News
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This summary is provided by the STA:
Coronavirus case count at 248 on Tuesday
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia saw 248 people test positive for coronavirus on Tuesday, an increase of nearly 80% from the same day a week ago, as 12.6% of the PCR tests were positive, show figures from the National Institute of Public Health. The 7-day average of new cases increased to 139, up by 15 from the day before, and the cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents rose by eight to 81. The Jožef Stefan Institute says the country has already moved to the orange phase under ECDC criteria.
Šketa says top court annulled parliamentary inquiries into prosecutors
LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court has found the law on parliamentary inquiry and the parliament's rules of procedure not to be in line with the constitution in allowing parliamentary inquiries into concrete cases undertaken by state prosecutors, State Prosecutor General Drago Šketa told the press. The court has also annulled the parliament's decision to launch a parliamentary inquiry into the many court proceedings of ex-Maribor Mayor Franc Kangler, now a state secretary at the Interior Ministry. According to Šketa, the court stressed in its latest decision, which has not been published yet, the role of independence and autonomy of state prosecutors.
Brussels clears Slovenian-Czech rail joint venture
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission approved, under the EU merger regulation, the acquisition of joint control over a joint venture created by the Slovenian rail operator Slovenske Železnice (SŽ) and Czech EP Logistics International to be active in intermodal rail freight transport. The goal of the strategic partnership is to create a logistics leader in Southeast Europe, comprising Slovenia, North Italy, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and the rest of the Balkans.
DEM starts construction of new solar power plant SE of Maribor
MARIBOR - Dravske Elektrarne Maribor (DEM) will launch next week construction of a new solar power plant adjacent to the Zlatoličje Hydro Power Plant, some 20 kilometres south-east of Maribor. Almost 6,000 photovoltaic modules are planned to be installed, with total rated output of 2.7 MWp expected to produce 3,000 MWh of electricity annually. The project worth more than EUR 2 million will provide the Zlatoličje Hydro Power Plant, operated on the river Drava, with added value, and "Slovenia will get additional gigawatts of electricity from a renewable source," the hydro power plant operator said.
Covid certificate needed for uni lectures, self-testing advised in secondary schools
LJUBLJANA - Compliance with the recovered-vaccinated-tested rule will be a prerequisite for attending university lectures in the next academic year, Health Ministry State Secretary Franc Vindišar said. The ministry proposes voluntary self-testing for secondary school students, but if Slovenia enters tier red under ECDC criteria, they will need the Covid certificate. Student organisations have agreed to the condition of Covid certificate compliance in the case of university lectures, Vindišar said.
Govt open to negotiations on new agreement on social dialogue
LJUBLJANA - The government is not against an option of signing a new agreement on the functioning of the Economic and Social Council (ESS), which trade unions have set as a condition to return to the ESS after they walked out in protest in May. But a potential new deal should not give extra powers to any of the ESS members, the government said. The government remains open to signing the agreement, which is said to commit the signatories to consistent respect for ESS rules, even though it believes that the current ESS rules of procedure already contain everything required for the country's main industrial relations forum to function.
Digital literacy project for elderly launched in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - A mobile classroom for the elderly around the country to learn digital skills was launched at an event at a Ljubljana care home. Simbioza Mobilna - Travelling Mobile Classroom, as the project is termed, is a collaboration of Slovenian social enterprise Simbioza and US tech giant Google. The project aims to bring ICT closer to the elderly, including in more remote parts of Slovenia, said Simbioza's co-founder Ana Pleško. Metka Svetlin, marketing manager at Google Adriatic, noted that last year, 44% of Slovenians aged 65 to 74 had never used the internet, while the EU average was 33%.
Finance Ministry state secretary switching post for OECD job
LJUBLJANA - The government endorsed Finance Ministry State Secretary Peter Ješovnik's proposal to be relieved of his duties as he is leaving to take up a diplomatic post as Slovenia's ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris. Ješovnik will no longer be state secretary from 16 August, the government decided at its correspondence session. The government also appointed Valentina Vehovar director general of the Social Affairs Directorate at the Ministry of Labour, the Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
New traffic rules kick in
LJUBLJANA - A set of changes to traffic rules entered into force today, substantially lowering fines for speeding while more than doubling the fine for talking on the phone while driving. The latter will carry a fine of EUR 250 plus three penalty points. The new law regulates electric scooters for the first time, and allows drivers to turn right at a red light at crossroads with good visibility. Drivers overtaking cyclists and light motor vehicles will need to keep a 1.5 metre sideward distance from them.
