Huge promotion of the region and motivation for the youth

The 16th summer edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) is taking place in Banská Bystrica from Sunday. The three-year effort of the organizers celebrates success. Over 2,200 athletes from 48 countries arrived in the heart of Slovakia, where they will compete in a total of ten sports.

According to the president of the EYOF 2022 organizing committee and the mayor of Banská Bystrica, Ján Nosko, organizing the EYOF was a huge challenge and an honor. The event will have great benefits for the region. “We were able to renovate the sports infrastructure. We renovated the dormitories, which will be used by young people after the event. Sustainability is also a big topic. We are trying to lead the younger generation to learn to live healthier, to be aware of environmental impacts and to take away the principles of how to treat the environment,” said Nosko.

The biggest challenge was the renewal of the sports infrastructure which according to the mayor of Banská Bystrica was “insufficient” in the city. “However, we now know that it can be done. We use the winter stadium for one of the most logistically difficult events, gymnastics. But this requires a good and creative team that can work well together. I am convinced that in Slovakia we have an infrastructure that has its reserves, but we also have great people who are able to organize an event of such dimensions,” declared Nosko.

The President of EYOF 2022 Organizing Committee highlighted the idea of a European Youth Olympic Festival. “It is a platform where young athletes can present themselves, show their results, compete, and compare themselves with their peers from other countries. These people are future Olympic winners, European and world champions,” added Nosko.

Many athletes were seen training in the streets of Banská Bystrica on Sunday. They brought life into the city. “I am looking forward to the fact that the life in the city will pulsate with sports, accompanying cultural and social activities. It will be charged with youthful energy, and that is priceless. I believe that everyone will enjoy it and take away a lot of pleasant experiences from the city and also the desire to come back,” declared Nosko.

EYOF 2022 is according to Hamaj a great presentation of Slovakia in Europe

In Banská Bystrica, even a few days before the start of EYOF 2022, there was a lot of activity and the final details were being fine-tuned at the sports fields and in the EYOF Park. “In the last few days we have been running all the systems we planned: food tent, transport, accreditation system. In the last period, the department of accreditation and infrastructure was the most burdened which had to prepare the sports grounds in the form we see them today,” said the executive director of the EYOF 2022 organizing committee Peter Hamaj.

EYOF 2022 is a big challenge for Slovakia. It is a big presentation within the whole Europe. However, it will bring many benefits to Banská Bystrica and the entire region. “We are also creating a live broadcast of the event which will be broadcasted via RTVS (Slovak television) and will also be available abroad. It is a big presentation even through mobile phones, because today basically everyone can be a journalist through social networks,” said Hamaj. According to him in addition to the economic benefit EYOF will also help young athletes. “That way they can have new idols. I believe that we will convince more and more young people to play sports, but also politicians to support sports more.”

According to him the European Youth Olympic Festival carries an important idea. The organizers therefore decided to create a special concept. “Especially today when young people spend more time on social networks and phones, playing sports is also very important in terms of socialization. And by creating the concept of the EYOF park, where these young athletes can meet and establish contacts it is important in this post-pandemic period,” declared the executive director of the organizing committee.

According to Hamaj, it is possible that Slovakia will organize a similar large multi-sport event soon. “We have the personnel to handle something similar. Of course, there must also be great support from the state including financial support in order to improve the sports infrastructure within Slovakia. But I think that we can handle everything in Slovakia,” added Hamaj.