Amel Tuka Ambassador of Skakavac Trail: Sport Unites Us All

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - In Sarajevo, the Skakavac Mountaineering Society presented the Skakavac Trail 2020 race and the official ambassador of the race, the best Bosnian-Herzegovinian athlete Amel Tuka. Zlata Grabovac, President of the Assembly of PD Skakavac, stated that the citizens' association Skakavac Mountaineering Society was founded on the initiative of nature lovers, mountaineers, and trail runners who recognized the importance of nature and protected areas, combined what they love most - running, and created trail races on the mountains of Sarajevo. We have been organizing this race for the fourth consecutive year, and what we are particularly proud of is the fact that the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the umbrella organization of BH sports, supports our efforts.

Amir Bašić, president of PD Skakavac, stated that this association is a pioneer in trail running.

"Although we initially timidly embarked on organizing such a sports event, our results year after year, i.e., the increasing number of participants, have shown us that our mission has succeeded. Since Sarajevo is unique due to the combination of untouched nature, beautiful mountains, and rich history, the trails of the Skakavac Trail race will connect all the cultural and natural values of Sarajevo. As stated by the president of PD Skakavac, Mr. Amir Bašić:

"Skakavac Trail 2020 offers four trails of lengths: 21, 42, 75, and 120 kilometers, and a special race - Canicross." As a special project this year, the Walter Trail was presented in honor of the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer, which will be held on 07.03.2020. The length of this race is 16 kilometers, and its start is from the Red Cross Home of Sarajevo Canton.

Amel Tuka thanked the present media and stated that it is important to support positive stories, and that he gladly supports everything related to sports, especially running.

"I must express great satisfaction and honor that these people have shown me. Recreational running is not at all simple, especially such long distances and on such terrains, it is not easy at all. I admire everyone who embarks on it, and not only do they compete with others, but they also defeat themselves, beat their own times."

Amel Tuka added that he is glad that such stories come from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that he has always wanted a healthy lifestyle and sports to be nurtured in our area, because sport is something that unites us all.

"We all have the same goal, to improve our time, to get on the podium, that makes us stronger and better. I am glad that more and more races are being organized, almost every city has its own race, even in my Kakanj and my Zenica there are races, and that makes me very happy. My love for athletics began precisely with a street race in Kakanj, where as a high school student I won, and after that you see what happened. Through any race, through any competition, with parents, a child can come who might like all of this, get it into their blood, and could become another Amel Tuka. I have only words of praise and congratulations to the people who embark on organizing such a race, and for providing our citizens with such opportunities.

Thank you to Skakavac Trail and Sarajevo Halfmarathon because they give all citizens the opportunity to compete," he said.