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18-12-2009 Celebration of 125 years of cycling in Serbia The President of the European Cycling Union, Mr. Wojciech Walkiewicz, granted the Cycling Federation of Serbia, all cyclists and cycling workers, coaches and experts, with the great honour and pleasure of his presence by accepting the invitation from the President of the Cycling Federation of Serbia, Mr. Dragan Dostanic, to attend the Ceremonial Academy in celebration of 125 years of cycling as a sport in Serbia, which was held in the main hall of the building of the National Assembly of Serbia.

At the Ceremonial Academy, in the presence of a large number of renowned guests, Mr. Wojciech Walkiewicz accepted the honorary "Grand Charter" of the Cycling Federation of Serbia, intended for the European Cycling Union, and thanked the President of the Cycling Federation of Serbia, Mr. Dragan Dostanic, the General Secretary of the Cycling federation of Serbia, Mr. Petar Rokvic, and their associates for their hospitality, expressing his his pleasure, as a veteran cyclist and longstanding cycling worker, in attending the ceremony for such a significant anniversary.

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"The International Cycling Union is yet to celebrate it's 110th anniversary, the Cycling Federation of Poland celebrated its 80th year, while the European Cycling Union has only existed 20 years and that is why it is with great pleasure that I congratulate all the cyclists and cycling workers of Serbia this exceptional jubilee, which only a small number of coutries worldwide can take pride in," Mr. Wojciech Walkiewicz said in his speech in a full main hall of the building of the National Assembly of Serbia.

During the Ceremonial Academy, Mr. Wojciech Walkiewicz also met with the President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia and veteran NBA player, Mr. Vlade Divac, as well as with the President of the Sports Federation of Serbia and famed veteran member of the men's national waterpolo team of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Sostar. As a guest of honour in the hall, in the company of Wojciech Walkiewicz, Mr. Thanasis Tzimas, Vice-president of the European Cycling Union and President of the Balkan Cycling Union, was in attendance as well as Marko Prokicevic, Secretary of the Balkan Cycling Union and UCI doping inspector. During his visit to Belgrade, the President of the European Cycling Union, Mr. Wojciech Walkiewicz, was also received by the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports of Serbia, Mr. Vojislav Tabacki.

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Mr. Vojislav Tabacki wished his guest a pleasant stay in Belgrade and congratulated the hosts this great jubilee, 125 years of exemplary work, emphasizing that cycling will continue to have the support of the Ministry for Youth and Sports, first and foremost through youth programmes and the construction of buildings and infrastructure.

"This is in compliance with the national strategy for the development of sports in Serbia, but financial support for top cycling will not lack either," - Mr. Vojislav Tabacki said – "In some projects, above all those regarding the construction of a velodrome, as ten of the 18 Olympic cycling disciplines are held on tracks, we expect to recieve the concrete help of international federations and the expertise and the influence of renowned sports workers, such as the President of the European Cycling Union Mr. Wojciech Walkiewicz, are precious in these intentions.

"Mr. Wojciech Walkiewicz, who has also been President of the Cycling federation of Poland for 14 years, congratulated the hosts on this significant date, pointing out that he was not aware that cycling had such a long tradition in Serbia. He agreed that, without a velodrome there is no cycling, but also that it is very important that, above all, the Cycling Federation of Serbia show initiative in seeking help regarding this matter from the resources of international federations, particularly pointing to the Olympic solidarity of the IOC. We are prepared to help the Cycling Federation of Serbia as much as we can, above all ont he matter of bilateral cooperation in the field of training young coaches and young athletes, and to offer, if needed, the hospitality of our tracks to Serbian cycling athletes, in the desire to see many Serbian cycling Olympic athletes in London," Mr. Wojciech Walkiewicz stated, presenting Vojislav Tabacki with the medal of the European Cycling Union.