JAHORINA, THE QUEEN OF INCLUSION: FIVE BOXING CHAMPIONS PRESENTED

JAHORINA, OCTOBER 17 /SRNA/ - Members of the first European boxing club for people with Down syndrome were presented on Mount Jahorina today, who, by winning gold medals, have made history and shown that no obstacle is insurmountable when people are given support and an opportunity.

The gold medal-winning boxers are Lazar Jelić, Vladimir Ritan, Bojan Grubešić, Stefan Pejaković and Radomir Bojić. Zoran Jelić, director of the Down Syndrome Center Banja Luka, told SRNA that the five European champions had shattered prejudices and misconceptions about people with Down syndrome. "Boxing was considered taboo for people with Down syndrome, but they stepped into the ring at the regular European Championships in Bulgaria and won five medals," Jelić stressed. He emphasized that this achievement proves that people with Down syndrome should be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. "When we give them a chance, we will see that they can do it. This is the culmination of inclusion and proof that, with support, self-discipline and dedicated work, they can achieve outstanding results. Boxing is highly valuable as a form of movement therapy, as the sport helps develop self-discipline and self-confidence, alongside the necessary medical checks and physical preparation," Jelić stressed. He said that Jahorina, which has supported the program for social rehabilitation, independent living and vocational training since 2016, has become a symbol of inclusion, and reminded that the program was launched under the auspices of President Milorad Dodik. Jelić announced that representatives of the Down Syndrome Centre Banja Luka would visit Austria, North Macedonia and Bulgaria in the coming period to present their social rehabilitation program and sign cooperation agreements. This will be followed by plans to launch an environmental and inclusion project in Palić, in cooperation with partners from Austria. Aleksandar Bato Prović, owner of the Vučko Hotel on Mount Jahorina, said the hotel was proud to have supported the program for around ten years, providing people with Down syndrome with suitable conditions for accommodation, work and the development of their abilities. He stressed that the achievements of the five gold medal winners demonstrated that, with support and appropriate conditions, people with Down syndrome could achieve significant results and actively participate in society. Predrag Bartula, president of the Boxing Federation of BiH, expressed satisfaction with the success of the young boxers with Down syndrome, who won medals at the European Championships in Sofia, and said that efforts would be made to expand the project. "This is an opportunity to show how, through good cooperation between the local community, Jahorina and friends from Banja Luka who run an organization for people with Down syndrome, this project can be expanded across the Balkans and Europe," Bartula said. The event was symbolically held on Mount Jahorina, where the social rehabilitation program was launched in 2016. Last year, the first International Institute for Down Syndrome was also officially opened on Jahorina.