Ombudsman finds TV3 in violation of anti-discrimination law
LJUBLJANA - The equal opportunities ombudsman has established that the TV3 channel has violated the ban on discrimination as it broadcast a talk show Faktor during which its host made statements about the inferiority of the Black race. By broadcasting the 21 January show, TV3 violated the law on the protection against discrimination. Advocate of the Principle of Equality Miha Lobnik has established that with her statements, Norma Brščič, Faktor host at the time, classified people on the basis of race and "sent out a clear message about the inferiority of Black people". He said freedom of speech is an important constitutional right yet not unlimited, but the office has no powers to punish discrimination.
Bad bank selling nearly 63% stake in real-estate arm of Merkur
LJUBLJANA - The Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC) published a call for binding bids for its nearly 63% stake in the Merkur Nepremičnine company or 16,072 regular shares with stock symbol MRNR and all the liabilities in relation to Merkur Nepremičnine worth EUR 13.07 million. Bids will be accepted until 11 October, the bad bank announced. The stake and liabilities are offered as a package deal and cannot be sold separately.
Brewer Laško Union 2020 performance affected by Covid
LJUBLJANA/LAŠKO - Pivovarna Laško Union, Slovenia's largest brewery, last year generated EUR 145.6 million in net sales revenue, down 6.9% from 2019. The company, which is part of the Heineken group, attributes the drop to the Covid-19 outbreak. Net profit decreased by 31.5% to EUR 16.7 million. Volume-wise, sales of beers brewed by Pivovarna Laško Union in the Slovenian market were down by 9.6%. In foreign markets, volume sales of beer rose by 11.8% to represent 32% of the total sales last year.
Pahor receives crew of first feature film in independent Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor hosted the creators of the first feature film in independent Slovenia, Babica Gre na Jug (Grandma Goes South), saying that the reception in the Presidential Palace sent a message that the period of independence efforts had also been the time of major cultural events. The team that made the 1991 comedy drama was received as part of a series of events hosted by Pahor to mark the 30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence.
Fans greet Olympians in Ljubljana's Congress Square
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Olympians were welcomed by fans in Ljubljana's Congress Square on Tuesday evening, earning cheers and applauses after what were the most successful Summer Olympic Games for the nation, as the athletes returned home with three gold medals. The men's basketball team did not attend the reception due to previous engagements, and neither did riders Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar, who addressed the crowd and thanked fans for the support in a video recording.
STA, 11 August 2921 - A set of changes to traffic rules entered into force today, substantially lowering fines for speeding while more than doubling the fine for talking on the phone while driving. The new law regulates electric scooters for the first time, and brings a novelty of turning right at a red light at crossroads with good visibility.
Talking on the phone while driving is now more expensive, carrying a fine of EUR 250 plus three penalty points, up from the previous EUR 120.
Fines for speeding in a town or outside of it, and on the motorway or highway as well as in areas of slower traffic have meanwhile been cut.
Fines speeding in a town have been halved, for instance from EUR 250 to EUR 120 for exceeding the allowed speed by 10-20 km/h and from EUR 80 to EUR 40 for exceeding it by 5-10 km/h.
Speeding on a motorway has also become less expensive, being for instance cut from EUR 80 to EUR 60 for exceeding the speed limit by 20-30 km/h.
The new rules will allow vehicles to turn right at a red light at crossroads with good visibility and elsewhere where this is possible.
All such crossroads will be properly marked, but the Infrastructure Ministry could not say how many there will be.
Since this is a new traffic rule and drivers are not yet used to it, the ministry expects it to be first introduced on municipal roads in one-lane crossroads with less traffic.
As for electric scooters, they can from now on drive only on lanes or other areas designated for bicycles. The same applies to electric wheelchairs and skateboards.
