EU Commissioner Kos Celebrates European Sports Week with Youth and Athletes in Visoko
The 10th anniversary of the European Week of Sports was marked today in Visoko in presence of hundreds of students and young athletes. They were joined by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, EU Ambassador to BiH, Luigi Soreca, representatives of the BiH Olympic Committee as well as renowned local athletes.
The central event gathered over 500 young participants, who took part in a variety of activities including competitions and games designed to inspire them to "Be Active" — not just this week, but every day. Commissioner Kos was joined by Amel Tuka, world-renowned middle-distance runner and Iman Avdić, a rising star in swimming who jointly emphasized the importance of youth empowerment and the unifying power of sport while encouraging young people to follow their dreams through dedication and perseverance.
"I am very happy to be here together with you today with sport connecting us. I grew up in an area where many people play sport. Why is it so important in our lives? Those who play sport know what fair play is, that there are no results without dedication and hard work, that sport means friendships and friendships know no borders. As a representative of the European Union, I am glad that we were able to finance a lot of sports facilities, especially in schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina. When we talk about the EU, it is not only the member states and politicians; it is all of us – the people – and if our friendships start when we are young, then they are likely to last," said Commissioner Kos.
On behalf of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, that supported the organisation of activities in Visoko, Izet Radžo underlined the importance of the EU’s support for the implementation of activities in Visoko and across the country. “The European Week of Sports is a movement that lasts throughout the year. We opened this year’s edition with an event in Cazin and continued with activities in Pale, Zenica, Siroki Brijeg, Neum, East Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Tuzla. This activity is an opportunity to highlight the importance of sport in building unity, tolerance and peace and to inspire citizens to stay active for the benefit of their health and wellbeing,” concluded Radžo.
The European Union, through the ongoing project EU4Sport has allocated 2.1 million euro to renovate and modernise sports halls in educational institutions including elementary schools and faculties across the country with the aim to strengthen quality of education as well as to improve physical and mental wellbeing.
Launched by the European Commission in 2015, the European Week of Sport aims to tackle inactivity by encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to embrace sport and physical activity. Held annually from 23 to 30 September, the week features events in schools, workplaces, gyms, and public spaces across Europe — all under the hashtag #BeActive. Now celebrating its 10th year, the campaign has reached millions of participants in over 40 countries, promoting not just fitness but values of teamwork, inclusion, and well-being.