Cyprus at the 2010 Winter Olympics

The Cyprus Olympic Committee was first recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1978,[1] and the nation has participated in every Summer Olympics and Winter Olympic Games since their debut in 1980.[2] At the time of the Vancouver Olympics, no Cypriot athlete had ever won a medal. They would win their first medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics two years after Vancouver.[2] The nation sent two alpine skiers to Vancouver, the brother and sister pair of Christopher Papamichalopoulos and Sophia Papamichalopoulou.[3][4][5] Papamichalopoulos was chosen as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony, while Papamichalopoulou was awarded the honor for the closing ceremony.[6][7]

Christopher Papamichalopoulos was 21 at the time of the Olympics. In the giant slalom, held on 23 February, he finished the first run with a time of 1 minute and 29 seconds, but failed to finish the second run, and was unranked for the event.[8] He took part in the men's slalom on 27 February, but failed to finish the first run.[9]

Sophia Papamichalopoulou was 19 years old at the time of the Vancouver Olympics.[4] She competed in both the women's giant slalom and the women's slalom. The giant slalom was held on 24–25 February, as weather postponed the second run until the next day.[10] In her first run, she posted a time of 1 minute and 28 seconds; the next morning she was faster, recording a time of 1 minute and 23 seconds. Her total time of 2 minute and 51 seconds was good for 55th place out of 60 competitors who finished both runs.[4][11] The slalom event was held on 26 February, and Papamichalopoulou posted two runs of 1 minute and 2 seconds each.[4] Her combined time was good enough for 53rd place, out of 55 competitors who finished both legs of the race.[12]