The President of the Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov on the occasion of the 20th jubilee of Macedonian Olympic Committee's founding held a reception, which was attended by the MOC members, the President of the European Olympic Committees, Patrick Joseph Hickey from Ireland, as well as the presidents of Olympic Committees and honorable guests from many other European countries – Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine.

Distinguished Representatives of the Macedonian Olympic Committee, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
It is a great pleasure to address you today, marking the 20th anniversary of the Macedonian Olympic Committee – a Committee that has grown from the long-standing Macedonian Olympic tradition and the numerous successes of the Macedonian athletes in the Olympic Games in the past fifty years.

Distinguished guests,
Through its power to attract, mobilize and inspire individuals, communities and nations, sport brings the best in us out. Sport helps us promote ideas of peace, tolerance, justice, non-violence and solidarity. As an inclusive, instead of exclusive human activity, which understands participation instead of isolation, sport encourages reconciliation, especially in multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual societies.

The Republic of Macedonia is a country with exceptional sport successes, victories, either at team level or through individual players. We are witnessing that each victory has a positive impact on the Macedonian society. For this reason, our Olympic heroes and our athletes in general, are not only champions in their respective fields. They are also champions of good will and hope. We must never forget people and teams that brought Olympic medals to the Republic of Macedonia, since they are the examples we need today for a better tomorrow.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Success gives birth to new success. Therefore, we invest in sport not only as a physical activity, but as a way of building positive attitude, dedicated individuals who through sport can contribute to the social progress. Through sport we need to prepare the future for the youth as well as the youth for the future.

At the end, I wish the members of the Macedonian Olympic Committee many more jubilees, and I wish our sportsmen many more Olympic successes.

Thank you.