In the absence of such areas in a town, these light electric motor vehicles can drive on the right-hand margin of a road in towns where the speed limit is below 50 km/h.
Except for persons in a wheelchair, drivers of these vehicles and passengers under the age of 18 have to wear a helmet.
Meanwhile, drivers overtaking cyclists, light motor vehicles or mopeds with speed capacity of up to 25 km/h will need to keep a 1.5 metre sideward distance from them.
The new legislation also stiffens handling of drivers who ignore light or sound signals on priority vehicles and expands some powers of traffic wardens.
State Secretary Aleš Mihelič has said it is based on three main principles of traffic rules - defensive action, trust, and protection of weaker traffic participants.
The latest changes to the road safety law were passed in parliament in a 46:1 vote on 16 July.
STA, 11 August 2021 - Slovenia saw as many as 248 people test positive for coronavirus on Tuesday, an increase of nearly 80% from the same day a week ago, as the Jožef Stefan Institute says the country has already moved to the orange phase under ECDC criteria and will, given the current trend, move to red in early September.
Fresh figures from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) show 12.6% of the 1,974 PCR tests performed yesterday came back positive, as a total of 19,126 rapid antigen tests were taken.
The 7-day average of new cases has increased to 139, up by 15 from the day before, and the cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents rose by eight to 81.
The NIJZ estimates that there are now 1,752 active cases in the country, up more than 160 from the day before.
The Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS) has calculated infections double in about 20 days despite this being the height of the holiday season, which functions as a partial lockdown.
Considering the epidemiological data released weekly by the NIJZ, local transmissions are increasing and are in fact prevailing, which means the outbreak would increase even without imported cases.
The IJS has assessed that Slovenia has already moved into the orange phase under criteria used by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
"To prevent the fourth wave spreading too much, and mainly to prevent hospitals from becoming overstretched, at least all those aged above 40 should get vaccinated as soon as possible," said the IJS.
Government data show 927,569 people or 53% of the adult population have been vaccinated with the first dose and 826,390 or 48% of adults have been fully inoculated.
STA, 9 August 2021 - A month after the start of the Slovenian EU presidency, a cycle route was launched running between the northern town of Kranj and Brdo pri Kranju, the main venue for presidency-related events. To honour Slovenia's second stint at the helm of the Council of the EU, Kranj will also plant trees along the lane in the autumn.
The route runs from Kokrica to Predoslje, linking Kranj and Brdo as well, the Kranj municipality said on Monday. The EUR 360,000 project got under way after the state cleared EUR 217,000 in state and EU funds out of the Regional Development Fund in mid-May.
The investment, Kranj's contribution to the Slovenian presidency, seeks to boost sustainable mobility of the locals in the long run as Kranj is now linked with villages in the northern part of the municipality. The bike path may be used by pedestrians as well, however they are given lower priority over bicycles.
The two-way lane will soon be tree-lined as the municipality aims to plant apple trees native to Slovenia this autumn. In total, 54 trees will be planted, two per each EU member state, at a ceremony most likely to be attended by representatives of EU countries, the municipality said in a press release.
"This tree-lined route will be a symbol of ties and cooperation," said Kranj Mayor Matjaž Rakovec, noting that cooperation for the benefit of all was one of the EU's pillars.
STA, 11 August 2021 - Slovenian Olympians were welcomed by fans in Ljubljana's Congress Square on Tuesday evening, earning cheers and applauses after what were the most successful Summer Olympic Games for the nation, as the athletes returned home with three gold medals.
After being welcomed in Ljubljana airport following their return from Tokyo and in their native towns, the athletes took the stage in the capital to be once more greeted by numerous fans who were getting up early to watch them compete in Japan.
Drawing the most cheers and applause were sport climber Janja Garnbret and canoeist Benjamin Savšek, who won gold medals, and silver medallist in the women's 63kg category in judo, Tina Trstenjak.
With cyclist Primož Roglič grabbing the gold in the men's time trial, Slovenia won three gold medals, the largest number of gold medals at the Summer Olympics in history of independent Slovenia.
