Two volunteers were given the honour of presenting medals on the final day of competition at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) Maribor 2023 in recognition of the invaluable contribution the 800 volunteers have made to the success of the event.

Volunteer Ana Šalamon was at the athletics to present the medals for the girls’ high jump, which was won by Germany’s Ella Obeta.

Later in the day at the gymnastics, volunteer Dragan Milašinović was joined by the Mayor of Maribor Aleksander Arsenovič  to present the medals for the girls’ beam apparatus, which was won by Germany’s Helen Kevric. Dragan has been involved in volunteering at sport events for many years and was nominated for the presentation honour in recognition of this.

Dragan and Ana received the honour on behalf of the volunteers at the Festival. 192 of the 800 plus volunteers are from countries outside of Slovenia.

The tradition started at the European Games Minsk 2019 as the European Olympic Committees (EOC) wanted to ensure the hard work and dedication shown by the volunteers was rewarded.

After the girls’ beam medal ceremony Dragan Milašinović said: “I’m shaking, it was such an honour, the Mayor was here, I feel I should have been presenting the mascots not the medals!

“It is not my first-time volunteering at these sport events. I have lived in Slovenia for four years and this is my 40^th time I have volunteered at a sport event since living here. I am from a sports family; I like helping people.”

EOC President Spyros Caprlos who was present at the girls’ high jump medal ceremony said: “The role of the volunteers is critical to the success of the EYOFs, and all the EOC events. The volunteers here in Maribor have done an outstanding job and I am incredibly grateful for their wonderful support. The moto of this Festival is one heart, one city, and each of the 800 volunteers has most certainly given their hearts.

“Presenting medals to the athletes is an honour and a privilege that few people get to experience and I hope by extending this privilege to the volunteers it shows just how highly they are regarded.”

The volunteer programme in Maribor received an additional boost with funding from the European Union of €450,000, this will also support the volunteering legacy of the Games in Maribor.