DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS
IN THE FIELD OF CULTURE AND SPORTS

The strong sides of the Euroregion in the fields of co-operation in culture and sports have roots in the historic past. The historical Novohrad lies in the south of the Banská Bystrica county, that is, Middle-Slovakia. It lies on the Krupina plane and on the Slovak Ore-Mountains. From the south it is moulded and at the same time connected by the state border with the Hungarian part of the historic Novohrad, the Nógrád (Novohrad) county. A proof of the cultural-historical links between these areas is that the centre of the historical county was at first the castle of Novohrad (10th - 11th century) and than from the 16th century it was alternately Lučenec and Balassagyarmat. That is why the cultural and also economic co-operation of the inhabitants living in Novohrad have deep roots. Innumerable quantity of historical monuments and localities of regional, European and of world significance, cultural traditions and centuries-old folk crafts and architecture increase the value of the commonly created Neogradiensis Euroregion. In the modern history of Slovakia and Hungary the co-operation in the fields of culture and sports in the last few decades is the sector of cross-border co-operation with the deepest traditions. On the common area there are association and organisation for the preservation of the Slovak culture (on the Hungarian side of the Euroregion) and of the Hungarian culture (on the Slovak side of the Euroregion).

Most of the cultural institutions (both Slovak and Hungarian) operating in the Euroregion have relations with partner organisations on the other side of the border. In this area, the culture centres, libraries and museums, but also the education institutions play an important role which can be very significant during further development of co-operation. Informal relations in the area of cultural and sports development always brought positive changes into the general quality of mutual contacts. They create a base for the improvement of relations between Slovaks and Hungarians and between nationalities, thus increasing the quality of life of the inhabitants of the Euroregion. The negative social-economic situation of the region and its inhabitants left its marks also in this area. Lack of sources in the municipalities and institutions, poor economic situation and unemployment hinder the development of activities in the field of culture and sports, and what is worse, in some cases they caused a regression. The situation is worsened by the disinterest of the young generation for maintaining and developing the above mentioned values. The cross-border co-operation looses its meaning without the awakening of cultural relations and activities, the protection of historical values and cultural heritage, especially in the world of globalisation. That is why it is important to preserve the Slovak and Hungarian identity through the common development of the Slovak-Hungarian culture and the preservation of the cultural heritage of our ancestors for the new generation on the area of the Neogradiensis Euroregion. The richness of Slovak and Hungarian tradition, social synergy of the individual communities, localities and microregion create a unique base not only for the residents, but also for the visitors in the region. Therefore we see a possibility in the revival of those kinds of co-operation in the Euroregion, which were alive a few years before. In parallel with this it is important to raise the interest of the inhabitants in the systematic managing activity and modern approach oriented on different target groups and areas (culture, education, sports, etc.). The significance of the development of relations in the field of culture and sports lies in the fact, that the social capital of the Neogradiensis Euroregion can be converged with relatively small investments thus creating relations for partnership building and co-operation also in economic areas. This kind of co-operation represents an integrating force of the inhabitants, creates the atmosphere of trust, provides a possibility for getting to know each other in our regions, that is, in our common Neogradiensis Euroregion. That means that the preservation of identity and integrity of the inhabitants with common cultural-historical values creates old-new values of European character.