The 12th Plazma Youth Sports Games in Bosnia and Herzegovina were officially opened in Gračanica

More than 2,000 students from all primary schools in the Gračanica area enjoyed the fun program at the City Square.

The youngest primary school children were entertained by Amel Ćurić and Samir Salčin, a famous virtuoso with a ball who delighted the children with juggling, and the youngest participants of the JU Kindergarten program "Naša djeca" got the biggest applause inspiring the audience to sing the song "Djeca su ukras svijeta".

The city of Gračanica joined Arilje and Rijeka as the regional center for the opening of the Plazma Youth Sports Games for 2022.

"These days we celebrated the Days of Gračanica and this is the crown of our activities. We are happy and grateful that Gračanica is the host of the Opening Ceremony of the Plazma Youth Sports Games this year, especially since children learn about tolerance, solidarity, responsibility and respect for others through the Games. To me, the most important thing is that children learn that defeat is actually victory, and tears are actually smiles, and that's what's most important. From Gračanica today, we are sending a message of tolerance, love, and the children's smiles say that this country can go in the right direction. Games rule!", said Nusret Helić, mayor of Gračanica.

The Regional President of the Games, Zdravko Marić, addressed the children and those present on behalf of the Plazma Youth Sports Games.

"First of all, I would like to thank the people of Gračanica for their incredible hospitality. I am especially happy when I see how emotionally the children accompanied the Opening Ceremony. I want the children to have fun, because the Games exist because of them, and that socializing is always in the foreground. I use the opportunity to thank the governments of the countries where the Games are held, the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has been more actively involved in our activities since this year," said Zdravko Marić, regional president of the Youth Sports Games.

Mr. Goran Lulić also addressed the audience on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports.

"I would like to thank the organizers and all the private companies that made it possible for the Games to be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the twelth time in a row. Through sports, children learn about all the things that will await them in life, and precisely because of the sports experience, they will know and deal with them. They will learn to lose and to win, but most importantly, to develop team spirit, which you cannot do without in any sphere of life today," said Goran Lulić.

The company Bambi a.d. is the general partner of the YSG, Ivan Jovanović, head of corporate affairs of this company, was among the guests.

"It is a great pleasure, honor and privilege that our company has the opportunity to help and be the general partner of the Youth Sports Games in BiH, the best event of this type. The project brings together the children of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia and they demonstrate what the adults should know, they teach us about peace, tolerance and companionship. The smiles of these children are timeless and worldly and I am really glad that I had the opportunity to be part of the Opening Ceremony today in Gračanica", Ivan Jovanović pointed out.

The official opening was also attended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of Tuzla Canton, Ivana Mijatović.

"A big thank you to all those people who came up with this great and wonderful idea and thanks to those who have organized and implemented this project and made it possible for us to contribute to the development of sports, games and entertainment together and in this way send a positive image to all other people. I am honored to be here today when we are sending this beautiful picture from Gračanica to other cities and the region," said Ivana Mijatović.

As part of the Opening Ceremony of the 12th Plazma Youth Sports Games, the m: tel Sports Day was held, where more than 150 teams, students from 1.-5. Elementary school classes competed in the game between two fires and athletics.

"It is a great privilege for me to be in Gračanica today on behalf of the company m: tel, and I am sure that we will continue to support this event in the coming years. I will only say that we will see you next year," said Dejan Jokić, financial director of the company m: tel.

The gathering in Gračanica ended with fireworks and the Crvena Jabuka concert, where thousands of people enjoyed the songs of the legendary BH band. In 2022, the Games will visit 45 cities in BiH and mingle with more than 55,000 participants, followed by semi-final tournaments, the Grand Final competition in Sarajevo and the International Final in Split, where our national representatives will fight for the title of the best in the region against team from Croatia and Serbia.