ZAŠKO will unite Slovenian cross-border sports organisations in Austria, Italy, Croatia and Hungary: "Cross-border organisations play a crucial role in preserving the Slovenian language, culture and national identity. However, their existence should not be taken for granted" Minister Han emphasised. The newly established coordinating body will facilitate networking and promote cooperation between these organisations and Slovenian sports institutions. "Today's signing is a joint commitment to work for the common good of sport and our citizens, especially those living beyond our national borders," Minister Han added.

Sport is not only good for the body, but it also nurtures the Slovenian spirit, especially in the neighbouring countries. "For children and young people, training in Slovenian clubs provides an invaluable opportunity to speak the Slovenian language, while for adults, recreational activities provide an equally important space to maintain communication in Slovenian," said Matej Arčon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Slovenians Abroad.

"The signing of this document, which lays the foundations for the coordination of sports federations in neighbouring countries, marks a significant milestone in the history of Slovenian sport. Sport unites us all and plays a vital role in strengthening national awareness, the Slovenian language, culture and traditions. It inspires young people by speaking a language they understand best. When we talk about the values of Olympism – friendship, respect, cooperation – the importance of this coordination we are formalising today becomes even clearer. Sport appeals to young and old, it brings us together. It is a powerful ambassador for a healthy lifestyle and for the image of our country. We Slovenians have sport in our blood and through sport we can come together in a spirit of unity. For Slovenians living abroad and in neighbouring countries, a connection with their homeland is very important, and sport is a way to foster this bond," added Franjo Bobinac, President of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia - Association of Sports Federations (OCS-ASF).

In addition to the two ministers and the President of the OCS-ASF, the charter was signed by Marijan Velik, President of the Slovenian Sports Association in Austria; Barbara Antolić Vupora, President of the Union of Slovenian Associations in Croatia; Ivan Peterlin, President of the Union of Slovenian Sports Clubs in Italy; and Andreja Kovacz, President of the Union of Slovenians in Hungary.

The establishment and operation of ZAŠKO aims to strengthen mutual links, foster networking, promote cooperation, and facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge, and best practices in sports cooperation. ZAŠKO will promote mutual sports cooperation in areas such as organisation, human resources and content between Slovenian organisations in all four neighbouring countries.

In doing so, it will work closely with relevant sports institutions in Slovenia, engage with wider European networks, and remain open to cooperation with other sports bodies in the region.

The organisations in the border region are of great importance for Slovenia, as the cross-border community areas represent a larger Slovenian national space. In addition to language, culture and economy, the development of sport is also crucial for the preservation and growth of the Slovenian national community. These cross-border communities therefore have great potential to act as promoters of inter-state cooperation and as drivers of regional development in the border area, with sports programmes based on language and national identity education.

The ZAŠKO Coordination Committee will be established to improve the coordination of sports activities between foreign and domestic counterparts. The committee will be composed of one member from each country representing the Slovenian sports organisation abroad and their respective deputies. It will be chaired by a representative of the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport. A representative of the Office for Slovenians Abroad and a representative of the OCS-ASF will also participate in the committee. The Coordination Committee is expected to meet at least three times a year.