Tourism and Sports Ministry: ‘Generation Olymp’ to Boost Youth Sport Development

Bratislava, 30 June (TASR) - The Tourism and Sports Ministry unveiled parts of the national sports project 'Generation Olymp', which includes creating Olympic training centres at secondary sports schools and renovating gyms and sports facilities in small villages, in cooperation with the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee (SOSV), officials including Tourism and Sports Minister Rudolf Huliak (Independent) said at a Monday press conference. „Let’s support talents, support those who have a chance to reach the Olympics, but at the same time, let’s use their success to promote sports among youth. Then, let’s be ready to provide this youth with renovated and safe sports facilities, especially at schools, because that's where children spend most of their time. To the most capable, let’s also offer the opportunity to study at a secondary sports school within the system of Olympic training centres. These are the ideas behind the national sports project we're implementing in cooperation with the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee,“ said Huliak. A total sum of €740,000 has been allocated for the establishment of Olympic Training Centres at secondary sports schools. Eight centres, one in each regional city, aim to centralise the training of young talented athletes. “The essence of this initiative is to provide talented young athletes with the best possible conditions for their preparation. They will receive coverage for accommodation, meals, health care, transportation, sports facilities, recovery, and schools will collaborate with sports associations to concentrate the best coaches on their training. Athletes will also pursue dual education alongside their sports performance,” explained Tourism and Sports State Secretary Ivana Sufliarska Libiakova, adding that this part of the project will begin in September this year. The secretary further stated that within the other part of the project, focused on the reconstruction and modernisation of sports infrastructure in small municipalities, a total of six million euros will ultimately be allocated. The national sports project 'Generation Olymp' will receive €10,980,000 from the state budget, with the ministry providing the funding to the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee, according to a document approved by the government last week. lin/mcs