Miklavž na Dravskem polju, 29. 9. 2021 - The "steel project" network, which SIJ – Slovenian Steel Group is creating in collaboration with the Olympic Committee of Slovenia – Association of Sports Federations, is one location richer since Wednesday, the 15th so far. On this day, a street workout park in Miklavž na Dravskem polju was officially handed over to sports fans of all generations.
The beginnings of the steel workout park project date back to 2014, when SIJ Group decided that they wanted to provide free outdoor recreation for the communities where their companies operate and their employees and their families live, and to other local communities across Slovenia. Before the one in Miklavž na Dravskem polju, SIJ Group had already built other street workout parks in collaboration with the OCS-ASF and with the support of the local communities in Jesenice, Murska Sobota, Prevalje, Ravne na Koroškem, Ljubljani, Grosuplje, Novi Gorica, Mozirje, Krško, Postojna, Ptuj, Tržič, Slovenj Gradec, and Pivka.
The street workout parks are intended for outdoor recreation and facilitate various physical exercises. The steel assembly is particularly strong and resilient, a prerequisite for an outdoor gym. Steel is the ideal material, as it tolerates changing weather conditions well, and with its strength and rigidity gives users the confidence to test their body and mind of steel. About 300 man-hours are invested in the construction of an individual workout station. The final product consists of 86 metres of steel pipes, 44 couplings and 19 caps for columns.
Wednesday's grand opening ceremony of the new steel street workout park was attended by vice-presidents of the OCS-ASF Janez Sodržnik and Tomaž Barada, SIJ Group's Head of Corporate Communications Katja Krumpak, the Mayor of Miklavž na Dravskem polju Egon Repnik and Deputy Mayor Dragica Centrih, the head of the regional office of the OCS-ASF Iztok Kvas, and vice-president of the Sports Association Miklavž na Dravskem polju, Boris Potrč.
With the various activities that fall under the blanket term Mind of Steel, SIJ – Slovenian Steel Group awakens a mind of steel in people. By building steel street workout parks in local environments, they want to awaken the mind of steel in everyone. Beside each workout station stands an informational sign with the inspiring sports story of a local sporting hero – the ambassador of the workout station, with which it awakens the mind of steel in all those who take on the steel pipes. In Miklavž na Dravskem polju, this ambassador is the young local martial arts master Žiga Zagoranski. The 18-year-old taekwondoist and kickboxer, who has crowned his talent in both martial arts with numerous international successes, has also recently moved into the members category. The new street workout, which he can hardly wait to train on himself, made him very happy.
The 15th steel street workout park is located in an idyllic nature setting as part of the Skoke Sports Park. Janez Sodržnik emphasized the importance of planning a green living environment, which encourages spending free time in nature: "The planning of green spaces and sports grounds that encourage people to spend their free time in nature and stay active, has an important effect on quality of life and people’s health. That is why I am particularly pleased that industry also supports such activities. Not only in the environment where it operates, but all over Slovenia. We have been successfully cooperating with SIJ Group in this area since 2015. The outdoor gym in the municipality of Miklavž na Dravskem polju is the 15th so far, and by the end of this year we will open three more – in Kranj, Novo mesto and Jesenice."
Tomaž Barada, once a successful athlete himself, and today vice-president of the OCS-ASF, knows extremely well how strong the mind of steel of martial artists in Styria is. “There was a will and we made a way. Although Skoke in the municipality of Miklavž na Dravskem polju is a small town, I am very happy that SIJ Group chose this place as one of the locations where we built a street workout. You wanted it and now you have it, children and adults both. I know that you will also enjoy using it," he told those present.
"In the Slovenian Steel Group, as producers of steels with higher added value, we, like top athletes, constantly strive for excellence in our field. The path to excellence and the goal to be achieved is never easy. To achieve one's best in sports as well as business, we need a mind of steel. This has always been a part of SIJ Group's character, and I am honoured that the initiative to build a training ground and spread the mind of steel was taken on by the Municipality of Miklavž na Dravskem polju," added Katja Krumpak, SIJ Group’s Head of Corporate Communications.
Mayor Egon Repnik was also extremely enthusiastic about the new steel acquisition. He thanked all those who had contributed to the construction of the street workout park, adding: "We are a sporting municipality which boasts four sports parks. We invest a great deal in the development of sport, and we believe that we will continue to have reason to be proud of our athletes’ performances the biggest competitions. I also sincerely hope that the ambassador of the street workout park, Žiga Zagoranski, gets a chance to compete at the Olympic Games.” The mayor was also one of the first to try out their municipality's new acquisition.
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SIJ Group is the largest vertically integrated metallurgical group in Slovenia and a market leader in European and global niche steel markets. It is among the ten largest corporate groups, largest exporters and one of the most important employers in Slovenia
Additional information:
SIJ – Slovenska industrija jekla, d.d.
Katja Krumpak, Head of Corporate Communications
Corporate Communications
Telephone: +386 1 242 98 59
Mobile phone: +386 41 814 041
E-mail: katja.krumpak@sij.si
