The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov and Mrs. Maja Ivanova attended the Buckingham Palace Olympics Opening Ceremony reception for Heads of State and Government hosted by Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II in the wake of the 30th Olympic Games in London.

Queen Elisabeth II greeted each guest and expressed her gratitude for their presence in Buckingham Palace. During his brief encounter with Her Majesty, President Ivanov congratulated her, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and on his personal behalf, on the Diamond Jubilee and 60 years of reign. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elisabeth II was interested in the Macedonian Olympic team and Macedonian sport in general.

Yesterday, President Ivanov visited Macedonian Olympians in the Olympic Village where playing the national anthem and raising the national flag marked the official promotion of the Macedonian Olympic team in London.

”Every time the Macedonian national flag is raised in the presence of our athletes is a special and magnificent moment”, stated President Ivanov yesterday.

Macedonian Olympians, swimmers Marko Blazhevski and Simona Marinova, and track and field athletes Kristijan Efremov and Hristina Risteska thanked the President for his support before they start the Olympic competition. As the Macedonian flag bearer at the Olympic Opening Ceremony, marko Blazhevski stated – “The pressure is big, but I feel more calm and relaxed after the conversation with President Gjorge Ivanov yesterday – along with the other Macedonian Olympic team members, we have had great support by him here in London”.