EYOF IN BANSKÁ BYSTRICA IS A CHALLENGE FOR ORGANISERS AND BENEFIT FOR THE WHOLE SLOVAKIA

“Organising such an important event is a great opportunity for the city. Despite the fact that covid complicates our situation as well as many reconstructions or modifications of the sports facilities, I am very glad that the foreign visit appreciated our efforts. Currently, the biggest challenge for us is to solve the accommodation of all participants, athletes and implementation teams at university dormitories in Banská Bystrica,” says the mayor of Banská Bystrica and the president of the EYOF 2022 organising committee Ján Nosko. And he adds: “Everyone can get the most important thing – unforgettable experiences, new friends and priceless practices.”

“There are several benefits for the city, the region and Slovakia thanks to the organisation of such a large event. First of all, it is the promotion of the city, the region and the whole of Slovakia abroad, either through the participants of the event, but also through television broadcasts and live broadcasts. Another one is the increase in tourism, both during the event but also after the event. This may lead to a restart of the HoReCa segment during next summer, with Banská Bystrica and the region being visited by a large number of participants and spectators. Reconstruction of sports infrastructure and other related infrastructure, such as roads, accommodation capacities and other induced investments in the region, is certainly a great benefit,” Peter Hamaj, Director of the EYOF 2022 Organising Committee describes the importance of the event.

“Residents of Banská Bystrica can gain new experiences by active participation in the organisation of EYOF 2022, practices in organising such a large event in Slovakia, they have the opportunity to acquire new communication skills in foreign languages, the opportunity to meet new people not only from Slovakia but also from abroad, to see and get to know future Olympians,” Júlia Jančíková, the volunteers manager presents the next benefits.

The event will be organised under auspices of the President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Čaputová, the Minister of Defence Jaroslav Naď has a patronage over the EYOF security concept and the Minister of the Environment Ján Budaj over the sustainability project.