FLAME OF PEACE LIT FOR THE SUMMER EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL BANSKÁ BYSTRICA 2022
On Monday, May 30, 2022, the Flame of Peace was lit in Rome for the EYOF Summer Banská Bystrica 2022, near Ara Pacis Augustae, a monument built by Emperor Augustus to celebrate peace throughout Rome.
With just over 50 days left until the start of the summer edition of EYOF in Slovakia, representatives of the EOC, the EYOF Organizing Committee Banská Bystrica 2022, the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Slovakia and Italy, and the city of Rome gathered for a special celebrating peace through sports.
EOC President Spyros Capralos addressed the delegates, saying: “Following the success of the winter EYOF in Vuokatti earlier this year, I am sure you all share my excitement about what is expected in Banska Bystrica this July. The historic Ara Pacis is truly the perfect venue for today’s ceremony and is a reflection of the values we strive to promote through EYOF. Every time we are part of this magical event, the Flame of Peace lights up as a lighthouse of hope and optimism for people across Europe."
Anton Siekel, President of the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee, added: “The great ceremony is a significant milestone on the remarkable path of EYOF Banská Bystrica 2022 preparations. After the ceremony, the flame moves through Slovak towns and villages in memory not only of the approaching EYOF in Banská Bystrica 2022, but also of Olympic values and ideals of peace and brotherhood. ”
President Capralos presided over the handover of the torch, as well as the sculpture of the Golden Olive by De Pax, a symbol of peace and friendship. President Siekel, Mayor of Banská Bystrica and President of the Organizing Committee Jan Nosko, represented the Slovak delegation that received symbolic items, along with young volleyball star Alexandru Fričová.
About 3,000 athletes from 48 NOCs will travel to Banska Bystrica from July 24 to 30, 2022, competing in 10 sports and sending a message of unity to the youth of Europe.
The Peace Fire for the European Youth Olympic Festival EYOF 2022 (24-30 July) has already arrived in Slovakia. It was ceremoniously ignited in Rome on Monday evening. After a 14-hour journey from the Italian capital and the headquarters of the European Olympic Committees, it arrived at the EYOF venue in Banská Bystrica on Wednesday morning.
The bronze Olympic medallist in shooting Danka Barteková arrived with a fire of peace directly from Rome. “The ceremony was very moving and I really enjoyed it. I feel very proud that we were able to bring a flame that was ignited near the altar of Ara Pacis in Rome to Slovakia and it aims to please children and all sports fans in our country. The journey home with a torch was also a great experience for me. We had a few stops on iconic places; we had a lot of fun with the whole team. I am glad that I was a real part of the team, we were able to spread the joy directly from the trip on the social networks and enjoy every kilometer of returning home,” said our successful sports shooter, who is also an EYOF ambassador. “I feel very proud that the torch came to Slovakia. I firmly believe that it will ignite a love of sport in all of us and remind us what important values for life we can learn thanks to it. I think this is a very important moment for the young generation of Slovak children.”
Besides Danka Barteková, the representative of athletes, the talented volleyball player Alexandra Fričová and the volunteer Tomáš Kubica also brought the Peace Fire for the EYOF 2022 to Banská Bystrica. “It was an unforgettable experience, something that never has to happen in my life again. Thank you for taking me in such a pleasant company, I am full of new experiences and meetings with interesting people, we experienced a beautiful program with a ceremony that left me with a very positive feeling,” said one of the pillars of our volleyball team Alexandra Fričová.
On Wednesday, in the Park under the SNP memorial, the fire was sent on a pilgrimage to Slovak towns and villages during a special ceremony on the occasion of the Olympic Day. It will arrive at the venue again on 24 July 2022, when the Banská Bystrica EYOF officially begins. “The European Youth Olympic Festival will be held in the spirit of Olympic values, which are the fair play, friendship, uniqueness and respect, which we want to declare with this event to celebrate Olympics and Children’s Day,” said the EYOF Banská Bystrica 2022 director Peter Hamaj.
