Cadets in visit: Zvizdić accepts criticism over lack of greater financial support for sports

The U-16 national basketball team of Bosnia and Herzegovina met today with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Denis Zvizdić, and the Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH, Adil Osmanović, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

In his address, Zvizdić said he accepts the criticism directed at the Council of Ministers of BiH, noting that they inherited a budget in which the allocation for sports was zero.

- We managed to increase that and start financing sports federations. We know those funds are not sufficient, but we give our word that we will continue financing the Basketball Federation of BiH, and this is an incentive to enter into systemic financing of sports in BiH. This year will certainly end with greater financial support for the Federation than ever before in previous years - Zvizdić said.

The Secretary General of the Basketball Federation of BiH, Harun Mahmutović, said that today's visit is unusual because at this place we usually "see politicians."

- We are here also as a sports union. The Council of Ministers reacted and helped us with 100,000 convertible marks. We were with people who definitely want to help sports; I call on parliamentarians to remove us and these children from politics. We want to enable these children to continue achieving such results. Do you have the heart to raise your hand against these children and against sports in BiH?" - Mahmutović asked.

The U-16 national basketball team of BiH defeated Lithuania 85:83 in the final of the European Championship in Kaunas, bringing BiH its first gold medal from such a competition.

A spectacular welcome for the golden cadets was organized last night in the center of Sarajevo, where more than 50,000 people greeted them, celebrating the victory of our boys with songs and flares.