The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, as patron of the project “Social and Ethnic Integration through Sports”, attended a sport and cultural event in Kavadarci which marked the beginning of the several month project.

At the event, children through various collective games and educational workshops were taught of sportsmanship.

- We are witnessing negative occurrences at sport events in the country and in the world and it is, therefore, desirable to teach young people how to behave as fans and as athletes. We live in a multiethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious society and through such projects young people have the opportunity to meet and learn from each other. It adds to the general atmosphere in the country. We want Macedonia to be a role model of decent attitude at sporting fields, and beyond them, President Ivanov said in a press statement.

U.S. Ambassador Paul Wohlers said that such activities aim at fostering tolerance and respect for others, regardless of race, social class or religion.
The project is implemented in six other communities where young people learn how to behave in sports and in everyday life. After Kavadarci, it will continue in the Skopje municipality Aerodrom, in Valandovo, Debar, Rosoman, Tearce and Centar Zupa. Holder of the project is the Development Initiatives Association -Geostrategic Institute “Global”.

The purpose of “Sportsmanship” is promotion of sport as social activity through which children and youth play, entertain and socialize with other children from different ethnic backgrounds and thus strengthen the interethnic relations in the Republic of Macedonia.

The project is supported by the U.S. Embassy and its patron is the President of the Republic of Macedonia.