Participants of the 30th International Salesian Youth Games have already finished the first set of matches yesterday. But in the evening, they all gathered in the Kodeljevo sports hall for the opening ceremony – together with invited representatives of civil and Church authorities, volunteers and other guests.
The hosts Urška Koželj and Žiga Bunič led the full hall through a two-hour program, packed with joy and connection to one another. After the official opening – the Slovenian national anthem and the anthem of the European Union – the participants were addressed by Dejan Crnek – the deputy mayor of the City of Ljubljana, Marko Košnik – the salesian Provincial, Tadeusz Rozmus – the representative of the salesian Rector Major, Stanislav Zore – the Archbishop of Ljubljana.
The unique spectacle was prepared by Fuskabo, a circus group of young people involved with Skala, the youth street education organization. They impressed their peers with juggling, monocycles and various, even very daring acrobatic moves. Next on the program was the presentation of the participating countries. The representatives of all the countries also professed a fair play oath on behalf of all the participants.
Finally, the president of the PGS-i Georg Leibold stepped on the stage and officially opened the 30th International Salesian Youth Games. He thanked both the city of Ljubljana and the Salesians for the third organization of PGS-i games and especially to almost 200 volunteers who devotedly prepared the program and the venue and are helping with guiding groups, coordinating competitions, animation and all other activities.
But this opening ceremony was not over yet. The band »Stična bend« raised the participants to their feet with a concert of contemporary Christian and pop music.
