Politicians, Diplomats Meet at Friendly Cross-Country Race
Some 60 politicians, diplomats and company executives met on Saturday at the Pokljuka plateau for the 15th cross-country race. The track was completed the quickest by former labour minister and an MP of the ruling coalition New Slovenia (NSi) Janez Drobnic.
Drobnic, who needed 12 minutes and 14 seconds to complete the five-kilometre course, was followed by Trzic Mayor and the opposition Liberal Democrats (LDS) deputy Borut Sajovic.
Drobnic was pleased with his win and added that he has more time for sports now that he is no longer the minister of labour, the family and social affairs.
Sajovic on the other hand blamed his new mayoral responsibilities for depriving him of time to stay in top form.
However, both stressed that the point of the event was socialising. "If we meet in such a way as friends... we can be more friendly, polite and efficient in our everyday work," said Sajovic.
Lojze Peterle, a senior NSi member and a European Parliament deputy, meanwhile said that this is one of the few events that has kept its bipartisan character.
Also taking part in the competition were Belgian Ambassador Jean Louis Mignot, Russian Consul Igor Romanov and representatives of the Finnish and Italian embassies.
While the top place among execs also went to Slovenia, Henry de Frahan of the Belgian embassy completed the track as the first of women diplomats and politicians above 50 years of age, while Leena Tuulikki Jerancic of the Finnish embassy navigated the course as the fastest in the below-50 category of women politicians.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|