Cyclist Tadej Pogačar won the bronze medal in the men's road race, while standing out in addition to the medal winners was the men's basketball team, which finished 4th in its Olympic debut.
The men's basketball team did not attend the reception due to other obligations, and nether did Roglič and Pogačar, who addressed the crowd and thanked fans for the support in a video recording.
Garnbret was meanwhile met on the stage by Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković, as the latter had promised to the climber two years ago that a sport climbing centre would be built in Ljubljana if she won a gold medal in Tokyo.
"I did my part," the golden Olympian said, while the mayor said that a sport climbing centre would be built in the capital by 2023.
Savšek thanked Slovenians for cheering "that was heard all the way to Tokyo" and also remembered his gold-winning ride. When I crossed the finish line, I expected a medal, and it eventually turned out that it was a golden ride."
The fans who gathered in Congress Square told the STA that they closely watched the competitions in Tokyo and that they were not bothered by the large time difference and the early hours of appearances of Slovenian athletes.
They were also addressed by the head of the Slovenian Olympic delegation Miro Cerar and the president of the Slovenian Olympic Committee Bogdan Gabrovec.
Ahead of the welcome party in Ljubljana, the Slovenian Olympic team was received by President Borut Pahor and Minister of Sport Simona Kustec in Brdo pri Kranju. Pahor also addressed the fans in Ljubljana in a recorded video clip.
Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.
This summary is provided by the STA:
Over 200 new coronavirus cases on Monday
LJUBLJANA - A total of 216 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Monday, the first time since 8 June that the daily count passed 200, as nearly 12% of the tests came back positive. The National Institute of Public Health estimates there are now 1,589 active cases in the country, up more than a hundred from the day before. The 7-day average rose to 124 and the cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents to 73.
NBA megastar Dončić signs supermax contract extension with the Mavs
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian NBA star player Luka Dončić signed a five-year, US$207 million supermax rookie extension with the Dallas Mavericks in what is the largest guaranteed rookie extension in NBA history, the biggest deal in Mavericks history and the biggest deal a Slovenian athlete has ever signed. Thanking the team and everyone who has supported him along the way, Dončić said: "This is an incredible day for me. I've never expected this. I dreamt of playing in the NBA as a kid and now I have signed this deal." He also said he had never doubted he would sign the extension with the Mavericks as he is very happy in Dallas.
New group of firefighters head for North Macedonia
LJUBLJANA - A new rotation of Slovenian firefighters headed for North Macedonia to replace a group of around 50 of their colleagues who have been fighting wildfires in the Berovo area since last week. The new group counts 43 firefighters and 9 civil protection members, who will be making sure their work on the ground is safe and efficient, according to the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration. They are expected to return to Slovenia on 17 August.
President and sport minister receive Slovenian Olympics team
BRDO PRI KRANJU - President Borut Pahor and Minister of Sport Simona Kustec received the Slovenian Tokyo Olympics team, congratulating and thanking the athletes for their achievements at the latest Summer Games. They also highlighted the role of sports in boosting a sense of community and bringing people together. Sport climber Janja Garnbret, judoka Tina Trstenjak and canoeist Benjamin Savšek attended today's reception. Kustec announced additional steps to help the sports sector. On behalf of the entire team, Garnbret thanked Pahor and all who helped the athletes on their way to Tokyo for their support. "It was a great honour to represent our country," she said.
Hops in Savinja Valley severely damaged by Sunday hail
TABOR/ŽALEC - Sunday's hail storms wreaked havoc in the Savinja Valley damaging around 80% of the hops grown in the area, meaning this year's harvest will be rather poor. Roman Žveglič, president of the Slovenian Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry (KGZS), visited the area, saying the chamber will call on the government for aid. The KGZS will ask the government to supplement the emergency law passed this year to help farmers whose crops had been affected by frost this spring, he said. Žveglič finds it right that hops growers affected by hail be included in the law.
Roses from EU member states on display at Volčji Potok
VOLČJI POTOK - Roses from all EU member countries are on display at the Volčji Potok Arboretum, the botanical gardens some 15 kilometres north of Ljubljana, to mark the Slovenian EU presidency and present rose growing culture as an integrating element in the EU. Running until 31 October, the EU in Roses show features national flags and QR codes with the exhibited rose varieties which provide details about each variety. It is accompanied by a booklet in Slovenian and English.
