President Klaus Iohannis decorated, on Wednesday evening, the Romanian athletes who won medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, in a ceremony that he said represented “the snapshot of many years of work, of some young generations of people in sports, of a long history”.
“I am happy to welcome, today, here, at the Cotroceni Palace, the athletes who performed at Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Paris recently completed! Regardless of the results, congratulations to everyone who participated in the competitions in France and I encourage you all to keep pushing yourself! We honor today, on behalf of the Romanian state, the outstanding achievements achieved by the athletes, the contribution of the coaches and the assiduous involvement of those who supported the delegations of athletes and who manage the Olympic Mission from Romania”said the head of state.
“A real turning point for the future of sports in Romania”
After the meeting in July with the entire Olympic delegation, on Wednesday the athletes who climbed the podium were honored, bringing Romania nine medals at the Olympic Games (three gold, four silver and two bronze) and two medals at the Paralympic Games (one of gold and one bronze).
“I congratulate you, dear athletes, because you once again raised the Romanian flag on the podium and brought us closer to each other in the emotion of being part of your demonstration of strength of character and sporting excellence. In Paris, a new page of history has been written for Romanian sports and we are in this festive setting because I want this moment, in which former great athletes, current champions and the younger generations of athletes are together, to be a real turning point for the future sport in Romania. Thus, the champions of yesterday, today and tomorrow connect the history of Romanian sports through a symbolic arc over time, which shows that our country has a huge potential that must be capitalized”, he declared Klaus Iohannis.
“The symbol of the regeneration of Romanian sport”
During the same ceremony, which took place in the Union Hall at the Cotroceni Palace, the president also emphasized that the medals won by Romanian performers at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris are “the symbol of the regeneration of Romanian sport” and that it is essential for the sport to find its “well-deserved place” in the top of national priorities.
Here’s what Klaus Iohannis also said in his address at the ceremony of decorating the medaled athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris:
Dear athletes,
You have reaffirmed the excellence of the schools in the subjects you represent and demonstrated that through hard work and perseverance, performance at the highest level is possible. You managed to unite the hearts of Romanians everywhere and proved that sport goes beyond any barrier.
Although the training time was shorter this Olympic cycle, you did not give up, regardless of the obstacles you encountered and the fatigue you accumulated, and you showed that everything is possible when you believe in your dream.
The proof is the medals you wear, which for you represent the fulfillment of an objective, but for Romanian society they are the symbol of the regeneration of Romanian sport, part of our national fabric.
You are true role models for today’s and tomorrow’s generations and give young people the confidence that any goal can be achieved through hard work, dedication and devotion.
At the same time, your messages must be heard and understood by those who have the responsibility to support and promote, in all forms, Romanian sport, so that all athletes benefit from the necessary help to perform. As I have consistently argued during my terms as President, it is essential that sport finds its well-deserved place at the top of national priorities.
The decoration ceremony took place in Union Hall. PHOTO Facebook National Sports Agency
Dear coaches,
The outstanding results of the athletes trained by you for this edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Games speak for themselves. I congratulate you for the essential contribution you have had over time to the discovery of exceptional talents and to the preparation of the national teams, whose outstanding achievements give the measure of the quality and value of Romanian sport.
I want to thank the former great champions who today put all their experience and energy at the service of Romanian sport. You made history and set real milestones for the current champions to reach. I commend you for your persistence in encouraging them to overcome them!
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today’s ceremony represents the snapshot of many years of work by athletes, of young generations of people in sports, of a long history with many joys, but also with challenges.
I use this opportunity to call for action and solidarity in sport, because at Olympic and Paralympic Games for over four years to enjoy new medals and landmark achievements.
Until then, I wish you all success, and to the athletes, the best of luck in all the competitions you will participate in!
In conclusion, I would like to thank the Bucharest National Opera, which is still with us today and which made the Romanian national anthem sound as emotional here, at the Cotroceni Palace, as it did in Paris, at the beginning of the Olympic Games we conclude for us symbolically, today.
Thank you and congratulations once again!
