Intensive communication with the Government of the Slovak Republic in early January, finaly resulted in the approval of a bilateral fund to support grant applications.
After that, upon invitation from Norway, we went on a trip to visit representatives of the organization Barents Sports in order to apply for patronage and cooperation with our project.
In January 9, 2014 completed Patrik Pollák and Pavol Lopuchovský route from Kosice through Vienna, Berlin and Oslo to the Norwegian city - Tromso.
Pavol Lopuchovský as the main representative of the project and Patrik Pollák - one of the main figures of windsurfing in Slovakia and 3 times representative of Slovakia at the Olympic games.
After arrival in Tromso Slovaks welcomed the Norwegian landscape its typical Nordic feel and unconventional light due to the location near the pole.
After that, the Alfheimfootball stadium held working meeting of representatives of ATU Košice and Barents Sport Committee.
Patrik Pollák and Pavol Lopuchovský presented the club Akademik Technical University, its activities and achievements, and plan of project cross-border cooperation with Uzhorod University.
The meeting was held in friendly atmosphere, but Norwegian officials still did not show interest and reason in cooperation and for participation in our project.
Everything changed when Paul and Patrick pointed to the main goals of our project from a completely different perspective. The social, political and historical aspects began to emerge similarities and common features. They all realized parallels between Slovakia-Ukrainian and Nordic-Russian relations. The need to develop cross-border relations, especially cooperation and communication, it is still the essence of the organization Barents Sports. Currently it is intended to bring people together through sport different nations and demolish barriers between them.
Another important point were figures from the history of Norway. Biographies of Nansen, Amundsen, travels of Heyerdahl, belonged to our youth.
We felt great respect for them, which also helped us to overcome obstacles and barriers. We were aware that by using their knowledge and skills acquired through hard training in handling boats, kayaks and skis drifted boundaries of knowledge of the then world and it motivated us to action.
The ability to sail seas and oceans made roads and no barriers to communication of the great civilizations, and it helped achieve unprecedented development of culture. The crew of nine nationalities has proved it. We can learn from this.
The quality of presentation, meaningfulness of upcoming project objectives, introduction of our Ukrainian partner and personality of our three-time participant OH Patrik Pollák, maked success after six hours of negotiations. We signed an important document, which Barents Sport Committee agreed to actively join the project.
Dealing with representatives of the Barents Sports finally went well, so we full of enthusiasm visited the port and the Polar Museum with the famous ship and with a lot of articles from the glorious times of discovery of great men.
Now we already saw clear parallels and the need to implement the links of these greats to our project, and the need to talk about it. We believe that combining sport with knowledge in an international context is a strong of Norwegians. They have it in their blood.
Huge experience of Norwegian partners, clear project objectives from ATU Košice and enthusiasm of the young team of Uzhhorod University, was the basis for the successful implementation of the project, and basis for ensuring its sustainability after its completion.
Ďakujeme za podporu Mestu Košice a Slovenskému zväzu jachtingu.
Project International Youth Sport Partnership
is supported by a grant from Norway through the Norway Grants
and co-financed by a State Budget of the Slovak republic. Also this web was created thanks to the support of these partners:
Supported by a grant from Norway through the Norway Grants.
www.norwaygrants.sk
