The Cyprus National Paralympic Committee has strongly condemned remarks made by influencer-turned-politician Fidias Panayiotou after he referred to paralympians with intellectual disabilities as “loonies” during a podcast discussion.
The comments were made in an episode in which Panayiotou, now a member of the European Parliament, was speaking with Cypriot Paralympic swimmer Loizos Chrysanthou about the classification system used in Paralympic sports. During the exchange, Panayiotou used the offensive term while discussing athletes with mental or intellectual disabilities.
In a statement shared on social media, the Cyprus National Paralympic Committee said it condemned “in the strongest terms the offensive, derogatory and deeply regressive comment” made by the MEP. The organization said the language used left “no room for interpretation,” describing it as “abusive, stigmatizing and offensive to thousands of our fellow citizens.”
The committee rejected any suggestion that the remark could be excused as humor, stressing that such language reinforces harmful stereotypes and social exclusion. “The use of this term cannot be disguised as humor,” the statement said, adding that it represents “a gross insult to people with intellectual disabilities and to athletes who struggle daily against prejudice and exclusion.”
The organization emphasized that Panayiotou’s political role elevated the seriousness of the incident. “Given Mr Panayiotou’s position as a Member of the European Parliament, the issue is not simply moral, it is deeply political and institutional,” the committee said, arguing that public officials carry a heightened responsibility to promote respect and inclusion.
The committee called on Panayiotou to issue a public apology and to clearly distance himself from the language used. It also urged him “to take a stance that promotes respect and awareness” toward people with intellectual disabilities and the Paralympic community more broadly.
The incident has sparked criticism online, with disability advocates and social media users calling for greater accountability from public figures over language that marginalizes vulnerable groups. As of publication, Panayiotou had not publicly responded to the committee’s demands.
