YOUNG FEMALE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS HARASSED AT TOURNAMENT IN ZAVIDOVIĆI, THOSE RESPONSIBLE MUST BE PUNISHED

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 15 /SRNA/ - Young female volleyball players from Banja Luka Volej Volleyball Club were subjected to harassment at a volleyball tournament in Zavidovići, the Republika Srpska Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports said, strongly condemning the incidents and calling on the tournament organizers and relevant authorities to appropriately punish those responsible.

The Ministry said that the young Banjaluka volleyball players were exposed to inappropriate content, stress, and incidents that had nothing to do with volleyball or common sense.

They warned sports professionals, particularly those working with children, that there is no place on the sports field for sociological experiments or inappropriate content that could have far-reaching consequences for young athletes.

"We call on all relevant institutions to respond to such incidents and punish those responsible, so that no one can ever think of playing games with children or exploiting them for any kind of experiment," the Ministry said.

They stressed that this would send a clear message that children should enjoy themselves, socialize and play volleyball on the sports field, rather than be subjected to any harassment.

The Ministry said it would speak with representatives of Banjaluka Volej Volleyball Club and find a way to help the girls overcome the stress they were exposed to.