In April 2024, we celebrated and commemorated the 30th Hospital Olympic Games at the Hospital School Ledina in Ljubljana (Slovenia). In the Olympic atmosphere, we connected the home school and the hospital school, as well as many guests who honoured this big day with their visit.
The keynote speakers of the event were the head of the children’s department Uri Soča, Katja Groeleger Sršen, the principal of Ledina Primary School, Marija Valenčak, and the president of Slovenia, dr. Nataša Pirc Musar, who ceremonially opened the games with a speech.
The Olympic flame was carried by a pupil Nuša and Ivo Čarman, the bearer of the Olympic torch at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics.
The children competed in three sports disciplines (a game for bicycles and wheelchairs, toboggan bowling, curling). Around 50 young pupils competed. The games were encouraged by many spectators, the gym was filled to the last corner. They were cheered on by many well-known Slovenian athletes, who also awarded medals to the first three winners. Awards were presented by: Gal Jakič, Jakov Fak, Jernej Slivnik, Robi Bojanec, Petra Majdič, Mateja Pintar Pustovrh, Neja Filipič, Ivo Čarman and Janja Zupančič, who comes from the Ministry of Education. The expert committee consisted of Stane Pinter, Janez Matoh, Franc Hočevar and Miro Cerar.
All visitors received a medal of thanks with the logo of the 30th BOI as a sign of support, connection, respect, friendship and cooperation.
The games were enriched by paradancers from the Zebra dance school, and they were coordinated by Anja Hlača Ferjančič and Sten Vilar. A fanfare announced the ceremonial end of the Hospital Olympics, and then we blew out another thirty candles on our Olympic cake. You can also read about the event in our media.
We proved once again that our motto is still valid: When we work together, we win.
Manja Žugman, Head of Hospital School Ledina Ljubljana (Slovenia)
