The European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), which brings together young sports stars of Europe, started last night in the Slovak town of Banská Bystrica. Slovakia, by organising the 16th summer edition of the Festival, joined the exclusive group of countries which hosted both the winter and the summer edition of the EYOF. Over the next week (from July 24th to July 30th), more than 2,200 athletes from 48 National Olympic Committees will compete in 10 sports, and the competition will be broadcast live on the EOC channel. Montenegro will be represented at the event by women's handball team (girls born in 2006) and athlete Anabela Mujović, who will appear in the triple jump. At the magical opening ceremony, the opening speeches were given by the President of the EOC, Spyros Capralos, and the President of the EYOF Organising Committee, the Mayor of Banská Bystrica Ján Nosko, before the Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Boris Kollár, officially declared the event open. The speech was followed by the arrival of the Flame of Peace, which was lit in Rome at the end of May, before it began its journey across Slovakia to Banská Bystrica. The Flame of Peace is a central symbol of the EYOF, highlighting the importance of the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect amongst the youth of Europe.