30-year-old man attacked by bear near Pivka
PIVKA - A 30-year-old local was attacked by a bear in the woods near the village of Zagorje, south of Pivka in the south-west of the country, on Monday evening. He was taken to the UKC Ljubljana hospital, but there is no official information about his condition yet. According to initial information reported by the 24ur web news portal, the man had probably found himself between the bear and her cub, and the bear struck him with her paw. Koper police confirmed the incident.
Industrial output in June up 18.9% year-on-year
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's industrial output was up 18.9% in June over the year before owing to a strong performance in manufacturing and in mining and quarrying. The output was also up on the monthly basis, increasing by 1.6% compared to May, and by 5.2% compared with June 2019, the Statistics Office reported. In the first six months of the year, it expanded by 13.7% year-on-year.
STA, 9 August 2021 - All passengers arriving in Slovenia by plane or ship will need to fill out a Digital Passenger Locator Form (dPLF) before entering the country starting from 16 August, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced.
The form makes it easier to track contacts in cases where passengers are exposed to a communicable disease during their journey.
The information provided by passengers can be used by the epidemiological service of the National Institute of Public Health to quickly contact passengers and their contacts in order to prevent the further spread of the disease and to protect their health, reads the release posted on the CAA web site.
The form facilitates collection and exchange of data between EU member countries, which makes passenger contract tracing more successful and efficient, says the release.
The form is available at https://app.euplf.eu
The PLF is for now being used by Italy and Malta and several countries have similar forms of their own, including Greece. The idea is to make travel during the Covid-19 pandemic safer as the forms make it easier to reach passengers that might have been in contact with an infected person.
STA, 10 August 2021 - Slovenian NBA star player Luka Dončić has signed a five-year, US$207 million supermax rookie extension with the Dallas Mavericks in what is the largest guaranteed rookie extension in NBA history and the largest sports contract ever in Slovenia. Dončić told the STA on Tuesday he will continue to play for the national basketball team.
"Thank you for all the hard work and this is just the beginning," Mark Cuban, the owner of the Mavericks, told Dončić at today's press conference in Ljubljana.
Cuban came to Slovenia to present to Dončić the formal offer and celebrate the landmark signing, bringing along with him a delegation of team officials from Dallas, including Mavs head coach Jason Kidd and the team's special adviser and former player Dirk Nowitzki.
Thanking the team and everyone who has supported him along the way, Dončić said: "This is an incredible day for me. I've never expected this. I dreamt of playing in the NBA as a kid and now I have signed this deal." He also said he had never doubted he would sign the extension with the Mavericks as he is very happy in Dallas.
Head coach Kidd said Dončić was a "special player, an extra set of eyes and ears" on the court. "He plays the game so easily, his imagination is incredible," he continued to praise Dončić's abilities and talent.
Recalling Dončić's arrival in Dallas in 2018, Cuban said: "We had an inkling he was good, but we never imagined he was this good." He also highlighted Dončić was an incredible professional and a great human being. "We want him to have the same type of Hall of Fame career as Dirk [Nowitzki] has had if not more," Cuban added.
The 22-year-old, who led the Slovenian basketball team to finish fourth at their debut Olympic basketball tournament in Tokyo, revealed the extension agreement was signed this morning at Ljubljana's Hotel Intercontinental, where the press conference was also held.
Asked about how he felt after signing such a massive deal, Dončić said he was still processing this. The extension, the biggest deal in Mavericks history and the biggest deal a Slovenian athlete has ever signed, will land him US$207 million or EUR 176 million. It also includes a player option in the final year.
He has also become the first player in NBA history to have signed the designated rookie max extension, a feat he achieved by being voted first-team All-NBA twice.
Cuban also touched on the coming NBA season today, saying: "I think we have improved our team considerably. We are all excited on going forward." Dončić meanwhile highlighted the importance of chemistry among players on and off the court, saying that was what led Slovenia to the fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics and what was needed in the 2021-22 season for the Mavs.
