Year 2010

12. February 2010 - 28. February 2010

Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA, source: Government Communication Office

Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA, source: Government Communication Office

Slovenia gets three Olympic medals in Vancouver

At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Slovenia gets three medals. Alpine skier Tina Maze wins two silver medals (in Super-G and giant slalom), and cross-country skier Petra Majdič wins bronze in the women's sprint.

20. March 2010

Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA, source: Government Communication Office

An international conference on the future of the Western Balkan

An international conference, entitled 'Together for the European Union: the Contribution of the Western Balkans to European Future' takes place at Brdo pri Kranju.

06. June 2010

Slovenians Back Border Deal with Croatia

At the referendum the border Arbitration agreement between Slovenia and Croatia, the Slovenian voters back the border deal with Croatia.

11. June 2010 - 11. July 2010

Slovenia qualifies for the 2010 FIFA World cup

Slovenian national football team qualifies for the 2010 FIFA World cup in South Africa and gains four notches on the rankings of the International Football federation (FIFA) to 15th, an all-time high.

21. July 2010

Slovenia becomes a member of the OECD

Slovenia becomes the 32nd member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

16. November 2010

Photo: BIO, source: Government Communication Office

Pipistrel - the most innovative company in the EU

The world’s leading motor glider aircraft designer and producer Pipistrel d.o.o. Ajdovščina, based in Slovenia, is selected as the winner of the prestigious European Business Award selection in the category UKTI Award for Innovation, thus becoming the most innovative company in the European Union.

Overview of the year

Slovenia and Croatia co-hosted an international conference on the future of the Western Balkans in Brdo pri Kranju in March. The event was marked by a warmer period in Slovenian-Croatian relationship after many years of misunderstandings, disputes and occasional conflicts between the two countries because of the unresolved issue of maritime border, certain sections of land border and Slovenia’s access to international waters.
Slovenian voters approved the arbitration agreement between the two countries in a referendum held in the beginning of June.

Slovenia became the 32nd member of the OECD at the end of July. Slovenia elected a black mayor for the first time at the local elections in the autumn, namely Peter Bossman in Piran.

The country experienced the worst floods in history in which 24,640 people from different rescue services assisted more than 1,500 people who were in danger.

In the cultural field, the world premiere of a show by a famous Slovenian director Tomaž Pandur, Symphony of Sorrowful Songs staged by the National Opera in Berlin caught the attention of German and European audience.
In business, a manufacturer of ultra light planes Pipistrel from Ajdovščina received an award for the most innovative company in Europe in Paris after previously receiving two NASA awards for the best light passenger plane.
Slovenian skier Tina Maze won silver medals in slalom and giant slalom and cross-country skier Petra Majdič won bronze in sprint at the Vancouver Olympics. An important sporting achievement was the national football team qualifying for the world football championship in South Africa after which FIFA placed the team in 15th place in its rank which has been the highest so far.

Elan developed a completely new concept of skis for competitive backcountry skiing and offered the lightest ski in this dimension in the world, weighing a min. of 700 g.

Slovenia began to celebrate its 20th birthday.

Text: Government Communication Office