24.07.2022
Banská Bystrica 2022 European Youth Olympic Summer Festival (EYOF) kicked off with the Opening Ceremony on Sunday 24 April. Türkiye’s national volleyball player Berka Buse Özden and national basketball player Salih Altuntaş carried the Turkish flag at the ceremony
The ceremony began with the procession of the national flags, and the opening speeches of Banská Bystrica Mayor and EYOF Organizing Committee President Ján Nosko and European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Sypros Capralos. At the ceremony, after the EOC Flag was hoisted, the athletes were sworn in and promotional films from Banská Bystrica and Slovakia were shown. Olympic biathlon champion Anastasiya Kuzmina and athlete Matej Tóth lit the Fire of Peace and officially opened the Festival.
In the second part of the ceremony, Slovak National Theatre opera soloist Tomáš Juhás received great acclaim for his performance with the Slovak Symphony Orchestra. The spectators and athletes also enjoyed a spectacular performance of hundreds of dancers. The ceremony ended with the performance of the children's choir.