Days of Remembrance

DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE
March 1999 - March 2002

THE SINECERELY PATRIOTISM OF OUR ATHLETES SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
78 unbelievable days from March 24, 1999 to June 3, 1999

After the first night of the terrible attack on Yugoslavia, early in the morning on March 24, 1999, under the rain of rockets, missiles and air crafts of NATO forces, our two representatives Mr. Igor Rasula swimmer and Mr. Sergio Filipovic coach, in spite of all troubles on their 1,100 km long way, arrived to the town of Trento, Italy via Novi Sad, Subotica, Budapest and Venezia to participate in the famous Pioneer's Swimming Event in Europe (Giovanile di Nuoto Trento 1999). Two and a half months of the serious practice prior to Trento Meet, all their zeal to swimming and sport in general in the last eight years helped them to forget the risk and to join all other European athletes in Trento. They have found really great men in Italy. And although our participants had the open invitation to stay there in the war period, Igor Rasula and Sergio Filipovic chose to turn back to Belgrade to help their families, their friends, their people in the worst situation. The patriotism of these two young men will be written with the golden letters, not only in our Club's chronology, but also in the YU sport history, forever... Their spectacular journey, the courage and sport hearts of these two guys, will never be forgotten.

Trento, Italy, March 25, 1999
At the central square of the old town of Trento, Igor Rasula and Sergio Filipovic prepared the the first transparent against the war and bombing in Kossovo and Serbia with a little help of the two kind women from the "House of the Piece", Trentino. That was the beginning of their saddest, unhappy and demoralized sports participation in the famous traditional European Swimming Meeting "Giovanile di Nuoto Trento 1999".

L' Adige Magazine, Trento, Italy, March 26, 1999
Fantastic welcome and hospitality, at the opening ceremony with frenetic ovations from the hundreds of Trento's public and other participants by the Madonna di Bianca Pool, Trento followed our representatives till the end of the Meeting. They have got the real understanding for our suffering in all their steps in Trento, also from almost all European swimmers and sportsmen. Special thanks and tribute to Mr. Walter Bolognani, ex-manager and President of Rari Nantes Trento SC. Also our respect to all Italian media who allowed us to present the struggle of our nation for piece and to bring out the real truth of the situation in our country in that moment.

Igor Rasula and Mr. Sergio Filipovic the only representatives from Yugoslavia engaged in the Euro meet present media a lot, with the only wish to inform all Italian people about the injustice to our nation and country and of course to ask them for help. Over ten interviews for the Italian press and electronic media were given (RAI-3, “La Repubblica”, “L’Adige”, “La Gazzeta dello Sport”, “Alto Adige”, etc.). The good will letter was prepared to all the participants of the European Swim Meet in Trento and then sent to the Organizing Committee and all journalists. It was pressed in Italian newspapers on March 27, 1999. Mr. Igor Rasula has got a gold medal as reward for his courage to come and to swim in spite of the tragedy in his country.
Since Igor had come back home to Belgrade, Yugoslav media gave him the highest publicity especially for the contribution in informing Italian and European public about the real truth of the situation in his country. Here is the pressed article from "Politika" the biggest Yugoslav daily magazine issued on April 07, 1999

KILLING THE MEDIA (Radio Television of Serbia, Belgrade)

The main entrance of the RTS Broadcasting Network (Radio Television of Serbia) was totally destroyed with the complete Eurovision communication center. Regrettably, 20 innocent technicians, journalists and assistants were killed. The first right hand window belonged to the main master Studio 1 for all international exchange links and programs, used by many abroad and domestic reporters and journalists for the news from and to Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

Director of the RTS international TV programs (the unknown name), 15 min after the missile ruined the House of Radio Television of Serbia. His right leg was unputated (CUT OFF) by the emergency in that moment. That was the only way for his life to be saved. Unfortunately, he didn't survive that. The man died two hours later on the surgery of the Belgrade's Clinic Center under the horrible agony.

DESTROYING OF THE FAMOUS "USCE" BUSINESS CENTER IN BELGRADE

Big business "Usce" center in New Belgrade, the building of 100 m high, in the night of the first attack on April 21, 1999

10 min after the first attack

On these upper flours were the residences of four big private broadcasting networks: "Pink" Television, "BK Television", "SOS Channel" and "Kosava" Television, two radio stations: "Kosava Radio" and "S Radio", also 20 trade companies.

April 23rd, 1999, 6 a.m. the morning after the first bombing, the top 10 flours were still in fire.

Two days later, this building was bombed again at the same communication equipment part earlier just ruined and studios at the top. Igor Rasula and his mother visited the ruins just the next morning after the second attack. It's about 250 m from their home in New Belgrade.

"COLLATERAL DAMAGE" ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY, BELGRADE

Chinese diplomats 10 min after the third horrible explosion. Three killed and more then 20 injured people were the victims of NATO's cluster bombs those sent to the building of the Embassy.

