The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, attended today the sporting and cultural event "Traditional Sports Games - Sports Bon-Ton" which was held in Ohrid.

The project aims at promoting Sports Bon-Ton as a model of integration of school age children in sporting, socializing, playing and familiarizing with their traditions, cultures and customs.

"The project "Sports Bon-Ton" which takes place in Ohrid today is dedicated to the traditional children's games. Children's reactions show that they enjoy playing the games their parents and grandparents played and thus discover the specific game for every city they visit. It is a kind of learning, making friends, getting to know each other better and the cities these children visit since the hosts prepare a program that reveals the city's specificity," President Ivanov said.

The Macedonian President added that the project has yielded many positive results so far, this being the reason for it to continue and a confirmation of its importance is that more and more cities are included in this campaign that promotes sports and healthy lifestyles.

"By sporting, children learn the rules of sport and the rules of life. What it takes to be successful in life and what is needed to achieve the goal, always respecting the opponent and the rules of the game," President Ivanov said.

The Project Coordinator, Ivan Anastasovski, said that the organizers will make efforts to publish all activities, i.e. all traditional, forgotten games.

"Tradition is what keeps us in this global world and identifies and differentiates us from the others, thus, as organizers, we would be most satisfied if the publication, after project's completion, would be dispersed in all municipalities, as a lasting mark," Anastasovski said.

The President of the Council of the Municipality of Ohrid, Gordana Konjanovska, said that Ohrid, as host, is involved in the project aimed at promoting and reaffirming the forgotten traditional values like fair play, commitment to team success, respect for others, mutual understanding and tolerance of diversity.

The Project "Sports Bon-Ton" is implemented in 2014 under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, with the support of the Embassy of the United States. This year, it covers the municipalities of Ohrid, Veles, Karpos, Mavrovo-Rostuse, Novo Selo and Sveti Nikole.