NATO HQ Sarajevo  /  News  /  2014  /  BIH Olympic Committee and NATO HQ organise Winter Olympic Academy

BIH Olympic Committee and NATO HQ organise Winter Olympic Academy

The project involves 30 high school pupils from across BiH, age between 14 and 18, coming from the towns of Visegrad, Prijedor, Olovo, Jajce, Livno, Brcko, Doboj East, Foca and Fojnica, selected on the basis of achievements and behavior.

For the whole week, these pupils have been enjoying sports and educational activities prepared by BiH Olympic Committee, and have had the opportunity to hear more about the universal Olympic values and the promotion of excellence and solidarity among young people in BiH.

This Tuesday, the Academy participants met with NHQSa Commander, General Merle Hart, while the Deputy Commander, Colonel Ole Fauske, visited Zetra Sports Hall yesterday, where children had a skating lesson.

After meeting the Academy participants, Brigadier Fauske told reporters that "It is very encouraging to see young people gathered here to work in a team spirit, participating in sports activities and facing these challenges together. Projects of this kind directly support the core values of NATO Alliance: democracy, individual liberty and rule of law”.

Said Fazlagić, Secretary General of BiH Olympic Committee, added that the academy is a good introduction to 13th European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), which will be hosted by the cities of Sarajevo and East Sarajevo in 2017, with participation of about 1,500 athletes from 49 countries, who will compete in seven sports disciplines.

The Academy participants will be the lead volunteers at EYOF, and will pass this experience to their local communities, as well.