Cyprus in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
{{short description|none}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox song contest country
| Name = Cyprus
| Contest = JESC
| Broadcaster = Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC)
| Apps = 10
| First = {{Escyr|2003|Junior}}
| Last =
| Best = 8th: {{Escyr|2004|Junior}}, {{Escyr|2006|Junior}}
| Host = {{Escyr|2008|Junior}}
| Current = 2024
}}
Cyprus has been represented at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 10 times since debuting at the first contest in 2003. The country's best result was eighth place, which was achieved both at the 2004 and 2006 contests with Marios Tofi and the song "{{lang|el-latn|Oneira|i=unset}}" and Luis Panagiotou and Christina Christofi and the song "{{lang|el-latn|Agoria koritsia|i=unset}}" respectively. The national broadcaster Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) has hosted the event for Cyprus once, in 2008 in Limassol.
History
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) debuted Cyprus at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003.{{Cite web |title=Cyprus Country Profile: Junior Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/country/cyprus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007095521/https://junioreurovision.tv/country/cyprus |archive-date=2024-10-07 |access-date=17 November 2024 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv}} For its first entry, CyBC opened the submission period for artists and composers to submit their entries until 12 September 2003. From all 29 songs submitted to CyBC, Theodora Rafti was selected as the Cypriot entrant. Her entry "{{lang|el-latn|Mia efhi|i=unset}}" was presented during the television program Ora Kyprou (Cypriot time) on 15 September. At the contest, the song was performed third in the running order and placed 14th out of the 16 entries, with 16 points.{{cite web |title=Final of Copenhagen 2003 |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-2003/final/|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv |access-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528173835/https://junioreurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-2003/final/ |archive-date=28 May 2021 |url-status=live}} For the 2004 contest, a ten-participant national final hosted by Nikos Bogiatzis was held on 7 September 2004. The winner was chosen by a 50/50 combination of votes from a professional jury and public televoting. Only the televoting results were revealed, which Marios Tofi and the song "{{lang|el-latn|Oneira|i=unset}}" won, with Louis Panagiotis placing second and Rafail Georgiou & Anna Loizou placing in third. At the contest, Cyprus improved from the year prior, performing ninth in the running order and placing 8th out of the 18 entries.{{cite web |title=Final of Lillehammer 2004 |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/lillehammer-2004/final/ |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv |access-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528180101/https://junioreurovision.tv/event/lillehammer-2004/final/ |archive-date=28 May 2021 |url-status=live}}
Despite hosting a ten-participant national final and selecting Rena Kiriakidi with the song "Tsirko", the nation was absent from the 2005 contest due to an "internal issue" with the selected song;{{Cite web|url=https://esctoday.com/5074/stockselius_satisfied_with_preparations/|title=Stockselius satisfied with preparations|last=Bakker|first=Sietse|work=ESCToday|date=14 October 2005|access-date=17 November 2024}} the country's late withdrawal; however, allowed the Cypriot public to still vote that year. Cyprus returned for the 2006 contest with the song "{{lang|el-latn|Agoria koritsia|i=unset}}" performed by Luis Panagiotou and Christina Christofi. Similar to 2004, the entry had been selected by a national final. The eight-participant event took place on 30 September 2006 and the winner was chosen by a combination of votes from a professional jury (40%) and public televoting (60%). As there was a tie at the end of the voting with Sotiris Charalampous and "Prosefchi", the results of the televoting took precedence sending "{{lang|el-latn|Agoria koritsia|i=unset}}" to Bucharest.