than this, we would not have been able to get the film made without the support of Cyprus Airways. We had an international cast and crew from many different countries. We had an amazing production manager in Simon Farmakas who helped us bring over Tarantino’s steadicam operator from Inglourious Basterds in Germany, a fantastic costume designer from South Africa, actors from London and Berlin, and the list goes on. This would not have been possible without sponsored flights from Cyprus Airways. For more information, visit: www.thepalaceproject.net

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PROFILE ■ By Chrissie Flint

THE

MIRACLE DOCTOR...

The medical press recently carried a proposal to improve the outcome of pregnancy by inverting the existing pyramid of prenatal care. A new model of care which will be based on the results of a comprehensive assessment on the third month of pregnancy.

he doctor behind this and so many other medical advances in fetal medicine is Professor Kypros Nicolaides, the modest and caring man from Cyprus who is the world’s leading pioneer in fetal medicine. He explains that ‘The new approach will adhere to the teachings of Hippocrates, that we should learn the past and research the present to predict the future, and the pronouncements of Galileo Galilei, that the language of God is mathematics and that we should measure everything that is measurable and make measurable everything that is not so.’ Professor Nicolaides made international news headlines through his development of a screening technique which combines an ultrasound scan

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and a blood test at 11-13 weeks, which can now identify more than 95% of the pregnancies with Down’s syndrome. This is a phenomenal achievement because in the past only 30% of such pregnancies could be detected. His research has shown that in many fetuses with Down’s syndrome there is a collection of fluid under the skin in the neck, which he called nuchal translucency. He also showed that in many cases the nasal bone is missing and there is abnormal blood flow through the heart and the liver. He first observed the link between chromosomal defects and increased nuchal translucency in 1990 and two years later began a study measuring nuchal translucency in the first trimester fetus - a project he continued for ten years and which has totally transformed the practice of obstetrics in many countries. Professor Nicolaides put in a huge amount of personal effort as the first phase of the study involved 20 district hospitals, which he visited in turn to train the sonographers and supervise their measurement techniques. Later, the study was expanded to more than 500 centres in 52 countries.

He became Director of the Research Centre for Fetal Medicine.The centre was the first fetal unit in the UK and today is the largest in the world. Kypros Nicolaides was born in Pafos in 1953 and went to school in the town before attending the English School in Nicosia. For as long as he can remember he wanted to be a doctor like his father and as a young boy he often accompanied his father to visit his patients. After leaving school, he went to study at King’s College University in London. It was whilst he was in his fourth year as a medical student that he became fascinated in fetal medicine as he explains “After seeing moving images of a fetus, I fell in love with that area of medicine and just wanted to be a fetal medicine doctor”. Soon after graduating, he joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at King’s College Hospital and within six years he became Director of the Research APOLLO 40

Above: As a young boy with his father in Pafos. Below: Receiving a doctorate from the university of Warsaw in Poland.

Centre for Fetal Medicine. The centre was the first fetal unit in the UK and today is the largest in the world. It was opened in 1984 at King’s College by the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The centre cares for more than 20,000 women from all over Britain and abroad who have serious complications in their pregnancies. Each year more than 200 doctors from all over the world visit the centre to observe and to receive training. He has introduced new approaches to early screening for complications in pregnancy including preclampsia, preterm delivery, miscarriage, stillbirth and poor fetal growth. Other work done by Professor Nicolaides includes perfecting techniques in fetal blood transfusions for fetal anemia,

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inserting a balloon in the fetal trachea through an endoscope for the treatment of diaphragmatic hernia and endoscopic laser surgery for severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. The BBC screened a two part documentary entitled Life Before Birth which followed some of his research. To date, Professor Nicolaides has written more than 1,000 papers in scientific journals, edited several books and introduced internet based courses for health care professionals and patients in 20 languages. He is the first to admit that his profession in reality is ‘a way of life,’

Professor Nicolaides has written more than 1,000 papers in scientific journals, edited several books and introduced internet based courses for health care professionals and patients in 20 languages. Professor Kypros Nicolaides is also the Founder and Chairman of the Fetal Medicine Foundation, a charity established in 1995. The main source of funding is a private clinic which donates all of its profits to the charity. The aim of the Foundation is to promote research and training in Fetal Medicine throughout the world. More than e10 million has been donated to finance the training of doctors and to fund major studies in a variety of centres on screening for preeclampsia and pre-term delivery which are the leading causes of perinatal death. The Foundation has also introduced the annual World Congress in Fetal Medicine, implemented a series of international training courses and initiated the ‘Look for Life’ campaign to train doctors and nurses working in underdeveloped countries with high maternal and perinatal mortality. His contribution to research and training has been recognized internationally and he received several prestigious awards including Honorary Doctorates from Universities in Greece, Poland, Romania, China and The Netherlands APOLLO 42

