100 days left to the beginning of the EYOF Banská Bystrica 2022

The last 100 days remain until the beginning of the European Youth Olympic Festival 2022 in Banská Bystrica, the countdown of which will begin on Friday 15 April. The organisers of the multi-sporting event, which will take place in the town below Urpín from 24 to 30 July 2022, are starting to intensify and tighten up their preparations, as the summer sports holiday is irresistibly approaching.

Preparations according to plan 

“Our goal is to prepare an event at the international level that will make Slovakia and Banská Bystrica visible on the sports map of Europe. That is why we are constantly working to ensure that foreign athletes have the best possible impressions and feelings of the city that will host them in the last week of July this year. Currently, the construction industry related to the reconstruction of the road infrastructure is visible in most parts of the city. Sports venues are also beginning to look newly, including the National Athletic Stadium in Štiavničky, which has undergone a comprehensive renovation. After completing most of the work at the winter stadium, we are currently reconstructing its outdoor area, finishing with the modernization of the surroundings of the indoor swimming pool, and just before its completion, there is also the Municipal Youth Stadium in Kráľová, which will serve as a cycling base. The renovation of the arena in Detva should also be completed by the end of May. At the same time, we have completed the spring, cleaning event called For a Better City, in which the residents themselves also took part. As we want the European Youth Olympic Festival to be green, we plan to plant a few trees in Malachov next week. This is a top sporting event which is based on the principle of sustainability and we also place great emphasis on the environmental part,” said Ján Nosko, the President of the Organising Committee and Mayor of Banská Bystrica.

“We have successfully dismantled the sports grounds, the necessary reconstructions are being carried out in accordance with the planned deadlines, and catering and transport are also being finalized, the plan of which will be approved by the end of the month. The traffic restrictions will only be during the cycling competition. Participants will be able to use the public transport for free. Recruitment of volunteers is ongoing; there are currently 1400 of them registered. We are waiting for the finalization of the distribution of sports teams into accommodation capacities and training of volunteers,” describes Peter Hamaj, Director of the Organising Committee, adding: “We are working on promotional activities, branding and set up of all venues. In the following weeks, the entry lists will be completed.” In terms of infrastructure after the EYOF, Banská Bystrica residents will continue to be served by new surfaces in volleyball and handball halls, scoreboards, athletic, gymnastic, judo equipment, cycling equipment or modified swimming pool with starting blocks and swimming lanes.

10 sports in Banská Bystrica

In March, it was decided that the EYOF 2022 would consist of ten sports. It was originally supposed to be eleven but after examining the circumstances and all possibilities of the triathlon competitions in Banská Bystrica and adjacent regions, the organising committee decided to remove this sport from the program of the 16th summer edition of the top continental event for young people under 18. “The decision to drop triathlon from the EYOF program was not easy. We negotiated with each interested department of the organising committee. The health and safety of the young Olympic hopefuls and visitors to the sporting event as well as the inhabitants of Banská Bystrica at the EYOF 2022 are the top priority,” stated Peter Hamaj, Director of the Organising Committee of the EYOF 2022, where young athletes will compete in athletics, badminton, basketball, road cycling, judo, handball, swimming, gymnastics, tennis and volleyball.

EYOF also at the Dukla sports grounds 

The army sports club Dukla Banská Bystrica, which will provide its sports grounds during this important event for the young athletes, also wants to contribute to the successful organisation. The cooperation with Dukla is extremely important for the quality of the event. “Dukla has a beautiful new stadium and it would be a shame if it was not used for such an important event. So the main stand during the EYOF will be at the SNP Stadium in Banská Bystrica, where the athletics competitions will take place. The judo fighters will be fighting in our sports hall. We also provide accommodation, medical and anti-doping centre for the organisers. I think that the whole area will be the heart of the EYOF and I am glad that we can contribute in this way, I believe that also our employees will contribute to the successful organisation of the event,” said Matej Tóth, the director of the Dukla Club and the festival’s ambassador.

They are looking forward to compete with the bests

The EYOF is a big event not only for Banská Bystrica and its surroundings but also the whole of Slovakia and especially its talented athletes, who can confront their peers from abroad at a top event at home. “To compete at the EYOF means for me the opportunity to play against the best teams in Europe. I really appreciate it. The Olympic values and fair play come first to me. I want to push myself and do everything for it but at the same time, I respect the opponent. Within the team, it means for me to support each other under any circumstances and to wish each other success,” said the basketball player Richard Ondruš, whose role model is Chris Paul.

Alexandra Fričová will be one of the volleyball players in the Slovak jersey. “We have the opportunity to gain valuable experiences and play against the best teams. It is not an event I can be a part of at any time. I am glad that it is organised in Slovakia. Every big tournament means a reward for my work,” said A. Fričová, who also builds on the Olympic values: “As an athlete, I agree with them. The Olympics is a holiday during which these values should be respected, but, of course, also outside this event. I see them as a union of people regardless of differences.”

The clothing is based on mining history 

The official clothing is based on the design manual of the European Youth Olympic Festival. Most clothing is eco-friendly and made from recycled materials. “The coloured fragments and their structure symbolize the diversity of mined gemstones in the entire Banská Bystrica region. The varied colour scale is also an association to the fact that the EYOF event is primarily a celebration of young sports people from different countries,” said Lukáš Donoval, the Marketing Director of the EYOF 2022.

EYOF 2022 has a rich program 

The EYOF 2022 will also include a large fan zone, which will be in the centre of Banská Bystrica in the park under the SNP memorial. It will be reminiscent of a festival where sports meet music, art and culture. Visitors will be able to try different sports under the supervision of experienced professionals. The design of the whole fan zone will be in the spirit of sustainability. “As part of the program, the best concerts of the Slovak performers await us, as well as the official opening and closing ceremonies. Every visitor will find their own taste here. Whether you taste the quality food, play sports or experience a rich cultural and sports mix of activities,” Lukáš Donoval described the rich fan zone and added: “We believe that this rich program will attract the public’s attention to sports and active lifestyle of youth, but also adults.”