{{Cite web|url=https://esctoday.com/6489/cyprus_boys__girls_to_bucharest/|title=Cyprus: Boys & Girls to Bucharest|last=Royston|first=Benny|date=9 October 2006|website=ESCToday|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327040104/http://esctoday.com/6489/cyprus_boys__girls_to_bucharest/ |archive-date=2020-03-27 |access-date=17 November 2024}} At the contest, the song was performed second in the running order and placed eighth out of the 15 participants.{{cite web |title=Final of Bucharest 2006 |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/bucharest-2006/final/ |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv|access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529112102/https://junioreurovision.tv/event/bucharest-2006/final/ |archive-date=29 May 2021 |url-status=live}} The next year, a similar eight-participant national final was held, only that instead, the winner was chosen by a 50/50 combination of votes from a professional jury and public televoting. The final was held on 29 September 2007, and Yiorgos Ioannides was selected with the song "{{lang|el-latn|I mousiki dinei ftera|i=unset}}".{{Cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/9335/upd-cyprus_jesc_yiorgos_ioannides_to_rotterdam/|title=UPD Cyprus JESC: Yiorgos Ioannides to Rotterdam|last=Floras|first=Stellas|date=September 29, 2007|website=ESCToday|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012212919/http://www.esctoday.com/9335/upd-cyprus_jesc_yiorgos_ioannides_to_rotterdam/ |archive-date=2015-10-12 |access-date=17 November 2024}} At the contest, the song was performed fourth in the running order and placed 14th out of the 17 entries, garnering 29 points.{{cite web |title=Final of Rotterdam 2007 |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2007/final/ |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529125623/https://junioreurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2007/final/ |archive-date=29 May 2021 |url-status=live}}
Two more eight-participant national finals selected the Cypriot entries in 2008 and 2009. For the 2008 contest, which was hosted by CyBC in Limassol, Cyprus,{{cite web|website=ESCToday|date=25 May 2007|url=http://esctoday.com/8783/cyprus_to_host_jesc_2008/|title=Cyprus to host JESC 2008|accessdate=2008-06-13|first=Yiorgos|last=Kasapoglou}} the final was held on 28 June 2008 and was hosted by Christiana Stavrou and Kiriakos Pastides. The winner was chosen by a combination of votes from a professional jury (40%) and public televoting (60%).{{Cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/12118/jesc_-_cyprus_elena_and_charis_win_national_final/|title=JESC – Cyprus: Elena and Charis win national final|last=Murray|first=Gavin|date=June 29, 2008|website=ESCToday|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009191206/http://www.esctoday.com/12118/jesc_-_cyprus_elena_and_charis_win_national_final/ |archive-date=2015-10-09 |access-date=17 November 2024}} Elena Mannouri and Charis Savva represented the country with the song "{{lang|el-latn|Gioupi gia!|i=unset}}", which was performed last (15th) at the contest and placed 10th with 46 points.{{cite web |title=Final of Lemesos 2008 |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/lemesos-2008/final/ |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529162042/https://junioreurovision.tv/event/lemesos-2008/final/ |archive-date=29 May 2021 |url-status=live}} The entry for 2009 was Rafaella Kosta represented the country with the song "{{lang|el-latn|Thalassa, ilios, aeras, fotia|i=unset}}". The final was held on 3 October 2009 and was hosted by Grigoriadis Christos and Mary Kanther. The winner was chosen by a 50/50 combination of votes from a professional jury (which included Christina Metaxa who represented Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009) and public televoting.{{Cite web|url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/rafaella-costa-for-cyprus|title=Rafaella Costa for Cyprus!|date=4 October 2009|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327045540/https://junioreurovision.tv/story/rafaella-costa-for-cyprus |archive-date=2020-03-27 |access-date=15 December 2023}} At the contest, the song was performed eighth on the night and placed 11th out of the 13 participants.{{cite web |title=Final of Kyiv 2009 |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/kyiv-2009/final/ |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529205445/https://junioreurovision.tv/event/kyiv-2009/final/ |archive-date=29 May 2021 |url-status=live}}
File:JESC_2016_George_Michaelides_(Cyprus)_(2).jpg with the song "Dance Floor".]]
