After seven days of competing in 15 different sports disciplines, presentation of medals and cups to best individuals and teams took place after which the curtain was lowered down on 10th anniversary of School Olympics of Serbia, the most attended sport event in Serbia in 2016.
The biggest sport and friendship event aimed at school children in the Balkans that has been running for 20 years thanks to School Sports Council, gathered some 6 500 pupils from over 70 towns and municipalities in Serbia. Apart from primary and secondary school pupils – the future athletes – Vranje has also been paid a visit by more than 500 teachers and 270 referees.
Upon the arrival of Olympic flame in Vranje, 10th anniversary School Olympics were launched by Ambassador Michael Davenport Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Vanja Udovicic Minister of Youth and Sports and Zoran Antic Mayor of Vranje.
Under the slogan “For a life without drugs because drugs take your life away”
Ambassador Davenport, who paid a two-day visit to Vranje, left the city with many positive impressions following the tour of sports fields and city streets as well as spending time with primary and secondary school pupils.
“I am very proud of the fact that the European Union had supported this unique manifestation of youth and sports. I am happy to see pupils, volunteers and citizens everywhere I look and to know the whole event has been very well-organised. I talked to everyone around, which is why I am leaving the city with such good impressions,“ said Ambassador Davenport.
“By simply coming here and taking part in School Olympics, each pupil became a winner. You have all won the most important medal – the medal of respect for your teammates and opponents. I am also sure that by coming here, you have all become better people,“ Minister Udovicic told primary and secondary school students.
After Djordje Stosic, one of the best athletes in Vranje, brought and lit the Olympic torch in Vranje on 9 May, Europe Day, and once all of the contestants and referees took oaths, the pupils started off the Olympics in 12 sports halls and four outdoor courts under the slogan “For a life without drugs because drugs take your life away“.
An event to remember
The City of Vranje and its citizens have been preparing for this event for the past four years and Mayor Zoran Antic says they invested much effort in the preparation of Olympics and paid attention to every detail.
“I am particularly pleased to know that citizens and local self-government spared no effort in organising the event. We have done everything to make sure that, once the Olympics are over, each of our guests leaves Vranje remembering a bit of its beauty and our hospitality,“ Antic said.
The Mayor, and everyone else we have talked to, praised in particular the major assistance and support provided by members of Serbian Army, that is 4th land force brigade.
“Thanks to them, we have managed to accommodate all contestants and provide over 30 000 meals,“ says Miroslav Spasic, Secretary to the Executive Committee and the chief operating officer of the contest.
Belgrader Sasa Radenkovic has so far never been visited any army facility. Once he stepped into the barracks he was happy to know he would be sharing a bedroom with his friends. His peer Andrijana Ivosevic from Kostolac had a similar reaction:
“I did not think it would be like this. I had no idea it would be like on that TV show. I am filled with wonderful impressions.“
Everyone enjoyed the good sportsmanship of these young Olympic athletes, especially when it comes to their relation with each other. The fact that not a single complaint has been filed over the course of the contest, paint a complete picture of the manifestation and its participants.
Nikola Jerkovic says he will be remembering coming to Vranje, staying there, meeting people, taking part in the contest, making new friends and hanging out for a long time.
“We, young people, lack this type of events and life activities. I believe that manifestations as such, travelling, meeting new places and people, exchanging experience, make us richer and stronger in every sense of the word.“
The last day of School Olympics, Sports Hall in Vranje saw an event to remember: culture and arts programme, announcement of the best contestants, medals, cups and lowering the curtain down accompanied by performance of national anthem “Boze pravde“.
The Mayor of Vranje passed on the School Olympics banner to Vladan Vesic, the Mayor of Pirot, the town which will host the 11th School Olympics in four years.
“Pirot is a town of youth and sports. On behalf of my town and its citizens, I am happy to take over this banner. I invite you all to come to Pirot in four years to compete and hang out,“ Vasic said.
Pupils from Pirot were thrilled to hear that the next School Olympics would take place in their town and once Djordje Rancic heard the show host announce the news, he said:
“What? We get to host the next Olympics? Awesome…“ The entire team from Pirot then kept their hands and banners high to celebrate the news until the closing ceremony ended.
Radoman Iric from Vranje for the EU Info Centre
