Accompanied by the President of the Olympic Committee - Association of Sports Federations, Franjo Bobinec, and the Secretary General, Tomaž Jontes, he toured the Slovenian House and held a working meeting with representatives of the NOC Slovenia.

The Slovenian House is not only a venue for sport and celebrating sporting successes, but also represents Slovenia in the broadest sense, said the President of the NOC Slovenia, Franjo Bobinac, and expressed his pleasure that the Deputy Prime Minister Boštjančič also visited the House. He added that today's talks with the Finance Minister were held on topics that are important for the future development of Slovenian sport. "We talked about sport in the local environment, about associations that are starting to create young athletes. It is important that we help them to have adequate resources and support. I am pleased that the Government of the Republic of Slovenia supports sport to such an extent and that it has also supported the Slovenian House project," said Franjo Bobinac after the meeting.

In his press statement, Minister Boštjančič began by saying: "There is genuine support for sport within the Government, both from my colleagues who have visited or will visit the Slovenian House, and from the Prime Minister. I am pleased that the Minister of Culture is also coming, as I see many parallels between sport and culture," said the Minister. He added that today's meeting was extremely successful, as the target topics were addressed with the interlocutors. "As the Prime Minister and the Minister responsible for Sport said a few days ago, we agreed to approach things in a concrete way. We agreed to set up a working group, initially at the level of the Ministry of Finance and NOC Slovenia to review, discuss and analyse the ideas. I believe that in a few weeks we will come up with solutions that will be positive both for top-level sport and in terms of youth sport or its accessibility in schools, clubs... This is an area that I am very pleased to have opened today," said the Minister.

He added that sport is one of the best things we can offer to young people. He called for maximum support for efforts to make sport more accessible. "It is important to make sport accessible to the widest possible range of people," the Minister concluded.

"What is most important for me is the agreement that we will now address all these known and past issues in a joint working group, with clear priorities. Perhaps the problem in the past was precisely that we did not have a common body to deal with these issues. Now, with the new way, we have the opportunity to move forward," said Bobinac, adding the most important thing: "It all starts with money. We have defined further cooperation and we will try to score a goal together as soon as possible, to put it in sporting terms."

Bobinac also pointed out that solutions are being sought for the whole range of sport, from the top to the grassroots level. "There is no sport without associations and clubs in the local areas, where young athletes are starting to be formed. We need to find lasting solutions for this. I am glad that the government is listening to the development of sport."

More photos at: GALLERY.