Three-time Olympic winner and EYOF 2022 ambassador to complete a symbolic journey from Rome to Banská Bystrica

(Banská Bystrica, 24 January 2022) – The largest multi-sport event in Slovakia, the European Youth Olympic Festival EYOF, which will be held in Banská Bystrica from 24 to 30 July 2022, is irresistibly approaching. Exactly 6 months are left until its start! On this occasion, the three-time Olympic biathlon winner and event ambassador Nastya Kuzmina started her trip to the EYOF today. She wants to complete the symbolic journey from Rome to the city below Urpin in exactly 5 months.

The inspiration for the project is the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic torch that awaits us in May and its subsequent transport to the EYOF venue. “The EYOF torch, unlike the Olympic Games, is lit at the headquarters of the European Olympic Committees in Rome. Together with Nastya, we said that the EYOF goal is, among other things, the promotion of youth sports – and therefore, in addition to the torch, Nastya can also travel symbolically – through sports performances,” explained Peter Hamaj, Executive Director of the EYOF Organising Committee.

The imaginary route from Rome to the metropolis of central Slovakia measures a total of 8,000 kilometers. “We decided not to go directly to Banská Bystrica on the map, but my journey will lead through major European cities across the continent. Their selection was more or less random but we wanted to include at least some of the 50 countries that participate in the European Olympic Festival,” explained Nastya Kuzmina.

Nastya will not really complete this route, but she will move around the map thanks to the kilometers she takes within her “sports activities”. In order to be able to manage the volume of kilometers in five months, her shift on the map will be in the scale of 1:11. So in real, Nastya will cover 727 kilometers. The number 11 is symbolic for EYOF, as it is the number of sports that competitions will take place.

Nastya should complete her journey symbolically on June 24, a month before the start of EYOF. “For the next five months, I would like to cover almost 150 kilometers every month. Now in the winter, especially on cross-country skis, later I will run or hike. The goal is to play sports and at the same time move on an imaginary map thanks to the sports kilometers. I will record all my movements through the sports application so that anyone can follow me and compare with me,” added the six-time Olympic medalist, who supports the largest European sports event where the best young representatives from 14 to 18 will meet. “I am glad to be the EYOF ambassador. Young athletes are our high hopes. I consider the support of youth sports and active leisure time to be crucial.”

Anyone who wants to move a little can get involved in Nastya´s journey. All you have to do is wear sports shoes, choose any activity and start. The ambassador adds: “If a portion of 727 kilometers is long for someone, he can adjust the scale according to his strengths and abilities or share a portion of kilometers with someone. Let’s get to it together and meet at the finish line.” 

All fans will have the opportunity to follow the steps of the biathlon champion online via a specially created link (https://eyof.garmin.sk). At the same time, they can record their own kilometers on their applications and then they will have the opportunity to win nice prizes. “Through the application, we have created a challenge through which our fans can also get involved and complete the route with me. I would like as many people as possible to get involved and together we could move the whole of Slovakia on the way from Rome to Banská Bystrica,” adds the Olympic champion. It will be possible to compete not only through the selected application but also by sending records from other applications. Every month during Nastya´s journey, we will evaluate her current sports activity and recap the mileage. 

According to Petr Hamaj, Executive Director of EYOF 2022, this activity met with great acclaim in the organising team itself. “It is my pleasure to present such a great activity that will not only help us to promote the most comprehensive sporting event organised in Slovakia in 2022, but especially the active sports for the general public. I believe that as many people as possible will get involved in sports with Nastya and enjoy any physical activity together with EYOF.”