TAFISA BoD in Slovenia for BoD Meeting, Inspection Tour, Day of Slovenian Sport, EWoS Opening

On 22-24 September, TAFISA Board Members and staff were invited to Slovenia to attend various meetings and events. 

Starting their journey on Wednesday 22 September, the delegation led by the host and organiser Board Member Sodržnik, along with Board Member Hagay, Karakasis, and Baumann, had the opportunity to visit the Grand Hotel Bernardin in Portorož, which will be the main venue of the 27th TAFISA World Congress on 8-12 June 2022. TAFISA Board Members convened a Board Meeting in a hybrid format, which allowed the other Board Members to join remotely and discuss various issues relevant to TAFISA and the Global Sport for All Movement at large were discussed. 

The inspection tour continued with a brief excursion to the coastal city of Piran, within walking distance of the Grand Hotel Bernardin, and which the Congress participants will also enjoy visiting next year. Piran Mayor Đenio Zadković and Administration Director Robert Smrekar warmly welcomed the delegation and introduced the city and its rich culture and history. Experiencing what the cities of Piran and Portorož, on the Adriatic coast, have to offer will constitute a unique and memorable experience for the Congress' international guests. 

On 23 September, the group traveled to Ljubljana to attend the Opening Ceremony of the European Week of Sport in the Tivoli Park, where a big event was organised to encourage children and adults alike to be physically active. EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel encouraged participants to #BeActive, stay healthy and believe in their dreams, emphasising that "Sport is what unites us". 

Nearby, the Government Building and President's Office, housing the office of President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, provided a stage to celebrate the Day of Slovenian Sports, a public holiday launched on 23 September 2020 on the initiative of TAFISA Members the Olympic Committee of Slovenia - Association of Sports Federations (OCS-ASF) and Sport Union Slovenia (SUS). TAFISA Secretary General Wolfgang Baumann was invited to speak and highlighted the global leading position of Slovenia in Sport for All. Olympic gold medalist and sport legend Miroslav Cerar was the ceremony's host on behalf of the President of Slovenia, and welcomed Baumann's encouraging words. 

Following a business lunch with Congress co-host Sport Union of Slovenia President Dejan Crnek and Secretary General Janez Ovsenik, the delegation finally travelled to Lake Bled to join the official Opening Ceremony of the European Week of Sport, launched by EU Commissioner Gabriel. The stage hosted speeches by high-level guests such as the Prime Minister of Slovenia, along with demonstrations and performances from Slovenian artists. 

TAFISA would like to once again extend its thanks to mag. Janez Sodržnik for organising and hosting this visit; in his competence as President of the Organising Committee of the 27th TAFISA World Congress, First Vice-President of OCS-ASF, and TAFISA Board Member. Thank you again to the wonderful hosts and partners the delegation met during its stay, including Piran Mayor Đenio Zadković and Administration Director Robert Smrekar, SUS President Dejan Crnek and Secretary General Janez Ovsenik, President of the Programme Committee of the 27th TAFISA World Congress Prof. Maja Pajek, and their respective teams.