NEVESINJE OLYMPIAD MARKS 150 YEARS OF HERZEGOVINIAN CHIVALRY

The 150th jubilee edition of the Nevesinje Olympiad will be held from August 3 to 17, as decided today during a session of the Organizing Committee of this renowned sports, cultural, and tourism event.

PHOTO: Nevesinjska olimpijada

The date was set in response to numerous requests from locals and visitors eager to attend this unique celebration of tradition and chivalry. Athletes from across the country and the region will have the chance to compete in over fifty disciplines, with the best performers receiving medals and cash prizes. The central event — featuring horse races and traditional knightly competitions — will take place on August 17 at Bratački Lug.

As in previous years, the Olympiad will be accompanied by a variety of cultural and tourism-related programs. Details about the complete schedule, prize funds, and additional highlights will be finalized during the upcoming meetings of the Organizing Committee.

Few events can boast the rich heritage of the Nevesinje Olympiad. Held each August in Bratački Lug near the town of Nevesinje, it is a traditional manifestation that blends sports, culture, and tourism.

With a history that predates the modern Olympic Games, this Olympiad stands as the largest and most attended event in Eastern Herzegovina.

Thousands of visitors gather in Nevesinje during the Olympiad, coming from all parts of the former Yugoslavia and beyond. The first official Olympiad was held in 1875, and the oldest preserved poster — kept in the archives of the Nevesinje Church Municipality — dates back to 1891.

The event includes both traditional and modern sports disciplines. Among the traditional ones are horse racing, stone throwing, sack races, log pulling, pole climbing, jumping contests, and more. Contemporary competitions include futsal, basketball, volleyball, and tennis.

The cultural component features poetry nights, art exhibitions, and the Festival of Young Gusle Players. The Olympiad also includes a food and handicrafts fair, as well as a sports fishing competition.

In 2009, the Nevesinje Olympiad received the "Golden Tourism Rose," the most prestigious tourism award in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

If you're looking to witness thrilling competitions while enjoying authentic local spirit and entertainment, make sure to visit Nevesinje this August during the Olympiad.