Yesterday, the sports park in Jesenice was overflown by a record of 4500 SIJ Group employees with families. They mingled at the 6th SIJ Day and with amazing atmosphere once again proved that this is the most important sporting and social event where more and more SIJ Group employees connect every year.
A crowd of more than four thousand enjoyed the varied programme at the event which, for the first time, was held in June, before the summer vacations. At the event we traditionally thanked our co-workers and presented them with awards and prizes: “This is the day of all of us who, though from different parts of Slovenia and different vocations, are joined in one large steelmaking family – SIJ Group. We have plenty of challenges ahead of us. The demanding steel market is constantly testing our productivity, innovativeness, quality of production, boldness and creativity in acquiring new markets. This is why we especially appreciate and congratulate our best co-workers and innovators, who lead with their example and work ethic, as well as those who have been loyal to SIJ Group for four decades. In SIJ Group, we not only work together, but also celebrate and share our successes,” shared Tibor Šimonka, Member of the Management Board of SIJ Group, in his opening speech. The guests were also greeted by the mayor of Jesenice Municipality, Blaž Račič.
The power and mind of steel shone through in the fierce, but fair fight which was displayed at the traditional football tournament, where the teams from Koroška had to admit the dominance of the AHM/AHP team from Gorenjska and return the cup to Gorenjska. The deciding games were judged by the retired football judge Darko Čerefin, who also judged the Champions League. This was also the first year we awarded the prize for fair play, which went to the team Goal machine from SIJ d.d.
The children tested their sports skills at different creative workshops and the Mini Olympics, which were organised in cooperation with the Olympic Committee of Slovenia and the Mind of Steel ambassador Petra Majdič, who encouraged the minds of steel in the young by sharing her inspiring story when she won the bronze at the Vancouver Olympics with five broken ribs. Within the campaign Working Safely, Staying Healthy, we prepared activities for spreading awareness on the importance of health and safety at work. The children could try out the safety equipment which their parents use at work in SIJ Group.
The event was shaken up by a musical surprise – an energetic performance by Rebeka Dremelj, while the band Pegaz kept the mood up during the day. The celebrations were moderated by Tea Petrovec with the help of the stand-up comic Ranko Babić, who kept us laughing with comic inserts. As the guests left satisfied at the end of the day, they thanked everyone in the name of SIJ Group for a lovely day we spent together.
We again congratulate all award winners, and thank all employees and their families for their attendance.
