port presented one of the earliest and most vivid forms of cross-border cooperation between Italy and Yugoslavia after the border demarcation in 1947. The first sports meetings, facilitated by the Udine Agreement (1955), occurred between teams from Slovenia and of the Slovenian minority in Italy. Cross-border sport-related activities evolved along the entire border, while here the case of Gorizia and Nova Gorica is presented.
From the mid-1950s onwards, local football matches and speed car races were held in Nova Gorica. In the following decade, cross-border sports activities intensified, and athletic competitions were also held. Cross-border cooperation involving Italian sports enthusiasts flourished in the 1970s. Among these, it is worth mentioning extremely popular events such as the Friendship March (1976-1992) and the Friendship Cycling (1978-1994). When crossing the border, a passport or laissez passer were not required, as proof of participation in the event was sufficient. During such international sporting events in the Cold War era, Gorizia and Nova Gorica became city with two names.
Participants before the start of the 1986 bike race. The organisers allowed cyclists to cross the border freely at the border crossings at Rožna Dolina, Solkan, Šempeter pri Gorici, and Miren. At Erjavčeva / Via S. Gabriele, the border fence was removed for this purpose.
In 1965, a competition between three Slovenian athletics clubs was held in Nova Gorica: AC Gorica, AC Torriana (Gradisca d'Isonzo) and AC Bor (Trieste). This type of event went beyond the format of a normal sporting competition due to the possibility of cross-border socialising.
A bilingual flyer for the Walk of Friendship in cooperation with the Italian Youth Social Tourism and Slovenian Sports Association Nova Gorica. The march attracted more than 55,000 participants over the years, with the highest number in 1985, when 5,500 marchers took part.
