Two days to go to Olympic Day - Slovenia Olympians Association contributes to the country’s Olympic Day Success

21 | 6 | 2016

Olympians are actively involved in Slovenia’s 2016 Olympic Day celebrations, engaging in a range of different activities to promote Olympism and unite communities in sport across the country.

Assisted by a close working relationship with the Slovenia Olympic Committee, the Slovenia Olympians Association is playing a key role in preparations for the special day on 23 June, working with the NOC to ensure joint activities are fully supported by the country’s Olympians.

Olympic silver medallist hurdler Brigita Bukovec; former world champion gymnast and two-time Olympian Mitja Petkovšek; triple Olympian sprinter Alenka Bikar; Olympic downhill skier Petra Robnik, who competed at Turin 2006; three-time Olympic medallist, including gold, at Sydney 2000 and former world champion shooter Rajmond Debevec; former world rowing champion and four-time Olympic medallist, who won gold in the double sculls at Sydney 2000 Iztok Cop; and Brigita Langerholc Zager, who finished fourth in the 800m at Sydney 2000, acted as ambassadors for Olimpijske urice (Olympic Hour) and Mini Olympiad, events that are aimed at bringing children and young people closer to the Olympic values and promoting the benefits of sport and an active lifestyle from an early age.

Olympians also played a significant role in the final “My Olympic Challenge” event, which took place in Ljubljana ahead of Olympic Day. My Olympic Challenge is a nationwide initiative and series of events that encourage people to get active and get into sport. It was launched in April during a visit by IOC President Thomas Bach. The final “challenge” saw three-time Olympic marathon runner Roman Kejžar, and Maruša Mišmaš, a middle-distance specialist who has qualified for a place on Team Slovenia for Rio 2016, test the fitness of participants against Olympic standards with the help of a team of expert trainers and doctors.

Finally, on Olympic Day itself, Olympians will gather in the newly inaugurated Slovenian Olympic Educational Centre in Ljubljana for a special reception to discuss future projects and activities of the Slovenian Olympians Association as part of their partnership with the NOC of Slovenia. This will be followed by a group swim and photo-call to honour the special status Olympians hold in society.

Miroslav Cerar, Olympic gold medallist and President of the Slovenia Olympians Association, said;

“Slovenia is a nation that embraces sport; it is part of the fabric of our society and is why we love Olympic Day. I am proud of the key role Olympians are playing in all the Olympic Day activities taking place around the country, demonstrating that Olympism and the desire to spread the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect is alive and well in Slovenia.

“As part of our strategy going forward we intend to work closely with the NOC to ensure Olympians remain at the heart of our communities and continue to get the support and attention they deserve.”

Olympic Day is a global celebration of sport and the Olympic values, which takes place on 23 June each year to commemorate the anniversary of the first modern Olympic Games in 1894.

The WOA would like to share your National Olympians Association’s inspirational Olympic Day stories, events and pictures on our digital and social platforms so please let us know about any planned Olympic Day activities by contacting info@thewoa.org.

Olympians are also encouraged to engage on social media using the hashtag #OlympicDay.