ELEK: JAHORINA IS STRATEGIC PROJECT, PROFITS SUPPORT LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES

BANJA LUKA, MARCH 14 /SRNA/ – The Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the Olympic Center /OC/ "Jahorina", Nedeljko Elek, has stated for SRNA that the development of the center is a state project and that the policy of investing in this mountain has yielded results, noting that the invested funds have long since paid off.

"The season on Jahorina is still ongoing and I invite everyone to visit the mountain. There will be snow until May 1. The season has been excellent. We had good weather conditions. This is a season to remember," Elek said in SRNA's podcast.

He noted that there are always individuals who criticize major projects such as the one on Jahorina, adding that even the biggest critics spend their free time on the mountain.

"I watched Mr. Igor Crnadak at the Assembly saying that we stole everything and that everything is black and miserable, and then on the weekend he goes to Jahorina, takes pictures and says it is beautiful and that the slopes are great. Those who attack us during the week praise us on weekends," Elek said.

He noted that Jahorina is a state and strategic project that will continue to develop in the coming period.

"Everything the Government of Republika Srpska invested has long been repaid. It took over loans worth BAM 140 million, and this year around BAM 210 million has been returned through direct and indirect taxes. It is unnecessary to even discuss whether the investment paid off," Elek said.

PROFITS DIRECTED TOWARD DEVELOPMENT OF OLYMPIC CENTER AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Elek stressed that the Olympic Center has operated profitably and added that for the first time this year it has a positive cash flow, meaning there are sufficient funds in the account for operations until the end of the year.

"Part of the money was donated to local communities in the Sarajevo-Romanija region. The Government took over the loans and showed that it cares not only about the Olympic Center but also about the east of Republika Srpska. For that reason, part of the money was invested to help municipalities. Rogatica was also included. During our press conference, an amount of BAM 600,000 had already been transferred to the accounts of local communities," Elek said.

He noted that it is also important to support sports clubs, adding that the Olympic Center is the general or main sponsor of all sports teams in Pale and Trnovo, and assessed that all institutions must respond adequately.

"The basketball club 'Jahorina' achieved a great feat. The Olympic Center is the main sponsor. When it comes to Olympians, it is an incredible success. I told them to try to use this moment and seek support from other institutions as well. I will say it is a shame that the Assembly and the City of Istočno Sarajevo did not help. I believe they had to find the funds," Elek stressed.

Speaking about the Basketball Club "Jahorina" of which he is president, Elek said that personal enthusiasm and determination are important for success. y

"I love basketball and I trained it myself. I was sorry that a club from Pale had problems. The municipality has a BAM 22 million budget, along with support from the city and the power distribution company, and it would have been a shame for all of us if there had been no success. After Igokea, we are perhaps the most serious basketball club in Republika Srpska," Elek pointed out.