This Reuters's map shows that the place of Chinese Embassy is in exclusive resident and business area of New Belgrade, without any military's structure around.

Igor Rasula visited the Chinese Embassy after the night of bombing. It's just about 800 meters from his home in New Belgrade. The south-west side of the destroyed Chinese Embassy. We were asking ourselves in that moment who should be the next victims in Belgrade.

BELGRADE NIGHTS UNDER THE BOMBS AND MISSILES

Belgrade's sky almost every night in spring 1999

Block of flats No.63 in New Belgrade

Igor Rasula and Mr. Sergio Filipovic his trainer after their return back to Belgrade from the Swimming Meeting in Trento on April 2nd, 1999. From that moment Igor couldn't swim anymore. Their Club's pool and all others were locked. Air raids became more frequent, almost three times a day. Here, they are in front of their special night shelter. Igor Rasula and his mother as the unarmed defender of the famous Branko's bridge over the Sava river, between the New and Old part of Belgrade. That was their personal contribution to the protest against the demented aggression on Yugoslavia.

WE WERE ASKING THE WORLD TO STOP THE AGGRESSION...

The sign which were rounding the globe for almost three months

Arranged by Igor Rasula & his swim colleagues from "Swim Star 2000" SC
E-mail me: rasula@beotel.net
Some images are taken from Oaza Site in the period of our wide activities to inform the World (March-April 1999),
the most them are made by MGI Marketing Agency, Belgrade

	Trento, Italy, March 25, 1999 At the central square of the old town of Trento, Igor Rasula and Sergio Filipovic prepared the the first transparent against the war and bombing in Kossovo and Serbia with a little help of the two kind women from the "House of the Piece", Trentino. That was the beginning of their saddest, unhappy and demoralized sports participation in the famous traditional European Swimming Meeting "Giovanile di Nuoto Trento 1999".
	L' Adige Magazine, Trento, Italy, March 26, 1999 Fantastic welcome and hospitality, at the opening ceremony with frenetic ovations from the hundreds of Trento's public and other participants by the Madonna di Bianca Pool, Trento followed our representatives till the end of the Meeting. They have got the real understanding for our suffering in all their steps in Trento, also from almost all European swimmers and sportsmen. Special thanks and tribute to Mr. Walter Bolognani, ex-manager and President of Rari Nantes Trento SC. Also our respect to all Italian media who allowed us to present the struggle of our nation for piece and to bring out the real truth of the situation in our country in that moment.
	Igor Rasula and Mr. Sergio Filipovic the only representatives from Yugoslavia engaged in the Euro meet present media a lot, with the only wish to inform all Italian people about the injustice to our nation and country and of course to ask them for help. Over ten interviews for the Italian press and electronic media were given (RAI-3, “La Repubblica”, “L’Adige”, “La Gazzeta dello Sport”, “Alto Adige”, etc.). The good will letter was prepared to all the participants of the European Swim Meet in Trento and then sent to the Organizing Committee and all journalists. It was pressed in Italian newspapers on March 27, 1999. Mr. Igor Rasula has got a gold medal as reward for his courage to come and to swim in spite of the tragedy in his country. Since Igor had come back home to Belgrade, Yugoslav media gave him the highest publicity especially for the contribution in informing Italian and European public about the real truth of the situation in his country. Here is the pressed article from "Politika" the biggest Yugoslav daily magazine issued on April 07, 1999


The main entrance of the RTS Broadcasting Network (Radio Television of Serbia) was totally destroyed with the complete Eurovision communication center. Regrettably, 20 innocent technicians, journalists and assistants were killed.	The first right hand window belonged to the main master Studio 1 for all international exchange links and programs, used by many abroad and domestic reporters and journalists for the news from and to Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

	Chinese diplomats 10 min after the third horrible explosion. Three killed and more then 20 injured people were the victims of NATO's cluster bombs those sent to the building of the Embassy.
This Reuters's map shows that the place of Chinese Embassy is in exclusive resident and business area of New Belgrade, without any military's structure around.

Igor Rasula visited the Chinese Embassy after the night of bombing. It's just about 800 meters from his home in New Belgrade.	The south-west side of the destroyed Chinese Embassy. We were asking ourselves in that moment who should be the next victims in Belgrade.

Belgrade's sky almost every night in spring 1999
	Block of flats No.63 in New Belgrade

Igor Rasula and Mr. Sergio Filipovic his trainer after their return back to Belgrade from the Swimming Meeting in Trento on April 2nd, 1999. From that moment Igor couldn't swim anymore. Their Club's pool and all others were locked. Air raids became more frequent, almost three times a day. Here, they are in front of their special night shelter.	Igor Rasula and his mother as the unarmed defender of the famous Branko's bridge over the Sava river, between the New and Old part of Belgrade. That was their personal contribution to the protest against the demented aggression on Yugoslavia.