Cyprus did not participate in 2010 because of unspecified reasons. Although CyBC was in talks with the EBU to return to the contest in 2013, it subsequently did not. On 3 July 2014, CyBC announced its return to the competition after a four-year absence,{{cite web|title=Cyprus returns to Junior Eurovision!|url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/blog?id=cyprus_returns_to_junior_eurovision|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv|accessdate=3 July 2014|date=3 July 2014}} and its entry, Sophia Patsalides with the song "{{lang|el-latn|I pio omorfi mera|i=unset}}", was selected internally by the broadcaster and announced on 21 July.{{cite web|last=Granger|first=Anthony|title=Cyprus: Sophia Patsalides To Represent Cyprus In Malta|url=http://eurovoix.com/2014/07/21/cyprus-sophia-patsalides-to-represent-cyprus-in-malta/|website=Eurovoix|accessdate=24 August 2014|date=21 July 2014}}{{cite web |title=Sophia Patsalides to represent Cyprus |url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/blog?id=sophia_patsalides_to_represent_cyprus|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv}} At the contest, Cyprus finished in ninth place out of 16 participating entries.{{cite web |title=Final of Valletta 2014 |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/valletta-2014/final/ |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv |access-date=30 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530142539/https://junioreurovision.tv/event/valletta-2014/final/ |archive-date=30 May 2021 |url-status=live}} Although Cyprus did not participate in the 2015 contest for financial reasons, the nation returned for the 2016 contest, only to place in the bottom two at both events: second-to-last in 2016 with George Michaelides and the song "Dance Floor" in Valletta, Malta and last in the 2017 contest with Nicole Nicolaou and the song "I Wanna Be a Star" in Tbilisi, Georgia. The latter marked the country's worst result in the contest.{{cite web|title=Cyprus in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest|url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/country-profile?country=14|website=junioreurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|accessdate=5 August 2016}} Both of these entries had been selected internally by the broadcaster.{{cite web|last1=Valiente|first1=Adrián|title=Cyprus returns to Junior Eurovision in Malta!|url=http://www.esc-plus.com/cyprus-returns-junior-eurovision-malta/|website=esc-plus.com|publisher=ESC+Plus|accessdate=5 August 2016|date=5 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://infegreece.gr/me-tragoudi-tou-konstantinou-christoforou-ermineutria-nikol-nikolaou-i-kipros-sti-junior-eurovision/|title=Με τραγούδι του Κωνσταντίνου Χριστοφόρου και ερμηνεύτρια τη Νικόλ Νικολάου η Κύπρος στη Junior Eurovision 2017 |publisher=INFE Greece|date=15 September 2017|language=el}} The following year, on 11 June 2018, CyBC announced that they would not participate in the contest in the 2018 contest,{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2018/06/11/cyprus-withdraws-from-junior-eurovision/|title=Cyprus: Withdraws from Junior Eurovision|publisher=Eurovoix|date=11 June 2018 |access-date=17 November 2024}} with no reasons of their withdrawal being published.