Thoughts of his homeland are never far away and a few years ago he had the pleasure of welcoming 800 delegates to the annual World Congress in Fetal Medicine which he organised in Cyprus. The opening presentation was held in the magnificent setting of the Roman theatre in Ancient Kourion and before the evening began he explained to the doctors around him the historical significance of the place. A few minutes later all eyes were focused on him as he proudly announced his hopes that one day, Cyprus will become the world focus for fetal research and medicine.

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Photo: visitlondonimages/ britainonview

Offbeat LONDON There’s plenty to see and do in London. You can take a trip to the Tower, set your watch by Big Ben, and shop up a storm on Oxford Street… plenty to see, plenty to do, and, invariably, plenty of ways to spend your money. APOLLO 44

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TRAVEL ■ By Sean Chamberlain

he thing is, after you’ve travelled to London two or three times, there’s every chance that you’ve ticked off the major attractions. “Been there; done that,” you might say. But London is a big place. And a very old place. With plenty of ‘new’ places to discover – some known, some not so known. Join us as we suggest a few places for you to visit that you might not otherwise have happened upon...

for all ages! As well as providing a safe and stable environment for the countless objects in its collection, the Museum also provides practical research and educational services. T: 02075808155 / www.cartoonmuseum.org

London Glassblowing Workshop Where? 62-66 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UD

The Cartoon Museum Where? 35 Little Russell Street, WC1A 2HH (Very close to The British Museum) Open to the public since 2006, The Cartoon Museum offers a glorious display of the very best of British cartoons, caricature, and comic art from the 18th century till today. Through its gallery, archives and innovative exhibitions, is a celebration of cartoon art… and terrific fun

Peter Layton's London Glassblowing has a reputation as one of Europe's leading glassmaking workshops and is focused on the creation and display of contemporary glass art. Individual pieces of decorative glass are crafted here and visitors can see glassblowing demonstrations and view a collection of Studio Glass in the nearby Glass Art Gallery free of charge. Introductory classes are also available, where students can learn the basics of glassblowing and create their own pieces under the guidance of a qualified glassmaker. T: 02074032800 / www.londonglassblowing.co.uk

Chislehurst Caves Where? Caveside Close, Old Hill, Chislehurst, BR7 5NL There’s no denying that the unpredictable British climate can make sightseeing something of a hit and miss affair in the UK… but there’s one London attraction that’s totally unaffected by the wind or the rain! The caves at Chislehurst are a labyrinth of man made tunnels that were dug out for chalk used in lime burning and brickmaking for the building of London. First opened to the public in the early 20th century, the tunnels even served as one of the largest deep air-raid shelters in the country,

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giving shelter to more than 15,000 people at the height of the blitz. The caves went on to become a venue for dances and concerts and today is a fascinating place to discover. T: 020 8467 3264 / www.chislehurst-caves.co.uk

Inside Chislehurst Caves Photo: C Ford / Wikimedia Commons

The Golden Hinde Photo: Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net) / Wikimedia Commons

The Golden Hinde Where? 1 & 2 Pickfords Wharf, Clink Street, SE1 9DG

Wilton’s Music Hall Where? 1 Grace’s Alley, London, E1 8JB Experience for yourself the rundown charms of the oldest surviving Grand Music Hall in the world. A survivor of the first generation of public house music halls that appeared in London during the 1850s and now run by a small but dedicated team, the “city’s hidden stage” continues to host performances today. While the Music Hall itself is only open for shows and scheduled tours, the handsome and quaint Mahogany Bar – which dates back to around 1725 - is open weekdays from 5pm - 11pm. T: 020 7702 9555 / www.wiltons.org.uk

The Clink Prison Museum Where? 1 Clink Street, SE1 9DG Madame Tussaud’s and the London Dungeons might be better known, but The Clink Prison Museum - built upon the original site of the Clink Prison – offers plenty of grisly thrills. “Clink” is a slang term for prison that is still widely in use today. Dating back to the 12th century, the Prison is probably the oldest in England and visitors to the museum get to experience a hands-on educational journey into the past – handling original aretefacts and hearing tales of the once notorious Southbank of London. T: 020 7403 0900 / www.clink.co.uk APOLLO 46

