Photo: Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia
Meeting of the Spouse of the President of the Republic, Dr. Aleš Musar, with Europe’s Best Sitting Volleyball Team, the Mine Victims’ Club Fantomi from Sarajevo
At the invitation of the Disabled Volleyball Club Fantomi from Sarajevo, which brings together mine victims from this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the sport of sitting volleyball, Dr. Aleš Musar participated in a ceremonial academy held at Sarajevo City Hall, the famous Vijećnica, marking the 30th anniversary of Fantomi and the 25th anniversary of their international tournament for mine victims.
Publish date Sarajevo,
Mine victims from Fantomi, who initially began playing sitting volleyball primarily as a form of recovery after surviving mine explosions and losing a leg, have over the years become multiple European champions. Members of the club also helped the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina win a silver medal at the Paralympic Games in Paris, the country’s greatest achievement at the Olympic or Paralympic Games.
At the ceremonial academy, attended also by the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Željko Komšić, and the Ambassador of Slovenia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Damijan Sedej, the Slovenian non-profit organisation ITF received a special recognition award, the Golden Crest of Fantomi, for its contribution to supporting mine victims.
Bosnia and Herzegovina still contains a considerable number of uncleared minefields, which ITF is intensively clearing with the support of donations from the United States, the European Union, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Korea, and Slovenia, in order to eliminate dangers to the local population and foreign visitors alike.
During his conversation with Fantomi President Mr. Ismet Godinjak and Club Director Mr. Mirsad Mirojević, both mine victims themselves, Dr. Musar expressed his admiration for the sitting volleyball players, who achieve exceptional international sporting success despite the obstacles they face, while also helping mine victims throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina engage in sports and strengthen both their physical and mental well-being.
Fantomi thanked Dr. Musar and Amb. Tomaž Lovrenčič, Director of ITF, as well as Slovenia and ITF, which through donations from the Republic of Korea, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia has financially supported and enabled this tournament for a full 25 years.
As Dr. Musar emphasized, for mine victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, sport is one of the best ways to socialize, recover, and provide a positive example to the entire community. He also expressed gratitude to all international donors supporting this project for making such a positive and noble initiative possible.
