Marking Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union The Embassy of Romania in the Republic of Slovenia hosted the rowing contest titled “Rowmania“ in the beautiful Bled lake. Rowmania campaign aims to promote ecotourism and its principles, with emphasis on the valorization of local heritage and responsible use of natural resources.
Members of diplomatic and business communities had a chance to row alongside Romanian canoeist Ivan Patzaichin, a quadruple Olympic gold medalist and triple silver medal winner. The main attraction of the competition were the boats – canotcas – created by Romanian woodwork craftsmen in the tradition of Danube Delta’s fishermen boats, with the maneuverability of modern fast canoes.
The event also aims to encourage people of all ages, sporting background or experience to spend time in nature and enjoy reconnecting to its values. The competition is just an incentive, the proof that everyone can find something thrilling or relaxing to do on the shores of a river or on water.
Romanian Ambassador: We are rowing in the same direction
“Despite the rainy day, happy people of different backgrounds, origins, ethnic belonging and age, coming from all over Europe and beyond, were rowing in the same direction,“ said H.E. Romanian Ambassador to Slovenia Anton Niculescu.
He stressed that the Romanian Embassy has brought to Bled a taste of the Danube Delta. “I am not referring only to the delicious Fish Soup prepared by Janez Klemencic (thank you, Jani!) according to the original recipe provided by Ivan Patzaichin. Inspired by Slovenian values and habits, we have promoted under the RO19UE a project that fits ”Slogreenia’s” – my own, nonregistered, label for the wonderful country I’ve been living in for almost three years – profile: combining water (nature), sport and ecology. In addition, with the canotca boats, we also launched on lake Bled and its gorgeous surroundings the European spirit of team working – on Saturday afternoon we witnessed the wonderful collaboration of the participating rowers and cheerleaders: diplomats, students, tourists, etc.”
In this context, he added information related to the history of the European construction: “At the very edge of the Danube Delta, where fresh water meets the Black Sea’s salted one, lies Sulina. It is a tiny city which hosted, as early as 1868, the headquarter of the first pan-European organization, the “European Commission of the Danube” until the beginning of WWII (now seating in Budapest, since 1954), with a couple of dozen of consulates. Geographically, Sulina is the easternmost continental city of the EU – just opposite to Cabo da Rocca in Portugal“, said the Romanian Ambassador.
The Bled edition of Rowmania welcomed many distinguished guests and participants from the diplomatic and business communities in Slovenia, including: H.E. Brazilian Ambassador Renato Mosca, H.E. Ukrainian Ambassador Mykhailo Brodovych, H.E. Hungarian Ambassador Edit Szilágyiné Bátorfi, H.E. Turkish Ambassador Esen Altuğ, H.E. Irish Ambassador Myles Geiran, and Zoran Stančič, Head of the European Commission’s Representation in Slovenia.
Photos: Eco boutique hotel A.M.S. Beagle in Bled – www.amsbeagle.com