The decision to award the State Award for Sport of Bosnia and Herzegovina was made by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, upon the proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH. Previously, the Award Commission, after considering all submitted proposals and in accordance with the criteria set by the Public Call, proposed Lejla Njemčević as the most outstanding candidate.
Along with the recognition, she was also awarded a monetary prize of 10,000 BAM.
As a competitor in mountain biking, in the cross-country marathon discipline, Njemčević has achieved exceptional results that have positioned her at the very top of world cycling. Particularly notable is her placement at the top of the UCI world ranking list in this discipline, making her the first athlete from Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach the pinnacle of the world cycling rankings.
"Lejla Njemčević's results have multiple significance, including strengthening the international visibility of Bosnia and Herzegovina in sports. Her successes confirm that athletes from our country can achieve top results even in extremely demanding individual disciplines," said Minister Bošnjak.
"The awarding of the State Award for Sport of Bosnia and Herzegovina represents an exceptional honor and great recognition for years of work, effort, and sacrifice. It is particularly meaningful to me that results achieved on the international stage are recognized at the institutional level in my homeland. This award is not only a confirmation of past successes but also a strong motivation to continue working and achieving even better results in the future. I believe that our athletes have the potential to be among the best in the world, and this kind of support gives an extra boost to all of us," stated Lejla Njemčević.
With this recognition, Lejla Njemčević's role as one of the most significant ambassadors of Bosnian-Herzegovinian sports on the international stage has been further confirmed.