November 3, 2025

Katarína Ráczová Promotes Fair Play and Olympic Values in Košice (SVK)

Katarína Ráczová, Chairwoman of the Fair Play Club of the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee and Vice President of the European Fair Play Movement, recently returned to her hometown of Košice to meet with young athletes and students. During her two-day visit on October 23 and 24, she encouraged them to live by Olympic values and to practice fair play not only in sports, but also in everyday life.

Meeting with Future Champions

Ráczová’s first stop was the Secondary Sports School, where she met students who balance demanding studies with competitive sports. As Slovakia’s most successful fencer and a three-time Olympian, she shared personal stories from her Olympic journey — moments of triumph and disappointment alike — emphasizing that success requires hard work, perseverance, and honesty.

She also discussed key moments in Olympic history, including the 1972 Munich tragedy and the boycotts of the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games, drawing parallels to today’s global challenges. Through short video stories of remarkable athletes, Ráczová showed that true champions succeed with integrity and respect for others.

The discussion left a strong impression on the students, reinforcing the idea that success is built not only on talent, but on daily effort, discipline, and fair play.

Fair Play in Action

The following day, on October 24, Ráczová visited the elementary school on Tomášikova Street, which actively promotes Olympic education. Here, the children had a chance to put theory into practice — participating in games and activities that demonstrated fairness, cooperation, and respect for opponents.

Through playful learning, the pupils discovered that victory is only meaningful when achieved honestly. The event’s friendly and joyful atmosphere perfectly reflected the values Ráczová has been advocating for years.

A Lifelong Message

“Fair play is not just about sport. It’s an attitude to life,” said Ráczová, summing up the essence of her mission.