The Games of Small Countries of Europe 2019 have finished, and Montenegro and the Olympic Committee have shown, above all, a great heart and hospitality, as well as the knowledge and the capacity to organize a demanding sports competition at a high level.
For the first time, our country hosted a multi-sports event, 835 athletes competed in ten disciplines, in five cities, and all parts of the organization functioned according to the highest standards.
Nothing would have happened if there was no energy, enthusiasm, and Mediterranean charm.
In this spirit, the Ceremony of the Closing of the Games was held. "You've shown the world how big the Olympic spirit is in your beautiful country of Montenegro," said Bah. President of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, Dusan Simonovic, spoke with unrestrained pride and emotions.
"Tonight, we extinguished the Olympic flame over the Old Town in Budva. Its warmth and reflection will remain in our hearts and will continue to be our inspiration and memory on the path we have passed since June 2014 when we were assigned the organization of the Games to this day when we have five days to remember it by. Days in which we - small and so great - united in diversity, celebrated the sport and the Olympic spirit," Simonovic said.
At the end of the ceremony, Simonovic symbolically handed the flag of the Games to his colleague Haume Marti from Andorra, a Pyrenean state, where the 19th edition of the contest will be held, gathering athletes from European countries with less than a million inhabitants.
"For the past five days, we were not all uncompromising competitors. Or, we were not just that. We were athletes, architects, and builders, who built the bridge of trust and friendship in 1985 with the first edition of the Small Country Games, extended and laid the foundation on the Adriatic coast. Proudly, knowing that we - with the help of our friends, associates, sponsors, volunteers - have given our total energy to be exemplary hosts, but also the energy we received in return, we will leave the map together to Andorra," Simonovic said.
And then, after the spectacular fireworks which illuminated Budva, at the swimming pool of the complex “Slovenska plaza” began the party – Goodbye Montenegro, see you in Andorra 2021!
Text by Vijesti Sport, on June 1st, 2019, read more at Vijesti
