[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 106 (Thursday, September 9, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1570]]
ON THE JULY 29, 2004, OPENING CEREMONY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S 
GAMES AT THE SLOVENIAN CULTURAL GARDEN AND HONORING SLOVENIAN PROFESSOR 
                             METOD KLEMENC

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 9, 2004

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in commemoration of the 
International Children's Games being held in Cleveland this year. I 
also recognize the Games' founder, Professor Metod Klemenc of Celje 
Slovenia, who will be honored at the Slovenian Cultural Gardens in a 
ceremony to open up this year's Games.
  I cannot think of a more appropriate person to honor in conjunction 
with the Games than Professor Klemenc, nor a better place to recognize 
the International Children's Games and Professor Klemenc than at the 
Slovenian Cultural Garden in Cleveland.
  Metod Klemenc organized the first International Children's Games on 
June 5, 1968, in Celje. Born in Ljubljana, Slovakia, 70 years ago, 
Professor Klemenc is the spiritual father of these Games whose simple 
goal was bringing school age children from different nations to better 
understand one another. A Slovenian sports instructor, Professor 
Klemenc explained: ``My childhood suffered from the 2nd World War. It 
destroyed my family. Since I--within my possibilities--wanted to create 
a better world based on friendship, sports seemed to be one of the best 
means to bring together young people from different countries. 
Therefore you need willpower and friends who are enthusiastic about 
sports, and who are willing to give up their spare time.''
  The Cleveland Cultural Gardens consist of 23 individual gardens, 
including the Slovenian Garden. The Gardens are an important part of 
the Cleveland's history, reflecting the ethnicities and cultures that 
were instrumental in the city's development. The symbolic meaning of 
the gardens is that people of diverse backgrounds, lifestyles, 
traditions, and religions can exist side by side in peace and harmony 
with the freedom to exercise their beliefs and cultures. Built in the 
1920s and 1930s, these gardens stood for the unity among all people of 
all nations, and to this day remain a unique embodiment of that 
purpose.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, it is appropriate to open up the 
International Children's Games in Cleveland at a place in Cleveland 
that stands for international brotherhood and peace. And among these 
gardens, it is my pleasure to recognize the role Slovenians have played 
in building Cleveland, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, and the 
International Children's Games. I ask you to join me in honoring 
Professor Klemenc, the founder of the International Children's Games.

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