The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, along with the US Ambassador, Paul Wohlers, attended today the sports-cultural event which was held in the adapted hall within the elementary school "Kiril Pejchinovikj" in Tearce.

The purpose of the project "Social and Ethnic Integration through Sports – Sportsmanship" is promotion of sports as social activity which, through play, fun and socializing among children and young people from different ethnic backgrounds and strengthening of interethnic relations in the Republic of Macedonia.

"The Project "Sportsmanship" continues and affords opportunities for socializing among students from different parts of the country, enabling young people to learn how to act as competitors and as spectators and to apply it in their environments. This is an opportunity for mutual acquaintance of children from different communities because Tearce is an excellent example of coexistence of different ethnic and religious communities, and thus, today we have with us representatives of religious communities, too. Our intention is young people to see the diversity in Macedonia and to learn to respect each other and understand and grow together in a different ambience that will allow mutual communication, friendship and sharing responsibility towards everything we have as a country", President Ivanov said, who is the patron of the project.

Ambassador Wohlers expressed his gratitude to President Ivanov, to the Mayor of Tearce and to the organization "Global" for their dedication to "Sportsmanship".

"According to me, it is a true example of sporting behavior and possibility for young people to work together. The US Embassy is proud to support this great project implemented by "Global" throughout Macedonia, teaching sportsmanship, tolerance and how to work as a team among children and in the state as a whole", Wohlers said.

The Mayor of Tearce, Isen Asani said that he had informed President Ivanov on the situation in the municipality and the problems they face in their work.

"Today's rainy day is another argument that Tearce needs a hall and President Ivanov promised that next year the construction of a sports hall for the residents of the municipality will be launched," said Asani.

Holder of the project is the Association for Development Initiatives - Geostrategic Institute "Global", in partnership with the municipalities involved in the project – Valandovo, Kavadarci, Rosoman, Aerodrom, Debar, Centar Zupa and Tearce.