European Week of Sport in Bosnia and Herzegovina brings thousands together through play and movement

(Patria) - The jubilee tenth anniversary of the European Week of Sport, traditionally marked every year from 23 to 30 September across Europe, was celebrated today with a central event in Visoko, attended by high-ranking EU officials and numerous students and young athletes.

In Ravne 2 Park, they socialised and actively participated in a rich sports programme, thus becoming part of the global #BeActive campaign.

The European Week of Sport and the #BeActive campaign were launched on the initiative of the European Commission in 2015, implemented within the project "EU4Youth – European Week of Sport Beyond Borders in the Western Balkans", funded by the European Commission through the IPA programme, and implemented by the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports of Republika Srpska, coordinated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.



- I am very happy to be here today, to see you all together and that sport connects us all. I grew up in a neighbourhood where many people were involved in sports.

Why is sport so important in our lives? Those who engage in sport know what fair play is, know that without effort there are no results, that sport means friendship, and friendship has no borders.

As representatives of the European Union, I am glad that we were able to fund many sports facilities, especially in schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina. When we talk about the EU, it is not just states, politicians; it is us, the people, and if we start our friendships when we are young, they will last - said European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos in her address to those present.

The central event, which provided plenty of fun and enjoyment in football, handball, tennis, basketball, taekwondo, volleyball, karate, aerobics, as well as a walk through the nature of the archaeological park, was organised by the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and among the numerous participants and athletes were Olympian Amel Tuka and the young hope of Bosnian sports, Iman Avdić.

- The European Week of Sport is a movement that does not stop throughout the year. We opened it with an international sports event in Cazin, and then that extraordinary synergy spread through Pale, Zenica, Široki Brijeg, Neum, East Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, and today it arrived in Visoko.



We are grateful to the European Commission and all partners in the implementation of this project, and especially to the participants of these events, whom we wish to remain active and exercise every day for their health and well-being - says the President of the Olympic Committee, Academician Izet Rađo.

This year's #BeActive campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina travelled through nine cities and gathered thousands of participants, from the youngest to the oldest, in various competitions and sports events including football, rugby, water polo, triathlon, curling, cheerleading and many other disciplines, sending a clear message – sport and movement are key to health, togetherness and a better life.

The European Week of Sport precisely encourages that every day is an opportunity for physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.