Last night, the European Rafting Championship was officially opened in Konjic, organized by the Rafting River Guide club and Garden City Hotel Konjic, with the approval of the World Rafting Federation and the support of the BiH Olympic Committee, under the auspices of the City of Konjic. Federal Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić, Mayor of Konjic Osman Ćatić, Vice President of the World Rafting Federation Boris Purjakov, and Director of the European Rafting Championship Samir Krivić jointly opened the championship by cutting the ribbon, who at the beginning of the ceremony greeted all those present and wished them a successful competition and a pleasant stay in Konjic.
European Rafting Championship officially opened in Konjic
30 teams from 12 countries are taking part in the championship, which is held as part of the “Day of the City of Konjic”, and last night visitors had the opportunity to watch the parade of teams in boats down the Neretva river near Kamena ćuprije.
The Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nermin Nikšić, welcomed everyone to Konjic.
“I am sure that all my fellow citizens, as well as the organizers and the mayor, will show the wide heart of the people of Konjic and do everything to make you feel at home in Konjic.” Once you meet our green beauty Neretva, you will never forget it and you will surely come back over and over again. We will do our best to show not only our tourist offers and natural beauty, but also our gastronomic offer and to show you how much we love our beautiful Neretva and how much we care about what we have here,” said Prime Minister Nikšić.
The mayor of Konjic, Osman Ćatić, greeted all participants, guests and visitors with suitable words, saying that it was a great pleasure to host the European Rafting Championship in Konjic.
“I am honored and pleased that a competition is being held in our city, where the best rafting teams from all over Europe will perform, and that in the days leading up to Day of Konjic City on June 16, our streets and our Neretva will be filled with Europe’s best athletes, who will compete in rafting, which is a kind of tourism brand of Konjica. I can proudly say that the City of Konjic supports all positive stories that contribute to the development of our Konjic and our homeland BiH, which I consider this competition to be. Although we from Konji like to say that we are the best in rafting, let the best win in this competition, which I hope will be held in a sporting spirit. Once again, I welcome all the competitors and guests to Konjic, the city of noble and good people, with the hope that you will remember this stay in our city as a pleasant gathering, during which you made friends and to which you will come again,” said Mayor Ćatić.
Boris Purjakov, a vice president of the World Rafting Federation, said in his address that yesterday’s event was a historic moment of the European Rafting Championship in Konjic.
“The organization of the race is on the world level, and the Neretva, with its natural beauty, is a unique pearl of this area. I was particularly impressed by the night track, which is really beautiful and gives a completely new dimension to the whole event. I wish everyone a successful competition and I hope for the tradition of establishing the competition organization on the Neretva” – said Purjakov.
Samir Krivić, director of the European Rafting Championship in Konjic, didn’t hide his joy and satisfaction at the successful organization of the competition.
“Our city and the Neretva River really deserve to be high on the scale of the world rafting story. This is a fact and we have proven it,” said Krivić.
Teams from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina will participate in the European Rafting Championship, which will have two teams from Konjic and Zenica.
The championship lasts until June 15, and three races will be held: slalom, RX and downhill, as well as the night races.
Last night’s ceremony ended with fireworks over the Old stone bridge.
Source of text: Radio Konjic, https://radiokonjic.ba/u-konjicu-svecano-otvoreno-evropsko-rafting-prvenstvo/
Image source: Official Facebook page Grad Konjic
