Businessman Ion Tiriac said on Saturday, on the occasion of the inauguration of the 'Nadia Comaneci' gymnastics hall in Otopeni, that through this sports facility, Romanians pay tribute to the former great gymnast who became the 'queen of the world' when she won the first 10 at the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976.

'What are we doing here today? We, Romanians, pay tribute because 50 years ago, a girl who was not yet 15 years old, in less than a minute, after thousands and thousands of hours of hard work, became the queen of the world. After which she was considered the perfect gymnast, the perfect woman. This gift that the girl from Onesti gave us is a gift that no one can take away from us. She is the first to get this 10. She got six more such 10s, but to be the first you stay the first for a lifetime. We, Romanians, considered that after 50 years we owe her something. Nadia, the gift you gave us is incomparable,' said the former tennis player.



'Tomorrow morning, we will have 300 children in this hall. At the next selection, when Nadia has the time and pleasure to make a selection, we can certainly receive another 300. We cannot win the World Championship with Hagi's academy alone. We need 100 or 1000 schools like this, but maybe someone will take an example. I need 600 children a week here and 15 coaches. And for 600 children, I don't need Belu or Bela Karoly, but teachers who know how to work with children,' Tiriac added.

OTOPENI - INAUGURARE - SALA GIMNASTICA

The ''Nadia Comaneci'' Hall in Otopeni, built by the Ion Tiriac Foundation, was inaugurated on Saturday, exactly 50 years after the golden moment of Romanian gymnastics, July 18, 1976, when Nadia Comaneci won the first 10 in Olympic history.

Numerous Olympic champions, great athletes and politicians attended the inaugural event.AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Adrian Tone; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)

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