On Saturday, May 22, 2021, Stolac was the sports centre of Herzegovina: about 300 runners from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region participated in the sports event “Stolački cener”, a race that passed through the most beautiful parts of this city. What makes Stolac special is the rich cultural and historical heritage and the fact that many cultures and civilizations have met in this place and left a mark.

Our scholarship holders Ena Bešo, Edin Gerin and Anela Medar gave their contribution to one of the most beautiful events in this town in recent years, and oversaw receiving competitors, handing out start packages for the race and assisting the organizer during the rich program.

The people of Stolac, aware of the magic and beauty of their city, decided to host many running fans on the banks of the Bregava and give them an unforgettable experience. After a lot of work and commitment, the citizens’ initiative to organize the race grew into action.

We are proud because our Stolac is mentioned these days as a place where positive stories happen, but also on the fact that we have also contributed to it in our own way. The amount of positive energy that reigned could not be described, it was necessary to come and feel it. The fact that many participants have already announced their arrival in Stolac, the city of meetings, speaks volumes about that, said Ena.

The event began in the early morning hours in the city park next to the bust of the great Bosnian poet Mak Dizdar, and various associations and citizens gladly supported this event. The fastest among the runners was Uroš Gutić, and among the female runners was Lucia Kimani, our Olympian. Džan Tipura, a seven-year-old boy who ran a 10 km long route, also won great sympathy, and Mirela Papac, a woman diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, should certainly be mentioned, but that in no way diminishes her strength and desire to bravely go through life accepting great challenges.

I think that the race “Stolački cener” is a very important event for our city, because it gathered runners and visitors from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond. I am proud to have been a part of this great project. I am convinced that this will make a significant contribution to the development of tourism in the coming period. All visitors went home delighted with the numerous cultural and historical monuments of the “open-air museum” (as we like to call our city), as well as the beauties of the river Bregava. I hope that “Stolački cener” will become a tradition and that in the coming years an even larger number of young people will be involved in the organization of the race, said Edin.

Great work was done in terms of promoting the event, so this event was attended by many journalists and reporters who immortalized the beautiful moments with words and pictures.

Being a part of the team that participated in the realization of “Stolački cener”, important for the development of tourism in the city of Stolac, is above all a great honour and pride. By volunteering at the place where the starting packages were distributed, I had the opportunity to meet competitors from all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina got to hang out with friends. I hope that such and similar events will be more frequent in my city and that tourism in Stolac will flourish. Stolac, with the natural beauties of the river Bregava and numerous cultural monuments, definitely deserves it, Anela pointed out.

Nejla Komar