This year, for the first time, we stood at the start of the Od Tatier k Dunaju relay race as the Transport Professionals team, primarily under the banner of SAOVD. Covering more than 345 kilometres in 31 hours, from Demänovská Valley to Bratislava, we did not run as colleagues from a single organisation, but as a team of people connected by a shared professional focus — the development of public transport within public and state administration.
Our team brought together 11 representatives from various institutions: the Košice Self-Governing Region, IDS Východ, Bratislava Integrated Transport, the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, the City of Košice and the Košice Municipal Police. Although in our professional lives we work in different institutions, we are all united by the effort to improve conditions for passengers and contribute to the development of modern, accessible and sustainable transport.
This relay race is exceptional not only because of the sporting achievement, but also because of its team spirit. Each section of the route tests the physical and mental strength of individuals, but success depends above all on cooperation and mutual support. These are precisely the same values that are essential in our everyday work.
We believe that finding common solutions for public transport does not happen only at meeting tables. It is equally important to build personal relationships, mutual understanding and informal connections, which later support professional communication and help address demanding challenges. Joint sports activities are one way to connect experts from different organisations, bring people together around shared goals and create partnerships based on trust and respect.
We are pleased to have represented the community of people dedicated to public transport and mobility in Slovakia. We would like to thank Košice Región Turizmus for their support in arranging transfers and logistics, as well as all members of the Transport Professionals team for their determination, energy and excellent atmosphere throughout the entire event. We look forward to many more kilometres together, whether on the running course or through cooperation on projects that move transport in Slovakia forward.
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