The Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador Luigi Soreca officially launched Europe Day celebrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina today at a sports event in the Athletic Stadium in Zenica with hundreds of high school students, coaches, senior and junior athletes, local community representatives and some of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most celebrated sports stars, including Amel Tuka, Elvir Krehmić and Hamza Alić. 

The event was a joint celebration of Europe Day and World Kids’ Athletics Day and was organised in partnership with the Athletics Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. To support the work of the Athletics Federation, the European Union has provided approximately 120,000 BAM for the purchase of certified, specialized equipment that meets international competition standards, enabling BiH athletes to register official results and qualify for regional and international competitions.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Soreca said, “I am very glad to be celebrating Europe Day in Zenica through sport. Sport connects people. It teaches teamwork, perseverance and respect. Talent deserves opportunity, and the European Union is proud to offer support to help this country’s athletes realise their potential. The lack of certified equipment has been a major obstacle for the development of athletics in BiH, limiting the ability to host national competitions and preventing athletes from reaching their full potential. This new equipment installed here in Zenica will provide better training conditions for the sports clubs in the city but also will attract athletes from across the country”.

Duško Ivičić, President of the BiH Athletic Federation said “The EU's donation is of great importance, as purchasing athletic equipment represents a major expense—and unfortunately, investments in sports in BiH remain limited. This support comes at the right time and serves as a strong boost for both elite athletes in Zenica and young talents who are just beginning their journey. It's especially meaningful that the equipment is being used in Zenica, the heart of athletics in BiH, where numerous competitions and championships are regularly held. Last weekend, we met the leadership of European Athletics, including their President, who praised the donation and expressed their commitment to continued support. The equipment, valued at €55,000, is already in use, and its full potential will be showcased at the upcoming national senior championship, set to take place in the next 10 to 20 days.”

Mirza Mušija, the Minister of education, science, culture and sports of the Zenica-Doboj Canton stated: “Over the past 15 to 20 years, we have produced five Olympians, which has significantly contributed to the growing popularity of this sport. Adding even greater value is the fact that our very own Olympians - ambassadors of sport - managed to bring Ambassador Soreca on the occasion of Europe Day and Children's Athletics Day. In doing so, they symbolically reaffirmed our commitment to European values, the promotion of health, inclusion, and sport. We hope to revitalize our existing capacities and nurture new champions, new Olympians, and ambassadors who will proudly represent our beautiful Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Amra Mehmedić, Zenica City representative emphasized: “We are pleased that Zenica is hosting the celebration of World Children's Athletics Day as part of Europe Day activities. It is a particular honour to welcome, for the first time, Ambassador Soreca. With great weather and many young athletes, the atmosphere is truly inspiring. We are grateful for the donated equipment to the Athletics Federation, which will be used in upcoming competitions. We believe this new equipment will contribute to setting new records—perhaps as soon as June 4, when Zenica hosts the 16th International Athletics Meeting.

The EU has been a committed partner of Zenica, supporting schools with modern IT equipment and better learning conditions, helping small businesses and farmers, investing in renewable energy, and infrastructure, such as the reconstruction of the Municipal Court or the modernisation of the Green Market.

Amel Tuka, famous BiH sportsman said: “Conditions matter most, especially in those early days of an athlete's journey, and I believe this donation will greatly benefit future generations and our club. I would like to thank the European Union for this valuable support to our youth, our athletes, and our city of Zenica—widely recognized as the center of athletics in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our club has recently produced three Olympians, and this new donated equipment will help attract young talent and contribute to future success through quality coaching and proper development.”

During the event,  girls and boys aged up to 13 from the Athletic Club Zenica demonstrated the basics of athletic disciplines through play and fun using the newly EU funded equipment. They were joined by junior and senior members, who are already recording good results in their categories, and demonstrated more advanced training techniques. 

The tour of the stations was guided by Amel Tuka, one of the most successful athletes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event concluded with a series of sprint races with local high school students, and Ambassador Soreca gave the starting signal. 

World Kids’ Athletic Day, was also marked across Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Trebinje, Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Derventa, Bijeljina, Mostar and Sokolac. 

The event in Zenica, along with the procurement of specialized equipment for the BiH Athletics Federation, is supported through the ‘EU for Local Communities’ project. Funded by the European Union, the project aims to improve living conditions for citizens in local communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is implemented by the Center for the Promotion of Civil Society, in partnership with the organization HELP.