The Slovenia Times

Olympic chief lauds Slovenia as sports giant

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"I prepared a rather sophisticated speech, but now that I've seen this museum I'll speak from the heart," Bach said, adding he was happy to be back in Slovenia after visiting the ski jumping venue of Planica in 1994.

At the time he visited the country as a member of the commission evaluating Slovenia's joint bid with Austria's Carinthia and Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia for the 2002 Olympics.

Bach was full of praise for Slovenian sports achievements. He noted that Slovenia won its first Olympic medal in 1912 in fencing, and that he himself won Olympic gold in the same sport in 1976 as a member of the German fencing team.

He also listed other top Slovenian athletes, from Olympic champions in gymnastics Leon Štukelj (1898-1999) and Miro Cerar (born in 1939) to ski jumper Peter Prevc, who dominated the world elite this winter.

The Olympic movement chief also expressed his enthusiasm about the Olympic Education Centre, a multi-functional museum that will also serve a venue for the education of youth and for various meetings.

He recalled that when visiting Slovenia a few years ago, the former president of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch said that Slovenia might be a small nation but was large in sports.

"He was right. I'd like to add that considering its population and the latest achievements at the Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014 and in London in 2012, Slovenia is a sports giant."

He also lauded Slovenia as an increasingly important pillar of the Olympic movement, not only because of the success of its athletes, but also because of its consistent implementation of the Olympic Agenda 2020.

Considering the agenda has been well implemented in Slovenia, Bach is not concerned about the future success of Slovenian sports.

"You've laid the foundations for another 25 years of achievements," he said in a reference to the upcoming anniversary of Slovenia's independence.

Bach pledged the International Olympic Committee's further support for the activities of the Slovenian Olympic Committee, presenting its president Bogdan Gabrovec with a special honour.

"I think Thomas Bach's visit is the biggest reward for Slovenian sports. I trust we'll fully implement Agenda 2020 and believe our strategy will secure Slovenian sports an even brighter future," Gabrovec said.

The inauguration of the Olympic Education Centre was attended by many of Slovenia's successful athletes. The museum showcases Slovenia's sports achievements, Olympic disciplines and organisation.

Later in the day, Bach met met Prime Minister Miro Cerar, Education and Sport Minister Maja Makovec Brenčič and President Borut Pahor.

At the meeting with Cerar, he praised the good work of the Slovenian Olympic Committee and agreed with the prime minister that maintaining such a high level of sport participation required development-oriented institutions.

Bach visited the Kodeljevo Sports Park, taking a test run on an athletics stadium as part of a project promoting the Olympics together with Pahor and Makovec Brenčič.

Speaking at a press conference in Ljubljana, the IOC president encouraged the Slovenian national committee to think about hosting major international events, as he believes that "Slovenians can be great hosts."

"I know from my own experience having been here...that Slovenians are not only very friendly people and people who can offer great hospitality, but are also great organisers and they are a fair public which supports all athletes."

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