Over 30 high schools and universities from around Serbia participated in a contest to select the mascot of the European Athletics Indoor Championship, which will be held from 3-5 March 2017 in the Kombank Arena in Belgrade.
The contest lasted a month, and the winning entry is a white lioness to be called 'BELA', which was drawn by Sladjana Ljubic from Central Art School in Kraljevo.
Belgrade Zoo is known as one of the best in Europe and in 2005 the famous white lions were brought in to the zoo for visitors to witness. Lions also are synonymous with speed and power which are necessary to all elite athletes.
We expect Bela to help create an extraordinary atmosphere in the Kombank arena and bring fans to their feet.
Bela was presented during a promotional event for the European Athletics Indoor Championships held in the centre of Belgrade, with hundreds of school children present.
Several athletics related activities were organised for the children who were introduced to running, high jump, shot put and hurdles events.