Miroslav Cerar received a special award for Strengthening Bilateral Relations
On 17 June 2025, the Ambassador of Japan to Slovenia, H.E. Ms. Akiko Yoshida, presented a special award to renowned Slovenian Olympian Miroslav Cerar in recognition of his lifelong contribution to promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Slovenia.

Mr. Cerar earned international acclaim at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, where he won a gold medal in pommel horse and a bronze in horizontal bar—Slovenia’s first Olympic medals since World War II. His achievements not only marked a historic moment in Slovenian sports but also helped lay the foundations for closer ties between the two nations.
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Beyond his athletic legacy, Mr. Cerar has played a key role in fostering bilateral cooperation. As a co-founder of the Slovenian Olympic Committee, a national ambassador for sport, tolerance, and fair play, and a member of the Slovenian-Japanese Business Council, he has championed people-to-people diplomacy and supported deeper economic and cultural exchange.
He has visited Japan on numerous occasions, most recently leading the Slovenian delegation to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“Mr. Cerar has always embodied the spirit of mutual respect and friendship that lies at the heart of the Olympic movement,” said Ambassador Yoshida at the award ceremony. “His life and work continue to inspire us all.”
Mr. Cerar remains a respected figure in both Slovenia and Japan, symbolising the enduring power of sports and diplomacy to bring nations closer together.

Source: press release, Embassy of Japan in Ljubljana