WEBVTT 00:00:08.200 --> 00:00:12.509 And Tina Maze, the best Slovenian skier of all time 00:00:12.798 --> 00:00:17.402 I'm Tina Maze and I invite you to explore my country with me. 00:00:22.153 --> 00:00:24.672 We are at the crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe, 00:00:24.793 --> 00:00:29.427 where you can enjoy the wine-growing regions and Prekmurje plains. 00:00:29.548 --> 00:00:31.913 In the morning, you can ski in the Julian Alps, 00:00:32.034 --> 00:00:36.709 and in the afternoon, you can jump into the Adriatic Sea. 00:00:37.101 --> 00:00:40.167 Slovenia is also a country of green forests, 00:00:40.288 --> 00:00:44.612 as much as 58% of our land is forest. 00:00:45.897 --> 00:00:50.420 Emerald rivers and lakes offer us the pleasure of sport activities, 00:00:50.541 --> 00:00:54.165 and the hills and plains the joy of cycling. 00:00:55.901 --> 00:01:01.484 Everything around us is green, and green is the Slovenian colour! 00:01:05.201 --> 00:01:08.677 Slovenia is home to more than 15,000 animal species, 00:01:08.798 --> 00:01:14.019 and 850 of those only exist here and nowhere else in the world. 00:01:15.899 --> 00:01:19.172 Slovenia has a rich karst world. The Postojna Cave 00:01:19.293 --> 00:01:23.799 is home to the human fish, a rare species in the world. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:32.600 People have lived in the Ljubljana Marshes since prehistoric times. 00:01:33.804 --> 00:01:36.044 This used to be a large lake, 00:01:36.165 --> 00:01:41.520 so people lived in houses on stilts and used the two-wheel cart. 00:01:44.297 --> 00:01:47.224 The oldest example of a wooden wheel with an axle 00:01:47.345 --> 00:01:50.095 was found right here. Isn't that great? 00:01:59.137 --> 00:02:03.472 The influences of Roman, Slavic, Hungarian and Germanic cultures 00:02:03.593 --> 00:02:05.193 can be felt here. 00:02:05.314 --> 00:02:10.803 Ptuj, the oldest Slovenian town, flourished during the Roman Empire. 00:02:13.904 --> 00:02:17.367 After the Turkish invasions, towns began to develop, 00:02:17.488 --> 00:02:20.307 the peasant population gained in strength, 00:02:20.428 --> 00:02:24.604 our land was also marked by Renaissance and Humanism. 00:02:24.725 --> 00:02:27.391 We're proud to say that during Protestantism 00:02:27.512 --> 00:02:29.253 the first Slovenian books, 00:02:29.374 --> 00:02:33.004 Abecedarium and Catechismus, were published. 00:02:34.334 --> 00:02:36.383 Our land was ruled by the Austrian court, 00:02:36.504 --> 00:02:39.896 and with it education in our language began to develop. 00:02:42.508 --> 00:02:46.402 In the 20th century, our territory has seen five different countries, 00:02:46.523 --> 00:02:50.091 including SFR Yugoslavia, in which I was born. 00:02:51.670 --> 00:02:53.998 In 1991, 00:02:54.119 --> 00:02:59.110 Slovenia became an independent parliamentary republic. 00:03:01.105 --> 00:03:06.003 We're a member of the UN, EU, NATO, and OECD. 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:11.903 Now, Slovenia isn't only a beautiful country with a rich history, 00:03:12.024 --> 00:03:16.415 but also a modern country with many innovation companies, 00:03:16.536 --> 00:03:20.093 green solutions, and an eye on the future. 00:03:22.696 --> 00:03:26.793 Slovenian athletes are the best ambassadors of our country abroad. 00:03:26.914 --> 00:03:32.527 Tears, happiness and pride overwhelm us when our flag flies in victory, 00:03:32.648 --> 00:03:34.997 and for me these are unforgettable moments. 00:03:39.296 --> 00:03:42.055 But it's not only Slovenia's sporting successes 00:03:42.176 --> 00:03:44.357 that put our country on the world map. 00:03:44.478 --> 00:03:47.111 Slovenia is at the heart of European connectivity. 00:03:47.232 --> 00:03:52.437 Some international trade routes converge at the Port of Koper. 00:03:55.796 --> 00:03:58.694 Here you can experience the past in all its originality 00:03:58.815 --> 00:04:01.482 and the future in all its vision. 00:04:01.603 --> 00:04:04.869 A vision that I also had when I was still competing 00:04:04.990 --> 00:04:09.004 and with this fire and perseverance also winning.