The Minister of Sports, Eduard Novak, left, on Friday, on a bicycle to Şumuleu Ciuc, for the Catholic Pentecost pilgrimage, a gesture meant to support the institution he leads and which, according to the plan discussed in the ruling coalition, could be merged in the days next with the Ministry of the Family, informs Agerpres.
The minister started in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Sports, and when he left he declared that Romanian sport is at a crossroads and he hopes that his prayers will be heard.
“It’s a new thing for me as well. It’s the first time I do such a gesture, that is, the pilgrimage from Şumuleu Ciuc, which has a 500-year tradition and even passes in front of my house. Tomorrow in Ciuc there will be around 200 -300,000 people. They are Catholics who come from all over… they come on foot 50-100 kilometers or even further. I said that it is a turning point for Romanian sports considering these latest rumors… And I want to make this pilgrimage to Şumuleu Ciuc for the Romanian athletes and for the Ministry of Sports to remain so. I still believe that this Ministry of Sports is needed. Everyone agrees that we need this name, the Ministry of Sports. For that everyone likes champions, to rejoice with them, but for this we also need institutional support. And we need a lot of work behind the scenes to give everything necessary to the athletes. I hope that my prayers will be heard,” he said. said the minister.
The Paralympic cycling champion explained that the party he belongs to, UDMR, only wants the protocol signed between the Coalition partners to be respected.
“You realize that the UDMR will fight to maintain this ministry, normally. We have always declared that we want to respect the protocol. And respecting the protocol means that we keep what we have, that is, the three ministries and that the portfolios between the two parties (no – PSD and PNL). The Ministry of Sports was always annexed, it was an authority… and now for two years it is called that (no – Ministry of Sport) and I try to send a positive message to all athletes that we can let’s come back, that the Government supports them, that we have a strategy and so on, because our final objective is 2032. Then Romania will reach the top 15 in the world… and for that we need this support. If we will be the second or the third priority, then it will be very difficult for sports in Romania to have the results we had once. In all the options presented so far, the UDMR supports compliance with the protocol. In the protocol we have not passed with any changes”, he he mentioned.
Asked if he is thinking of organizing a sportsmen’s rally so that the Ministry of Sports remains independent, Novak answered: “Calling the athletes to protest is not my duty. What I can do is to discuss at a political level, to say what sport needs”.
Eduard Novak also said that the pilgrimage can also be a training for a possible participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“The distance to Şumuleu Ciuc is 260 kilometers, I’m trying to finish the race today, I’ll probably get there in about ten hours. But of course, I’m not trained for this distance, so if necessary I’ll stop somewhere and to continue in the morning. It is important, however, to go by bike to Ciuc. I have done this road before Bucharest – Ciuc only partially, never completely. I will struggle to succeed, because this is what I want to show everyone that in sport about this it’s about self-surpassing, setting big reasons. I was inspired by Ivan Patzaichin, he showed me what constancy means and to really be a champion, because for 20 years he managed to get 4 medals Olympic gold. This race can also be a training for me, a starting boost for the Paralympic Games. I know I have the strength and I am ready to participate, but the priority is the ministry and the projects we have. The Games are secondary, if I can, I will go”, said the Minister of Sport.
Editor : D.R.
