Tomorrow will be opening ceremony of the EYOF

Tomorrow evening, at 20 hours in Belgrade hall “Arena” in New Belgrade, will be held opening ceremony of the nineth EYOF, European Youth Olympic Festival. According to the media, organizers decided that the entrance will be free.

The Director of the ceremony, Boško Đorđević said that in this ceremony will participate around hundred performers.

– Visitors in “Areni”, will have the opportunity to enjoy in defile of participants, lighting the torch and rising the olympic flag, and in interesting artistic programe, folowed by music composed by Sanja Ilić. Through media, this picture from Belgrade will be seen all over the World and we will give our best to represent ourselves in the best possible way – said Đorđević.

Besides 3.500 competitors from 49 countries (for the first time from Montenegro), a great number of sports fans is expected, as well as the presence of representatives from sports and political establishment from Serbia and journalists.
Competition in 11 sports wil be held in 15 sports facilities – in Šumice, on Banjica, Taš, Spors Hall, stadium of the FC Partizan.

Disruption of FC Partizan's stadium, announced for the end of this football season, was posponed for later date, so young athletes from Europe will have the chance to compete for medals on this stadium.

In the Military Gymnasium was made one more athletic lane.

– We are sending a message of peace and friendship to all guests from Europe. We are spreading our hands as sports rivals, and as brothers to all athletes, members of their delegations, and officials from the European Olympic Committee, who will be hosted by our city from 21. to 28. July this year – said Đorđe Višacki, the Director of EYOF 2007.

It was announced that, during the duration of the Festival in Belgrade will be presend Mr. Jacques Rogge, the President of the Intrenational Olympic Committee, who is also founder of this biggest European sports competition, while being the President of the European Olympic Committee.

What really reminds on the Olympic Games, besides the number of participants, is Olympic Vullage in the Student Town. The biggest Student town in Balkans has the capacity of 4.406 beds, devided in four blocks.

All rooms are with two, three beds and sweets. Each of them has its own bathroom, kitchen, digital phone line, and internet.

Reception is open for 24 hours, near by there is electronic exchange, shop and reading room with capacity of 100 people.

All European teams, including the host, will be accommodated in the Student Town. National Serbian Television has provided the signal, so that Eurosport can broadcast all events.

EYOF is real nursery of future great Olympic competitoras and top athletes.

More tha 80 athletes who used to be participating in the European Youth Olympic Festival, were winners of medals on the Olympic Games.
The most famous are Janica Kostelić, Anja Paerson, Gabrijela Sabo in Athletics and Carolina Cluft.

Having the opportunity to be the host, Serbia will have biggest number of athletes competing in the Festival. The possibility to compete in Volleyball, Basketball and Handball will have exclusively Serbia. Montenegro won't have participants in team sports.

Today, from Montenegro to Belgrade will travel nine judists, five athletes, two swimmers and four table-tennis players.