FESTIVAL OF BASKETBALL AND FRIENDSHIP BEGINS

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, AUGUST 24 /SRNA/ - The International Festival of Basketball and Friendship, featuring eight boys’ teams made up of players born in 2012 and 2013 from Republika Srpska, Serbia, Montenegro and the Russian Federation, opened today in Istočno Sarajevo.

The basketball tournament will run through August 28 at the sports hall on Republic of Serbia Square in Istočno Novo Sarajevo. The tournament opened with games involving the host youth basketball clubs OKK “Slavija 1996” from Istočno Sarajevo and “Igman” from Istočna Ilidža. Istočno Sarajevo Mayor Ljubiša Ćosić said that the aim was to bring the youngest participants together while also strengthening ties with sister and friendly cities. “I am confident that this tournament will continue to bring together younger generations in the future and that this will become one of the things we are known for,” Ćosić said. He thanked the sister and friendly cities that sent their teams and added that this was an opportunity for Istočno Sarajevo to show that it is an open city and a good host. Ćosić stressed that it was the responsibility of the City Administration to strengthen ties between sister cities and their residents as much as possible, emphasizing that investing in the youngest is the most important thing for the future. “We are also preparing to celebrate the Day and patron saint’s day of the City of Istočno Sarajevo and, as always, we are thinking of the youngest, those who are the city’s future and those who will become future friends of this city,” Ćosić said. Russian Ambassador to BiH Igor Kalabukhov said he was pleased to attend the tournament and that its importance lay precisely in giving children the opportunity to meet one another, make new friends and compete together. Kalabukhov particularly highlighted the participation of the team from Krasnodar, stressing that its presence was further confirmation of the sporting and friendly ties between the two sides. “I am particularly pleased that our team from Krasnodar is participating here, especially at a time when a competition was held in Mostar, and the Russian volleyball team won gold,” Kalabukhov said. He added that this was further proof that Russia is a major sporting nation, and that the participation of the Russian team in Istočno Sarajevo was a testament to friendship and healthy competition. The tournament also features teams from the basketball clubs “Sutjeska” from Nikšić, “Glasinac” from Sokolac and “Jahorina” from Pale, as well as teams from Novi Sad, Niš and Krasnodar. The tournament is organized by the City Administration of Istočno Sarajevo, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between sister cities, reinforcing existing friendships and forging new ones, and bringing citizens and peoples closer together. Admission to all tournament games is free.