IOC President to Visit Slovenia

(ATR) Thomas Bach heads to Ljubljana Thursday for meetings with the Slovenian president and sports officials.

The Slovenian NOC tells Around the Rings that on Friday Bach will open the Olympic Educational Center and Museum before meeting with NOC officials including president Bogdan Gabrovec and secretary general Edvard Kolar.

The IOC chief will then meet with Slovenian athletes before having lunch with the NOC’s executive board.

Talks with Slovenian prime minister Miro Cerar and president Borut Pahor are scheduled in the afternoon.

An NOC spokesman told ATR that the main objective of the IOC president’s visit was "to show and explain to Dr Bach why Slovenia is a sport country and why Slovenian athletes are so successful".

He said the Olympic Educational Center and Museum will showcase Olympic values, the Olympic spirit and "the best Slovenian Olympic achievements".The NOC hopes it will inspire Slovenian youngsters into sport.

Bach will also participate in a ‘Catch Your Personal Olympic Challenge’ session with government officials including minister of sport Maja Makovec Brenčič.Around 100 athletes will gather at a Ljubljana stadium to take up the challenge. Bach together with the Slovenian president and other officials will do a warm-up and run a lap of the track with other athletes.

The Slovenian NOC activities conclude with the signing of a new four-year sponsorship with SKB Bank.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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