VANJA GRBIĆ: CARE MUST BE TAKEN OVER WHO IS ENTRUSTED WITH UPBRINGING OF CHILDREN

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, NOVEMBER 13 /SRNA/ - Legendary Serbian volleyball player Vladimir Vanja Grbić said today in Istočno Sarajevo that great care must be taken over who is entrusted with the upbringing of children, as placing this responsibility in the wrong hands can result in serious emotional trauma later in life.

According to him, it is essential that children be educated by people who share the same values as their parents, given that between the ages of 10 and 15, coaches take over from parents as children's role models.

Speaking at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering /ETF/ of the University of Istočno Sarajevo, Grbić stressed that family and family values are paramount, while today's society is simultaneously working to destroy the family.

"For the past 15 years, I have been giving motivational speeches aimed at both the corporate and educational communities. I help corporate organisations find common ground, build strong teams and focus on goals and results," Grbić told reporters.

When it comes to children, Grbić said that his lectures are topic-based, focusing on children's potential and how and in what direction it should be developed.

Grbić, an Olympic champion, sports educator and motivational speaker, told primary and secondary school students, university students, professors and athletes in Istočno Sarajevo during his lecture that defeat is difficult to accept, both in sport and in life, but that giving up is far worse than defeat.

He noted that in today's world of seductive superficiality, deception has become a way of doing things and lies a means to an end. He said that those who claim someone can become the next Novak Đoković or Nikola Jokić by investing a little more money and receiving individual training are nothing more than snake-oil salesmen and businessmen, rather than sports professionals whose aim is to help children smile and enjoy sport.

ETF Dean Božidar Popović expressed his pleasure at hosting the legendary volleyball player and Olympic champion, who had accepted the institution's invitation to deliver a motivational speech to young people, athletes and students in Istočno Sarajevo, noting that motivation is crucial for young people today.

"We live in a time when fewer and fewer children are choosing to take up sports and enrol at universities in order to build their careers and achieve their goals. We are here to hear from a legendary volleyball player about how to find motivation, define goals and approach our wishes and dreams," Popović said.

The ETF Dean stressed that some dreams can come true while others cannot, but that the aim should be to instill confidence in young people and encourage them to stay in this region, pursue their studies and engage in sports.

"Among those attending are elementary and secondary school students, athletes, professors, teaching assistants and university students. We have invited representatives of all institutions. The values that our legendary athlete Vanja Grbić upheld as a sports professional and educator are universal, and we should all follow them, whether in sports, science or any other sphere of life," said Srđan Lale, ETF Vice-Dean for Science.

Lale said that, in addition to professional lectures closely related to electrical engineering, the ETF also uses such events to promote positive ideas, as the institution considers it important to motivate young people to stay in Republika Srpska, pursue their studies, engage in sports, and become hardworking and decent people who contribute to the progress of society.

As a gold medal winner at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and one of the most recognisable athletes from this region, Grbić has continued to dedicate himself to the education, development and motivation of young people since retiring from professional sport, combining his experience in elite sport with modern approaches to pedagogy, science and human potential development.