The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor — at the time just days away from the end of his term — received Ema Kozin’s boxing gloves on 13 December 2022 at the traditional end of year reception for the best Slovenian professional athletes, held each December at the Presidential Palace.
Ema Kozin, once the youngest world boxing champion, was among the nominees for Slovenian Sportswoman of the Year that same year. She began her professional boxing career in 2016 and has since claimed several internationally significant titles. Her boxing gloves entered the collection of the National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia as part of the protocol gifts presented to Slovenian presidents. This collection includes not only gifts from high-ranking state representatives but also presents from a wide range of organisations and individuals — from municipalities to fire brigades, and from kindergarten children to presidents, queens, and of course top-level athletes. Their diversity reflects the multifaceted nature of the presidential office.
Starting from June next year, when Slovenia will mark the 35th anniversary of the declaration of independence and sovereignty, the National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia will exhibit a part of the extensive collection of protocol gifts belonging to all four former Presidents of the Republic of Slovenia — Milan Kučan, Dr. Janez Drnovšek, Dr. Danilo Türk, and Borut Pahor — which is held in the museum’s repository.