On 21 August 2024, CyBC announced it would return to the contest after a six-year absence, having internally selected Maria Pissarides{{Snd}}an eleven-year-old student of a performing arts school in the United Kingdom{{Snd}}to represent the country.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-21 |title=Maria Pissarides will represent Cyprus on its return to Junior Eurovision |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/maria-pissaride-cyprus-return-junior-eurovision |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Junioreurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-21 |title=Η Κύπρος στην Junior Eurovision 2024 |trans-title=Cyprus in Junior Eurovision 2024 |url=https://corporate.rik.cy/δελτία-τύπου/η-κύπρος-στην-junior-eurovision-2024/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=corporate.rik.cy |publisher=CyBC |language=el-cy}} Pissarides was selected following an evaluation of a proposal made by the production company Chandal Entertainment Ltd, which also subsequently announced auditions to select dancers who would join the singer on stage, and the spokesperson for the Cypriot jury at the final.{{Cite web |last=Farren |first=Neil |date=2024-08-21 |title=🇨🇾 Cyprus: Maria Pissarides to Junior Eurovision 2024 |url=https://eurovoix.com/2024/08/21/cyprus-maria-pissarides-to-junior-eurovision-2024/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Polewski |first=Kamil |date=2024-08-21 |title=Eurowizja Junior 2024: Cypr powraca! 11-latka z Londynu reprezentantką |trans-title=Junior Eurovision 2024: Cyprus returns! An 11-year-old from London is the representative |url=https://eurowizja.org/eurowizja-junior-2024-cypr-powrot/ |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=Eurowizja.org |language=pl}} The song, titled "Crystal Waters", written by Armin Gilani, Sophia Patsalides and Pissarides herself, was presented to the public on 30 September during the breakfast television show {{lang|el-latn|Omorfi mera}} ("Beautiful day") on RIK 1;{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=Cyprus 2024: Maria Pissarides premieres 'Crystal Waters' |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/maria-pissarides-premieres-crystal-waters |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Junioreurovision.tv |publisher=EBU}}{{Cite web |last=Farren |first=Neil |date=2024-09-30 |title=🇨🇾 Cyprus: Maria Pissarides Releases “Crystal Waters” |url=https://eurovoix.com/2024/09/30/cyprus-maria-pissarides-releases-crystal-waters/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}} a special listening session reserved for the press was previously held at the Event Hall of the CyBC Archive in Nicosia on 27 September.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-28 |title=Junior Eurovision 2024 - Κύπρος: Η πρώτη προβολή του 'Crystal Waters'! |trans-title=Junior Eurovision 2024 - Cyprus: The first screening of "Crystal Waters"! |url=https://www.cretalive.gr/lifestyle/junior-eurovision-2024-kypros-i-proti-proboli-toy-crystal-waters |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Cretalive |language=el}} Pissarides' performance at the contest was staged by Layla Ellison.{{Cite web |last=Prakas |first=Nikolaos |date=2024-08-21 |title=Eleven-year-old chosen for Junior Eurovision |url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2024/08/21/eleven-year-old-chosen-for-junior-eurovision/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |publisher=Cyprus Mail}} She was accompanied on stage by four dancers, namely Adriana Markich, Andriana Polemiti, Ciara Economopoulos and Danae Petrou.{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2024-09-08 |title=🇨🇾 Cyprus: Maria Pissarides’ Dancers for Junior Eurovision Announced |url=https://eurovoix.com/2024/09/08/cyprus-maria-pissarides-dancers-for-junior-eurovision-announced/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}} At the end of voting, Pissarides brought Cyprus their best result since 2014, placing 13th with 60 points.
Participation overview
| class="wikitable" |
| + Table key |
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | ◁
| Last place |
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#A4EAA9;" | X
| Entry selected but did not compete |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Artist ! scope="col" | Song ! scope="col" | Language ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Place ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Points |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2003|Junior}}
| Theodora Rafti | "{{lang|el-latn|Mia efhi|i=unset}}" {{small|({{lang|el|Μια ευχή}})}} | Greek | style="text-align:center;" | 14 | style="text-align:center;" | 16 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2004|Junior}}
| "{{lang|el-latn|Oneira|i=unset}}" {{small|({{lang|el|Όνειρα}})}} | Greek | style="text-align:center;" | 8 | style="text-align:center;" | 61 |
| style="background-color:#A4EAA9;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2005|Junior}} | Rena Kiriakidi | "{{lang|el-latn|Tsirko|i=unset}}" {{small|({{lang|el|Τσίρκο}})}} | Greek | colspan="2" {{N/A|Disqualified}}{{efn|Although Cyprus did not participate in 2005, their late withdrawal allowed them to retain the right to vote in the contest.}} X |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2006|Junior}}