Wilton's Music Hall in Grace's Alley Photo: K. Thompson / Wikimedia Commons

The Clink Prison Museum Photo: visitlondonimages/ britainonview

Located just a short walk from the Clink Prison Museum, the stately Golden Hinde is a full-sized reconstruction of the Tudor warship in which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe in the 16th century. The original Golden Hinde became Britain’s first museum ship, but rotted away in the late 17th century. This reconstruction which was launched in Devon in 1973 and went on to sail much further than the original, provides fascinating, hands-on insight into Britain’s maritime history. T: 020 7403 0123/ www.goldenhinde.com

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OFFBEAT LONDON â&#x2013;

CYPRUS AIRWAYS OPERATES 18 FLIGHTS PER WEEK TO AND FROM THE U.K.

cyprusair.com

VISIT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FLIGHTS AND BOOKINGS.

cemetery and is the final resting place of a number of famous people and historical figures including Karl Marx, Michael Faraday, Douglas Adams, Henry Moore, Beryl Bainbridge and many others. While Highgate's East Cemetery is open to visitors, certain restrictions do apply (visits cannot take place during funerals, for example). Admission to the West Cemetery is by guided tour only. The cemetery's website has a comprehensive FAQ for visitors. T: 020 8340 1834/ www.highgate-cemetery.org

The Old Operating Theatre, Museum & Herb Garret Where? 9a St. Thomas St, SE1 9RY An unusual place to visit, located as it is in the garret (or roof-space) of St Thomas's Church, Southwark, this museum provides fascinating insight into surgical history and includes Britain's oldest surviving Operating Theatre. The Theatre has been restored with original furniture, including a 19th century operating table, and its collection of artefacts reveal just how surgery was conducted in the days before anaesthetics... when surgeons were required to work fast! T: 020 7188 2679 / www.thegarret.org.uk

Horniman Museum & Gardens Where? 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ

Egyptian Avenue Photo: John Armagh / Wikimedia Commons

Highgate Cemetery Where? Swain's Lane, Highgate, N6 6PJ Ever since it first opened in 1839, Highgate Cemetery has become a major landmark in London's history. Now a Grade 1 listed park, with an array of stunning flora and fauna, it is still very much a 'working' APOLLO 48

The Horniman has a range of exhibitions, events and activities that celebrate the cultural and natural world. Its gardens are especially impressive. 16 acres of awardwinning, beautifully maintained formal and natural landscapes, they offer everything from delightful rose gardens to herbaceous borders, and stunning wild flower displays. With its unique sundials, Dutch Barn, and Bandstand, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s much to admire while relaxing in this tranquil escape in the heart of south London. T: 020 8699 1872 / www.horniman.ac.uk

More than just a holiday destination with pristine white beaches and 300 days of sunshine, Cyprus can also cater to your business needs ranging from registering and setting up your companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations to managing your EU, North African and Middle Eastern clients at a considerably lower cost. As well as being an EU country and a member of the European Monetary Union since 2008, Cyprus enjoys the lowest corporate tax rate in the EU of 10%. Cyprus belongs to those jurisdictions on the OECD White List which have substantially implemented the internationally agreed tax standard. ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR WKLV &\SUXV SURYLGHV HIÂżFLHQW business services, has a transparent legal and regulatory system and is committed to sustainable growth. Cyprus welcomes both visitors and investors to work here, so, if you are searching for a new business base, consider Cyprus. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than just beaches and sun.

Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency Tel + 357 22 441133 Fax + 357 22 441134 www.cipa.org.cy info@cipa.org.cy

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Tel + 357 22 867100 Fax + 357 22 375120 www.mcit.gov.cy/ts perm.sec@mcit.gov.cy

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth and expansion over the years is attributed to the uniqueness of Cyprus; being the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategic position at the crossroads of three continents, its comprehensive legal framework, double tax treaties regime, communication system, banking system, infrastructure in general and last but not least its highly educated labor force.â&#x20AC;? Captain Dirk Fry, Managing Director Columbia Ship Management Ltd

The favorable business climate, the excellent telecommunications infrastructure, the well educated and skilled human resources, the favorable tax rates and the proximity to the Middle East and Africa markets, were some of the key factors that enabled NCR to decide WR PRYH LWV UHJLRQDO RIÂżFHV WR &\SUXV in the 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Gradually, NCR managed WR H[SDQG WKH RIÂżFH LQ &\SUXV WR FRYHU also all the African Countries.â&#x20AC;? Managing Director of NCR Cyprus, Mr. George Flouros