The 15th edition of the “Oaza Sports Games”, a manifestation dedicated to the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, was officially opened in the “Safet Zajko” Centre for Education, Sports and Recreation today.
The opening ceremony began with a welcome speech by Samir Halilović, Director of the Association for Support of People with Intellectual Disabilities in the Sarajevo Canton, “Oaza”. After him, the 22-year old Olympic gold medallist and employee of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports, Edna Šunjić, addressed the audience, announcing the speech of the Federal Minister of Culture and Sports, Sanja Vlaisavljević.
In her speech, Minister Vlaisavljević emphasised the importance of active and daily application of inclusion in practice and pointed out that inclusion was not just a theoretical lesson from a textbook, but that inclusion had to be lived. She especially praised the Ministry’s cooperation so far with associations and institutions working to promote inclusion, emphasising how important it was to continuously support such projects.
The Minister recalled yesterday’s performance by the choir of residents of the “Oaza” Association on the Promenade of Culture in front of the Ministry in the programme on the occasion of the World Day of Cultural Diversity, Dialogue and Development, expressing her satisfaction that they were gathering again the next day for another important event. In the following, she expressed her gratitude to all the volunteers, coaches and families who have been contributing to the success of the “Oaza Sports Games” for 15 years, conveying a strong message of unity and the richness of diversity.
This year’s Games gathered numerous participants, and until 25 May, a number of sports competitions and activities are expected that will further promote inclusion, togetherness and sportsmanship.
