The event Borik Evening of Remembrance was held last night in Banjaluka to mark the 50th anniversary of the Borik sports hall and the 50th anniversary of the traditional Borik small-sided football tournament.
With numerous athletes, guests, and officials in attendance, Banjaluka’s “Temple of Sport” celebrated its major jubilee — a moment not only to recall great victories on the court, but also to honour the impact the Borik sports hall has had on the lives of many residents of the city.
For Goran Malić, a former Borac handball player, Borik holds special meaning.
“I will never forget that roar from the stands during the match against Sandefjord. We were eliminated, unfortunately, but the atmosphere and the energy are unforgettable. Two hours before the match the hall was already full — you couldn’t fit a matchstick inside. Borik is my second home,” Malić said.
Borik has hosted some of the biggest sporting events, and it is where many renowned handball, boxing, and basketball champions began their careers.
One of them is Jadranka Ćosić Trkulja, the celebrated basketball player of Mladi Krajišnik.
“When you mention the Borik sports hall, I remember the people who worked there — some are still here today. They were always there for us. They even knew exactly how I take my coffee, which I always had before training or a game. Borik is our ‘temple of sport’ and it will remain so,” Ćosić Trkulja said.
For many, Borik is a symbol of Banjaluka and its people, said Nenad Talić, director of the Borik Public Sports Centre.
He recalled that significant funds have been allocated for the hall’s reconstruction.
“With support from the office of President Milorad Dodik, we restored the hall’s parquet floor — the largest reconstruction since the hall was built in 1974. We are fully aware of how important the Borik Sports Centre is for our citizens and our children. Thousands of them train daily in our facilities,” Talić noted.
The traditional Borik small-sided football tournament, the oldest and largest event of its kind in Republika Srpska, also celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
The tournament begins on 26 November, with the grand finale scheduled for 24 December.
Source: RTRS
