Tegla Loroupe attended the COC event in Nicosia ©COC

The Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC) has held a conference entitled "Women in Sport: A Catalyst in Solving Social Issues".

The event, which took place at the governing body's Olympic House in capital city Nicosia, was run by the COC's Women and Sport Commission. 

Guest speakers included Tegla Loroupe, who served as the Chef de Mission for the Refugee Olympic Team which competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Aggeliki Aroni, from the Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, also gave a speech.

Loroupe, a former Kenyan long distance runner who won the world half marathon title on five occasions, visited the Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Kofinou during her visit to Cyprus.

The Refugees Olympic Team competed at the Rio 2016 Games in August ©Getty Images
The Refugees Olympic Team competed at the Rio 2016 Games in August ©Getty Images

She was joined by the the COC's director general, Olga Piperidou, and Women and Sport Commission chair Kalli Hadjiosif. 

Representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees were also in attendance. 

In November, the COC held a sports induction day for young refugees between the ages of 13 and 18.

The day, which received support from a number of Cyprus' sporting governing bodies, provided the attendees with a chance to try a number of sports including table tennis, judo, taekwondo, wrestling, basketball, athletics and football.