Skopje, 20 July 2025 (MIA) - The European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) Skopje 2025 will officially begin in sports center Jane Sandanski on Sunday evening at 8.30 pm. The Opening Ceremony will mark the beginning of a seven-day sports and cultural spectacle (20–26 July), bringing together young athletes from all across Europe in the spirit of fair play, solidarity, and friendship.

As part of the Opening Ceremony, a grand parade will be held featuring athletes from all 49 delegations, along with the EOC Refugee Team, which will be given special attention in the spirit of equality and inclusion. Thousands of young athletes aged 14 to 18 will march through the arena carrying their national flags, bringing with them the energy and hopes of a new European generation, said the organizers.

The audience will hear opening remarks from Spyros Capralos, President of the European Olympic Committees, who will address the European sports community and highlight the significance of EYOF as a platform for youth sports development and cultural exchange through competition, respect, and unity. The EYOF will then be officially opened by the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, launching the most important week of sport ever organized in the country.

The Opening Ceremony will also feature a unique stage-musical spectacle that will showcase Macedonian culture, sound, and visual artistry. Some of the most beloved and recognizable Macedonian musical artists will take the stage, supported by contemporary scenography, multimedia, and performances inspired by the Olympic values. The show is carefully designed to present the richness of Macedonian culture to the European audience and to create an atmosphere of unity, pride, and celebration, providing an emotional and memorable start to the EYOF.

The Opening Ceremony will include the live performance of the official EYOF Skopje 2025 anthem, “Together We Shine” – a composition already recognized as a symbol of unity, youthful energy, and the Olympic spirit. This powerful musical message will be performed live by four outstanding Macedonian artists – Sara Mace, Lara Ivanova, Yang Daddi, and Aleksandar Tarabunov. The anthem was composed and written by renowned producer Robert Bilbilov. More than just a song, the anthem is a call to Europe – a manifesto of hope, unity, and youthful strength.

The EYOF Skopje 2025 will feature competitions in 15 sports: athletics, swimming, basketball, 3x3 basketball, handball, volleyball, judo, artistic gymnastics, road cycling, mountain biking, canoe slalom, badminton, shooting, table tennis, and taekwondo. The competitions will be held at international-standard sports venues in Skopje and Kumanovo, while the artistic gymnastics events will take place in Osijek, Croatia, in cooperation with the European Olympic Committees and the Croatian Olympic Committee.

More than 4,000 young athletes, coaches, officials and team representatives are expected to participate in the EYOF Skopje 2025, and hundreds of journalists, volunteers, and guests are expected to attend. North Macedonia will be represented by a delegation of nearly 200 young athletes – a record number in the country’s EYOF history.

In addition to sports competitions, the EYOF will also offer a vibrant cultural program, fan zones, educational workshops, interactive activities delivered by the European Young Olympic Ambassadors, and appearances by the official mascot – Shiny.

Photo: EYOF