Today, in her office in Mostar, the President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mrs. Lidija Bradara, welcomed the President of the Cycling Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tonija Zorića. The meeting was marked by a warm and constructive discussion on the growing importance of cycling as both a sport and a tourism sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as on numerous successful cycling projects implemented across the country to promote an active lifestyle and sustainable tourism.
President Bradara expressed her satisfaction with the progress made so far and acknowledged the key role Toni Zorić plays—not only nationally, but also through his involvement with the Olympic Committee of BiH, the Balkan Cycling Union, and the European Cycling Federation. She praised the achievements in promoting Bosnia and Herzegovina as an attractive destination for active tourism, sports, and international cooperation.
Toni Zorić informed the President about the current activities and future plans of the Federation, as well as the work of the “HerzegovinaBike” association, highlighting the importance of strategically positioning Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country of sports and tourism. On this occasion, he thanked President Bradara for her patronage of the "Cycling Caravan of Friendship: Mostar – Vukovar" project, which is in its final stage of preparation. He emphasized that all cities and municipalities along the caravan route have confirmed their participation, and everything is ready for the departure from Mostar—another strong initiative aimed at connecting cities and strengthening bonds of friendship.
One of the opics of the meeting was the Blidinje BIKE Festival, an international event that gathers athletes from over 15 countries every year in the Blidinje Nature Park. The President expressed strong support for the festival, which she sees as an excellent example of the synergy between sport, nature, and tourism. Zorić reported that preparations are going according to plan, with the ambition for the festival to once again deliver top results and further enhance Blidinje’s recognition on the European outdoor map.
They also discussed support for elite athletes in BiH, and the President showed particular interest in the challenges faced by athletes on their path to professional cycling. Zorić pointed out the chronic lack of funding for the Federation at the state level and described the complex situation in which sports in BiH currently operate. At the same time, he highlighted the crucial role of the Olympic Committee of BiH and international institutions, which enable the Federation to continuously organize education programs, training camps, and other development activities through projects such as Olympic Solidarity.
President Bradara particularly praised the recently held training camp in Čapljina, which brought together many children and young athletes from across BiH. She noted that she followed the camp with great interest through social media and expressed satisfaction that this Herzegovinian town became a gathering place for young talents and future sports ambassadors of our country.
The President of the Cycling Federation of BiH, Toni Zorić, stated:
“I am truly pleased that the President of the Federation of BiH recognizes the importance of sport, especially cycling, in the development of tourism and the promotion of the positive values of our country. Our goal is clear – to position Bosnia and Herzegovina as a recognized destination for sports and cycle tourism. Through the projects we implement, we are not only building cycling infrastructure, but also a strong community of athletes, nature lovers, and all those who believe in the potential of our homeland. I am grateful to President Bradara for the support and understanding she has shown for our initiatives.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was agreed that the President of the Federation of BiH will continue to provide strong support for all the positive projects successfully led by President Zorić, with the message:
“Our athletes are the best ambassadors of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is our duty and responsibility to support them in their sports goals and help pave the way to their success.”
Zorić concluded by emphasizing his continued commitment to promoting active tourism, developing sports, and positioning Bosnia and Herzegovina as an essential outdoor destination—both in the region and beyond.
