SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHILDREN AT THE PALACE

Belgrade, 29 July, 2003 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Aleksandar II and Crown Princess Katherine hosted a reception for children with special needs, who participated with great success in the Special Olympics in Dublin in June this year, winning gold and silver.

Co-operation between the Foundation of HRH Crown Princess Katherine and Special Olympics began in March 2001, when thanks to Princess Katherine’s efforts, a football team of children with special needs from then Yugoslavia went to Athens to Three Continent Games, where they won silver. Soon after, Special Olympics opened an office in Belgrade and continued to organise a variety of sporting activities for the children with learning disabilities.

From the Special Olympics World Games held in June in Dublin our team returned with two medals. Members of the football team: Tomislav Ocko, Milomir Vicanovic, Jozef Rablocki, Andreas Salma, Goran Stjepanovic, Dragan Zivotic, Dragan Boganc, Davor Durda, Dejan Jankovic, Dragoljub Mihajlovic, Aleksandar Petrovic, Aleksandar Petrovic Cedomir Stojanovski and Luka Vukotic won the second place and silver medal.

Four children were selected for the athletics team: Brankica Marinkovic, Snezana Urosevic, Djordje Stefanovic and Marko Terzic, who won the gold medal in the 100 meter race.

On behalf of his team and all the participants, the football captain Dragoljub Mihajlovic presented Crown Prince Aleksandar II with a framed captain shirt bearing the names of all the competitors on the occasion of his birthday.

On their visit the athletes, who represented our country with pride in Dublin were accompanied by the National Director, Mr Rade Miric, Director of the Institute for Children without Parental Care in Zvecanka Street, Mr Milan Samardzija and Director of the Institute for Children without Parental Care in Sremcica, Mr Milenko Curovic.

Greeting the athletes TRH Crown Prince and Crown Princess praised their achievements pointing out that they represented our country in a magnificent way. These achievements would not be possible without hard work and great love and enthusiasm offered by their coaches, who helped the children overcome the difficulties and rise to a major challenge such as the Special Olympics World Games.

According to the Special Olympics National Director, Mr Rade Miric, the next big sporting event is scheduled for October, when our country will host the Balkan Football Tournament.