Everything ready for the 51st Una Regatta, over 1,000 participants expected on the Una River

(Patria) - Everything is ready for the 51st international tourist Una Regatta, one of the most famous and oldest in Bosnia and Herzegovina - it was confirmed today at a press conference organized by the Public Enterprise National Park "Una".

This year's regatta will officially last from July 23 to 26, but it will open a day earlier, on July 22, with an exhibition kayak stage from the source of the Una River in Donja Suvaja (Republic of Croatia) to the village of Begluci in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This stage is organized in support of the fight against the construction of mini hydroelectric power plants on the Una - an initiative launched last year by the residents of Donja Suvaja and environmental activists.

The official opening of the regatta is planned for Wednesday, July 23, at the Lučica camp in Martinbrod, with a rich music and entertainment program.

The first official stage will start on Thursday, July 24, when participants will paddle from Martinbrod to Štrbački buk. The most exciting stage follows on Friday, July 25, on the Štrbački buk – Bihać route, where numerous citizens and guests will welcome the participants, and the evening program at Gradska otoka in Bihać will be complemented by a performance by the popular artist Halid Bešlić.

The final stage of the regatta, on July 26, leads from Bihać to Bosanska Krupa. A novelty in the program is a break in the Cazin settlement of Miostrah, where a diving competition, a music program, and the arrival of a tourist train connecting Bihać and Bosanska Krupa will be organized.

This year, the Una Regatta will pass through three cities of the Una-Sana Canton - Bihać, Cazin, and Bosanska Krupa. The city of Cazin has joined the co-organizers of this event for the first time.

The organization of this year's regatta was also supported by the Federal Government, the Government of the Una-Sana Canton, and the cities of Bihać, Cazin, and Bosanska Krupa.

– I believe that the Una Regatta rightfully holds a central place in the year-round tourist calendar in the Una-Sana Canton, and perhaps even wider. The Government of the Una-Sana Canton gladly supports this Una caravan and numerous accompanying activities. I think we will truly enjoy it, this year from the source of the Una, all the way to Bosanska Krupa – stated the cantonal Minister of Economy Armin Kardašević.

Alen Zulić, acting director of JP National Park "Una", and Minister Kardašević agree that more than 1,000 participants are expected again this year and that the Una Regatta will once again confirm its status as one of the most significant tourist-sporting events in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

– The goal of the regatta is not only an adrenaline adventure on one of the most beautiful European rivers but also the promotion of the natural beauty of the Una-Sana Canton and the importance of preserving the Una River – it was stated at today's press conference.