Both Anton Pacek, President of the Slovak Climbing Federation, and Martina Buršíková, European Cup winner, had the chance to meet with President Bach.
Slovak Climbing Federation President Anton Pacek and athlete Martina Buršíková met Thomas Bach during the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President’s recent trip to the country.
On 10 January, while in Bratislava, President Bach visited the Slovak Olympic Committee (SOŠV), and Pacek, a member of the SOŠV Executive Committee, had a moment to meet with the IOC President.
Bach’s trip in Slovakia also included a visit to the country’s Junior Olympic Team (JOT), where he met with some future national stars of Climbing, speed canoe and swimming. Eighteen-year-old Buršíková was one of the three members of the Slovakia JOT that President Bach discussed sporting achievements with, before praising them for their passion for sport, and presenting them with IOC badges.
Taking medals at Youth and Senior European level in Boulder, Buršíková has also stood atop the Lead podium at this year’s Youth European Cup in Žilina, Slovakia, and has competed at two IFSC World Cup events in the last two years.
Speaking at a press conference about the strength of sports a day after the meeting, President Bach said: "I also met a young generation of promising Slovak athletes who are determined to compete at the Olympic Games. Slovakia can look positively to the future.”
