World Boccia is very sorry to share the sad news that Jakob Škantelj from Slovenia has recently died.
Jakob was influential in Parasport in Slovenia. He began playing chess, then powerchair hockey and finally boccia. He became an important member of the National Team. Last year Jakob became the National BC3 Champion and was also the League Champion.
Jakob also played an important role in sports administration in Slovenia. He was Vice-President of the Association for Sport for the Disabled of Slovenia – Slovenian Paralympic Committee from 2017 to 2021. In this role he was a proactive member of number of committees. Jakob was also previously the President of the Association of Students with Disabilities of Slovenia. In addition to these roles, he was a successful journalist with a focus on sport.
The Sports Association of the Slovenian Paralympic Committee are naturally very saddened by the news. They are grateful for all Jakob has done for Parasport and feel these words which he said in an interview really sum up his attitude to life and work: “I have great enthusiasm for all the things I do, and I hope I do them as successfully as possible. Disability should never be an obstacle anyway, but an opportunity”.
World Boccia’s thoughts are with Jakob’s family, friends and the Sports Association of the Slovenian Paralympic Committee at this difficult time.