| Luis Panagiotou and Christina Christofi | "{{lang|el-latn|Agoria koritsia|i=unset}}" {{small|({{lang|el|Αγόρια κορίτσια}})}} | Greek | style="text-align:center;" | 8 | style="text-align:center;" | 58 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2007|Junior}}
| Yiorgos Ioannides | "{{lang|el-latn|I mousiki dinei ftera|i=unset}}" {{small|({{lang|el|Η μουσική δίνει φτερά}})}} | Greek | style="text-align:center;" | 14 | style="text-align:center;" | 29 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2008|Junior}}
| Elena Mannouri and Charis Savva | "{{lang|el-latn|Gioupi gia!|i=unset}}" {{small|({{lang|el|Γιούπι για!}})}} | Greek | style="text-align:center;" | 10 | style="text-align:center;" | 46 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2009|Junior}}
| Rafaella Costa | "{{lang|el-latn|Thalassa, ilios, aeras, fotia|i=unset}}" {{small|({{lang|el|Θάλασσα, ήλιος, αέρας, φωτιά}})}} | Greek | style="text-align:center;" | 11 | style="text-align:center;" | 32 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2014|Junior}}
| "{{lang|el-latn|I pio omorfi mera|i=unset}}" {{small|({{lang|el|Η πιο όμορφη μέρα}})}} | Greek, English | style="text-align:center;" | 9 | style="text-align:center;" | 69 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2016|Junior}}
| George Michaelides | "Dance Floor" | Greek, English | style="text-align:center;" | 16 | style="text-align:center;" | 27 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2017|Junior}}
| Nicole Nicolaou | "I Wanna Be a Star" | Greek, English | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 16 ◁ | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 45 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2024|Junior}}
| Maria Pissarides | "Crystal Waters" | Greek, English | style="text-align:center;" | 13 | style="text-align:center;" | 60 |
Commentators and spokespersons
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2019}}
The contests are broadcast online worldwide through the official Junior Eurovision Song Contest website junioreurovision.tv and YouTube. In 2015, the online broadcasts featured commentary in English by junioreurovision.tv editor Luke Fisher and 2011 Bulgarian Junior Eurovision Song Contest entrant Ivan Ivanov.{{cite web|url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/blog?id=tonight_junior_eurovision_song_contest_2015|title=Tonight: Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015!|last=Fisher|first=Luke James|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|website=junioreurovision.tv|date=21 November 2015|accessdate=21 November 2015}} The Cypriot broadcaster, CyBC, sent their own commentator to each contest in order to provide commentary in the Greek language and English languages. Spokespersons were also chosen by the national broadcaster in order to announce the awarding points from Cyprus. The table below list the details of each commentator and spokesperson since 2003.
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" text-align: left;" |
| scope="col" | Year(s)
! scope="col" | Commentator ! scope="col" | Spokesperson !class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2003|Junior}}
| Katerina Karagianni | Tina Nikolaou | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2004|Junior}}
| Neoklis Papas | rowspan="2"|Stella Maria Koukides | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2005|Junior}}
| Aggelos Stamatos | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2006|Junior}}
| rowspan="4"|Kyriakos Pastides | George Ioannidies | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2007|Junior}}
| Natalie Michael | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2008|Junior}}
| Christina Christofi | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2009|Junior}}
| George Ioannidies | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2010|Junior}}–{{Escyr|2013|Junior}}
| {{N/A|No broadcast}} | {{N/A|Did not participate}} | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2014|Junior}}
| Kyriakos Pastides | Paris Nicolaou | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2015|Junior}}
| {{N/A|No broadcast}} | {{N/A|Did not participate}} | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2016|Junior}}
| rowspan="2"|Kyriakos Pastides | Loucas Demetriou | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2017|Junior}}
| Maria Christophorou | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2018|Junior}}–{{Escyr|2023|Junior}}
| {{N/A|No broadcast}} | {{N/A|Did not participate}} | |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2024|Junior}}
| Kyriakos Pastides | Patroklos Patroklou |
Hostings
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Location ! Venue ! Presenters |
|---|
| 2008
| Limassol | Spyros Kyprianou Athletic Centre | Sophia Paraskeva & Alex Michael |
Notes and references
=Notes=
{{Notelist}}
=References=
{{Reflist}}
{{Junior Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Cyprus in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest}}