The forty-second Inter-Municipal Youth Games were opened yesterday evening in Pozega. At the invitation of the chairman of the Pozega Municipal Assembly, Milan Stevovic, the Chairman of the National Assembly, Predrag Markovic, attended the opening and the parade of over 2,300 participants, to compete in 13 events, from 38 cities and towns from across Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.

Addressing the members of the public and athletes gathered at the Pozega Town Stadium, Mr Markovic said that the Games reflected a spirit of chivalry and knowledge, as well as that they promoted getting to know your fellow competitors. ‘There is no other way to prevail but to know yourself, know others, and fight obeying the rules and the oath you have given. This region has seen much evil because people did not obey their own oaths. I hope that this year’s Games produce many more fine athletes for our country, as they have done before – people such as Batez, Drobnjak, and Divac first came to prominence in the Games’, Markovic concluded.

In the presence of deputies, representatives of the Army of Serbia and Montenegro, officials of the Government of Serbia, as well as many other guests, the 42^nd Inter-Municipal Youth Games were opened by the famous long-distance runner, Olivera Jevtic.

Pozega, located at the confluence of three rivers – Djetina, Skrapez, and Moravica – will play host to the Inter-Municipal Youth Games from 6 to 10 July.