On Monday, 24 January, before leaving for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, the members of Slovakia’s Olympic and Paralympic delegation took the Olympic oath at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace. 

According to President Čaputová, sports achievements and victories, especially those at the Olympics, are a source of pride and excitement for us all. “Especially today, when there is a need for good news, you can be the messengers. Each achievement of an athlete wearing a Slovak jersey can temporarily unite a divided society and I believe that you will send us as much good news as possible.” 

In her speech, the president recalled the idea of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement, that it is not important to win at the Olympic games, but to participate. “However, in this time of the pandemic, it also takes on added significance: it is important that the Olympic Games take place and that you are healthy when your competition begins. I believe that each and every one of you avoid the virus and that even in this extraordinary situation you will be able to give your best performance and represent Slovakia with honour. Because nothing can change the fact that for an athlete, participating in the Olympics or Paralympics is the highest goal for which you have sacrificed everything.” 

The president believes that the story of each athlete includes talent, but especially an immense amount of effort, perseverance, energy and sacrifice. "Your efforts, as well as the support of your families and the consistent work of your trainers demand our admiration. We would also like to acknowledge the Slovak Olympic Committee, the Slovak Paralympic Committee and other officials who have created the conditions that will allow you to compete against the best athletes of the world in the coming days.”  

The president emphasized that the popularization of sport is still an important message of the Olympic movement and that our representatives are an inspiration for youth and children. “However, by participating at the Olympics you also support another idea of the Olympic movement, which is solidarity and friendship among nations, expressed by the symbol of the five multi-coloured and interconnected rings. The fair and honest competition in the spirit of Olympic ideals which is connected with friendship can also be transformed into good relations between people and countries, and can symbolize honest democratic competition, in which there are rules and where everyone is equal at the starting line. On behalf of our Slovak citizens, whom you proudly represent, I wish you great luck!” 

Ice hockey player Marek Hrivík and bobsledder Viktória Čerňanská took the solemn oath for the Olympians and para ice hockey player Marián Ligda, and wheelchair-bound curler Monika Kunkelová, did the same for the Paralympians. Anton Siekel, President of the Slovak Olympic Committee, Ján Riapoš, Head of the Slovak Paralympic Committee, as well as Boris Kollár, Chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic and Prime Minister Eduard Heger were present.