Keketi: We Agreed on Deepening of Sport Cooperation with Ukraine and Italy

Paris/Bratislava, July 25 (TASR) - Tourism and Sport Minister Dusan Keketi (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) met his counterparts from Ukraine and Italy on the sidelines of the UNESCO conference on sport held in Paris on Wednesday (July 24), the ministry's communication department has informed TASR, adding that they agreed on deepening of cooperation and determination to continue exchanging experience and supporting joint initiatives. At his meeting with Italian Sport Minister Andrea Abodi, Keketi presented the newly-established Tourism and Sport Ministry and its goals. He emphasised a systemic approach and gathering experience from partner countries, as well as plans to finance sports entities and seek alternative sources of funding, including revenues from lotteries, gambling and potentially public insurance. "Our goal is to change the perception of sport, which has a significant economic and social impact on the country. The experience from Italy shows that every euro invested in sport will return three-times," stated the Slovak minister, adding that he remains in active contact with colleagues from Italy with the aim of exchanging information and experience. Abodi confirmed that Italy faces the same challenges and offered Slovakia an exchange of experience, including concrete results from projects, such as the establishment of a new specialised lab. Keketi noted that Italy organised the European Athletics Championships this year. At the same time, Abodi informed the Slovak minister about the ongoing preparations for the Winter Olympics in 2026, which will be hosted by Italy in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Ukrainian Sport and Youth Minister Matviy Bidnyi took part in the talks as well. He thanked Slovakia for supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion and particularly for accepting many Ukrainian athletes and coaches who found refuge in Slovakia. "We have been a responsible neighbour and partner since the beginning and will continue in that," said Keketi, adding that the ministers agreed on the development of bilateral cooperation, chiefly in the field of anti-doping agenda. ko/mcs