Magnificent evening of Slovene Olympic spirit in Sydney
As guest of honour, Dawn Lorraine Fraser welcomed those gathered
for an evening of Slovene Olympic spirit ,on Tuesday evening in the
Slovene House. Zdravlijca (the national anthem) and Ode of joy
resounded in the middle of the Olympic heat, in honour of the Slovene
Olympic movement, and more than two hundred guests came to know
Slovenia as a land of friendship and exemplary Olympic spirit.
The event, which took place in Sydney's Mutual House (right beside
the Slovene 'gostilna') and was organised by the Olympic Committee of
Slovenia in co-operation with TV Slovenia, the Slovene National
Tourist Organisation and the Slovene Society in Sydney, was dedicated
to the memory of the great Olympic champion, Leon Stukelj, as well as
drawing attention to other giants of Slovene sport.
The main star of the evening was certainly Dawn Fraser, former
Olympic swimming champion and legend of Australian sport, who had also
been greeted with huge applause as the penultimate carrier of the
Olympic torch in the opening ceremony a few days earlier.
The guests included a number of representatives of the
International Olympic Committee, including the president of the
European Olympic Federation and candidate for incoming president of
the IOC, Jacques Rogge, recipients of Olympic medals from abroad and
home Olympic champions Miro Cerar and Iztok Cop, the Slovene minister
of education and sport, Dr. Lovro Sturm, representatives of the world
sporting life, and numerous members of national Olympic committees,
the Embassy RS, Australian government, and Slovene societies in
Australia.
The programme began with a film from the highest Slovene mountain,
Triglav, to which the well-known Slovene singer, Darja Svaiger, sang
the National Anthem, Zdravljica, being joined in the event by children
of Australian birth. Mateja Prunk, the Slovene girl who won the
international competition for an Olympic stamp, ceremoniously took the
Olympic oath, and a number of documentary contributions were
presented. After a speech by the president of the Olympic Committee of
Slovenia, Janez Kocijancic, a short documentary film on meetings
between Juan Antonio Samaranch and Slovene legend, Leon Stukelj was
given its premiere. Darja Svajger concluded the three quarter hour
programme with Song of Joy.
Additional Information:
Slovenian House - Sydney
Tel: +51 2 9263 5947 or +386 (0)1 5891 840 (Misa Novak)
sloveniainsydney@hotmail.com