Events

June 2007

Celebrating Sports Diplomacy Between Slovenia and the United States, Ljubljana, June 19

On June 19, Ambassador Thomas Robertson and Mrs. Antoinette Robertson honored sports diplomacy between the U.S. and Slovenia by hosting a reception for athletes and others involved in connecting our countries through athletics.  In addition to four Slovenian players in the National Basketball League - Rašo NesteroviÄ?, Primož Brezec, Boštjan Nachbar, Uroš Slokar - the event was also attended by Anže Kopitar, the first Slovenian to play in the National Hockey League, and Guinness record holder and ultra marathon swimmer Martin Strel, who swam the length of the Mississippi River in 2002 and the Amazon River in 2007.  More than 50 other American and Slovenian sportsmen and women from football, baseball, volleyball, skiing, swimming, climbing, and biking joined in celebrating the bridges that sports have built across the Atlantic.

The event was the culmination of several years of sports diplomacy and the Ambassador took the opportunity to thank those who have helped with the Embassy’s sports charity and volunteerism projects.  Special recognition was given to NBA player Rašo NesteroviÄ? for contributed basketballs to centers for disadvantaged youth; to Adria Mobil’s biking team for raising money for Darfur last year and for the Children’s Clinical Center this year; to the Diplomatic Regatta for helping to collect money for flood victims in Sevnica; and to tennis players for working with the U.S. Tennis Federation’s effort to donate money to the International Trust Fund for Demining (ITF).  Ambassador Robertson also presented his current “Walk Across Slovenia” charity in which he is hiking the length of the E6 European Walking Route to raise additional funds for ITF.  In recognition of this effort and other hiking accomplishments, the Alpine Association of Slovenia presented the Ambassador with their Golden Honor Award at the reception.

Ambassador and Mrs. Robertson with Slovene Athletes (Enlarge Image)	Ambassador Robertson and ultra marathon swimmer Martin Strel	Ambassador and Mrs. Robertson with NBA players Rašo NesteroviÄ? and Uroš Slokar
Alpine Association of Slovenia president Franc Ekar presents Ambassador Robertson with a Golden Honor Award	Ambassador and Mrs. Robertson and Janez KocijanÄ?iÄ?, President of Slovene Olympic Committee	NHL player Anže Kopitar speaks with Political Officer Phil Beekman