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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