Dončić was drafted in 2018 as the league's third pick and was selected to the All-Rookie First Team. He also won the 2018-19 season Rookie of the Year. Dončić also made the All-Star Five of the Olympic basketball tournament and won the MVP fan vote.
He boasts an average of 25.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.7 assists after playing 199 games in the NBA.
STA, 9 August 2021 – Vaccination against Covid-19 three times a week is available at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport from today, with no prior registration needed. Those who want to get vaccinated at the airport can do so on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with Jannsen's vaccine.
Airport operator Fraport Slovenija has decided to offer vaccination free of charge to all passengers and others because safe and responsible travel requires meeting the criteria of having been vaccinated against, tested for or recovered from coronavirus.
On Monday, vaccination will be available from 9am to noon, on Wednesday from 11am to 2pm and on Friday between 5pm and 8pm, Fraport Slovenija said on Monday.
Slovenian citizens need their health insurance card and an ID, while foreign citizens need to produce their EU health insurance card and an ID.
Testing for Covid-19 has been available at the airport for quite some time.
Fraport Slovenija also said in a press release that Ljubljana airport had taken all the necessary measures to ensure safety to passengers and the staff.
For a number of preventive measures it has introduced, the airport has received the international Airport Health Accreditation from the Airport Council International.
STA, 10 August 2021 - A 30-year-old local was attacked by a bear in the woods near the village of Zagorje, south of Pivka (SE), on Monday evening. The man has been taken to the UKC Ljubljana hospital, but there is no official information about his condition yet.
According to initial information reported by the 24ur web news portal, the man had probably found himself between the bear and her cub, and the bear struck him with her paw.
The Koper Police Department has confirmed that the man has been taken to the country's main hospital in Ljubljana. There are no official reports about the seriousness of his injuries yet.
This is the first reported bear attack on a human in Slovenia after May 2020, when a 56-year-old man stumbled upon a bear in the woods near Škofljica, just south of Ljubljana. His injuries were not life-threatening.
STA, 9 August 2021 - The Slovenian team for the 2020 Summer Paralympics, which will take place in Tokyo between 24 August and 5 September, presented itself to the press in Ljubljana on Monday. The team featuring seven athletes in seven sports was greeted by Japanese Ambassador Hiromichi Matsushima, who wished them all the best at the games.
It is a tradition that the largest international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities in the world follows the Summer Olympics at the same venues.
The Slovenian team was presented in front of a Lidl shop in Ljubljana where a countdown clock for the Tokyo Paralympic Games was installed already last year. Today, team members and guests symbolically watered a Japanese cherry tree.
As this is to symbolise the blossoming of Slovenian Paralympians, Ambassador Matsushima said at the ceremony he wished the Slovenian athletes all the best at the Games. "The Tokyo Olympics have concluded, now it's your turn.
Pripravljeni na @Tokyo2020 ???
— NPC Slovenia (@ParalympicsSLO) August 9, 2021
⤵️⤵️⤵️https://t.co/KVJWfUuZub#ParaSportSlovenia#NPCSlovenia#SportInvalidov pic.twitter.com/IVc6HtYOqT
"I've been watching the Slovenian Olympic team and it has impressed me. I'm convinced that you too will impress Slovenia," he added.
The Slovenian team is smaller than usual due to quota restraints and strict qualifying norms, and is a mixture of experienced athletes who have participated in the Summer Paralympics on multiple occasions and novices.
It features shooters Franček Gorazd Tiršek and Franc Pinter, track-and-field athlete Henrik Plank, cyclist Anej Doplihar, swimmer Tim Žnidaršič Svenšek, table tennis player Luka Trtnik and archer Dejan Fabčič.
Fabčič, who will be participating in his third Summer Paralympics in as many sports, will carry the Slovenian flag at the opening ceremony, while Pinter will be taking part in his eighth Olympic Games for athletes with disabilities.
Head of the Slovenian Paralympic Committee Damijan Lazar said he was convinced that both the veterans and novices would be able to bring out the best in them and wished him a lot of success, "as we know how difficult is to come to the Games".
