Marián Berger

In the first place, I dismissed the idea of being the Slovakian representative of EDF Group to carry the Olympic torch in Great Britain - I was about to do the usual thing of closing the window and deleting the e-mail.

But I was quite surprised because I paused and asked myself: And why not?

Just because I need 2 crutches to walk? Because I cannot run? Because I cannot cycle, play football, ice-hockey or volleyball?

My physician, neurologist or endocrinologist say to me that because of my Adrenomyeloneuropathy and Addison's disease - you should not work!, you are 90% physically handicapped, to work could make your condition worse... but I do work- and I don't think it is because of the charity of my superiors, if I thought this was the reason I would stop by my own choice.

And so in this moment questions emerged:

Would it be a problem that I would only walk? With my two crutches? Hobbling - but smiling?

Actually, I go for a one-kilometre walk during my lunch break every day no matter whether it is raining or snowing.

I do cycling on a stationary bike, I do exercises in series in a gym, I am on a special diet which translated from German means "air and water".

Obviously doing this would give me some worries.

But with faith in God and the values of Pierre de Coubertin inside ask me I say:

"And why not?