Viorica Viscopoleanu and Dan Grecu received the Gold Necklace 110 years after the establishment of COSR

Former athlete Viorica Viscopoleanu and former gymnast Dan Grecu, medalists at the Olympic Games, World and European Championships, received, on Wednesday, the Golden Collar in an event that marked 110 years since the establishment of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.

At the age of 84, Viorica Viscopoleanu received the distinction from the president of COSR, Mihai Covaliu, and the president of the Romanian Athletics Federation, Anişoara Cuşmir-Stanciu.

“I am incredibly excited, even more so than at the Olympics. Especially since I’m in the middle of so many Olympic champions. Thank you for the honor done to me. It was an honor to represent this country and I wish that this Olympic year will be crowned with many medals and outstanding results. I want to wish success to those who will compete for Romania in the summer in Paris, to leave their emotions at the stadium gate or at the hall door. Because the Olympics is the dream of all athletes”, said the former athlete.

Viorica Viscopoleanu won the Olympic gold in the long jump in Mexico City 1968, setting a new Olympic and world record (6.82 m) in one attempt. She participated in three editions of the Olympic Games: Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972, she is the European champion in the long jump in 1970 and has 5 medals in her record: 1 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals at the indoor EC.

For his part, former gymnast Dan Grecu (73 years old) received the Golden Belt from the president of COSR, Mihai Covaliu, and the president of the National Sports Agency, Elisabeta Lipă.

“I participated in 9 editions of the Olympic Games, 3 as an athlete, 3 as a coach and 3 as an international referee. I see my athletes in the gym who achieved exceptional results and to whom I thank them. Gymnastics was my life. We have done everything to prove that talent is below work. This was also demonstrated by Marian Drăgulescu, who competed until the age of 41”, declared Dan Grecu.

Dan Grecu participated in three editions of the Olympic Games: Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Moscow 1980. He won bronze in rings at the Montreal 1976 Olympics, he is the first world champion in the history of Romanian gymnastics (Varna 1974) and the first Romanian gymnast to win a medal at the European Championships ( Bern 1975). He has 3 medals, 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, at the World Championships and 2 European medals, 1 gold and 1 silver. The Romanian team coordinated by coach Dan Grecu won Olympic bronze in 2004, world bronze in 1995 and European gold in 2002 and 2004.

The President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, Mihai Covaliu, declared, 110 years after the establishment of COSR, that contemporary society needs Olympic values ​​more than ever.

“Today we celebrate excellence and at the same time we experience a great challenge for the future of the Olympic movement in Romania. It was not by chance that we chose the Sports Museum to mark this anniversary. I invite you to look back with pride, respect and gratitude to each athlete, each official and together with all Romanians who were touched or inspired by the Olympic spirit who created one of Romania’s most important legacies. And still today I urge the sports world to look forward with responsibility, unity, solidarity and trust. This is the only way we can strengthen our position in society. The Olympic movement was, regardless of the times it went through, the flame of Romanian sport. Contemporary Romanian society needs Olympic values ​​more than ever. I am also one of those who have experienced Olympic success as an athlete, coach and official. And I tell you with my hand on my heart that nothing compares to the feeling of belonging to the Olympic family. We are all proud of the 309 Olympic medals, but behind them are millions of hearts that vibrated with emotion and passion at each victory. I conclude with the thought that in 121 days, in Paris, the place where Romania’s first Olympic medal was won 100 years ago, the Olympic Games will begin. I wish success and confidence to all those who will compete and represent Romania at the competition in France”, he said.

During the event, Mihai Covaliu wished success and Happy Birthday to the Agerpres National Press Agency on its 135th anniversary.

The President of the National Sports Agency, Elisabeta Lipă, emphasized the importance of the Olympic movement and stated that she built her life between the editions of the Olympic Games.

“I admit that I now feel so much emotion that I cannot express in words. To talk about the Olympic spirit, about this flame that fueled our hearts to resist any obstacles and that turned us into winners, is like talking about my family. I built my life between the editions of the Olympic Games and lived 20 years only for this dream. I convinced my family to support me, the child to be proud of his mother and I prepared to win. And I won not only medals… I hardened my character, I became what I am today. To enter the opening ceremony with the flag in hand and lead your colleagues into the arena is a pride that cannot be described. To get on the Olympic podium, to have the anthem sung and to receive the gold around your neck is that feeling that you have touched the sky. I am grateful to those who bequeathed us this spirit, who inspired us to believe and who transformed the Olympic movement in Romania into a force. Athletes, coaches, officials and supporters… there are 110 years of the Olympic movement, it means tradition, honor and national identity. Without the Olympic spirit, without sport, without passion, without work, I would not be Elisabeta Lipă today. Happy birthday, COSR!”, said Lipă.

The 110th anniversary of the establishment of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee was attended by numerous champions, former athletes, coaches, heads of federations and clubs such as Marius Urzică, Marian Drăgulescu, Ioan Suciu, Răzvan Şelariu, Ştefan Gal, Maria Fumea, Adrian Stoica, Andreea Răducan, Anişoara Cuşmir-Stanciu, Monica Iagăr, Constantina Diţă, Vali Ionescu, George Boroi, Răzvan Pîrcălabu, Ştefan Bichir and Camelia Potec.

In its 110 years of existence, the Romanian Olympic Movement has been the constant that generated performance in Romanian sport, consolidating its role to promote the fundamental principles of Olympism at the national level. The values ​​cultivated by the Olympic Movement – Excellence, Friendship, Respect – are not only theoretical. One of the fundamental goals of COSR is precisely the reconstruction of contemporary society. The athletes’ honor, dignity, team spirit and fair play, which they demonstrate in competitions, make them true models for society. Romanian athletes won 309 Olympic medals: 90 gold, 97 silver and 122 bronze.