There was once again a happy mood at Planica for the first day of the Ski Jumping World Cup finals. This year Slovenia’s biggest insurance company brought a record number of youngest fans to the famed valley below the Ponce mountains. As part of the now traditional Children of Triglav campaign, the youngest fans and their escorts came from more than 70 schools and education centres to see the flights, and they were joined by classes of children who had ‘earned’ the trip by participating in the Create the Cup competition.
Izola, Tolmin, Kamnik, Žiri, Mozirje, Črna na Koroškem, Brežice, Zagorje ob Savi and Apače are just some of the places where the youngest fans and their escorts came from to be a part of the children’s day at Planica on Thursday. “As part of the now traditional link with the children’s day at Planica, this year we brought to the valley below Ponce nearly 4,100 children and over 500 accompanying persons from various educational institutions across Slovenia. Since there is enormous interest in watching the biggest Slovenian sports festival each year, this time by holding the Create the Cup competition we offered every young ski jumping enthusiast the chance to bring their entire class to see the qualifying rounds. In this way the young fans were also joined by several classes of young artists who earned the most votes from the general public for their drawings of the cup for Planica 7. Together with them we therefore brought to the valley below Ponce more than 4,800 Children of Triglav,” explains Tadej Čoroli, member of the Management Board of Zavarovalnica Triglav, regarding the participation of the youngest fans and their escorts on the first day of the competition at Planica.
Experiencing Planica encourages a healthy lifestyle
What is now the 43rd generation of Children of Triglav experienced an unforgettable day at Planica: excitedly witnessing the incredible ski flights in a wonderful natural setting. In addition to the Slovenian eagles and other world-class jumpers, entertainment was also provided by a concert featuring the groups LPS and Jet Black Diamonds, and the children even got to hang out with the Triglav mascot Kuža Pazi (Willy Watchdog). “Through the Children of Triglav campaign we want to open up the youngest fans to an experience of healthy fun: to show them what a great time they can have in the company of their peers, surrounded by nature, and away from screens, which are an all too common part of everyday life both for adults and youngsters. Through the example of the best ski jumpers in the world and other sports people having fun together with them that day, we can at the same time open them up to a healthy and active lifestyle that will make them better equipped to deal with all the challenges that await them while growing up and also later in life,” says Tjaša Kolenc Filipčič, director of marketing at Zavarovalnica Triglav, regarding the idea behind the Children of Triglav campaign at Planica.
Winner of the Create the Cup competition to visit Planica on Sunday
In the artistic competition Create the Cup, which this year offered children the opportunity to experience a marvellous day as sports fans, Zavarovalnica Triglav and the Planica Organising Committee encouraged children to draw their concept of the cup for Planica 7. In this way the Children of Triglav campaign at Planica placed the encouragement of creativity at the forefront, alongside sport. This was something demonstrated to an exceptional degree by 12 year-old Tjaša Vreš, who created the drawing Winner 7, which the committee declared the winning entry in the competition. The young artist will present the real cup, modelled on her drawing, to the winner of the Planica 7 competition this Sunday.
