The Championship was inaugurated by the mayor of Rijeka Vojko Obersnel, who emphasised on that occasion that buoles playing is deeply rooted in the tradition and the way we live in our region.
"That is why we are proud that the International Federation (FIB) honoured us and expressed its confidence by giving us a chance to prove ourselves as an experienced and successful host to this prestigious Championship", said the mayor, wishing all the athletes a lot of success.
The audience was also welcomed by the FIB president Christian Lacoste, who expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the championship is taking place in Rijeka, a sports city with a long tradition in playing boules.
"Having organised the European Championship four years ago, the World Junior Championship in 1995 and the World Senior Championship in 1997, young athletes from around the world have gathered again in Rijeka. I believe this will be one more excellently organised competition," said Lacoste.
National teams from Croatia, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, France, Italy, Monaco, Slovenia, Tunisia, Turkey and Serbia take part in the championship.
The championship is organised by the Rijeka Boules Federation and the City of Rijeka, in cooperation with the Boules Federation of the Primorje - Gorski kotar County, the Croatian Boules Federation and the Rijeka Sports Federation.
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