Former great gymnast Nadia Comaneci said on Friday, before the gala at the Palace of Parliament, organized on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of obtaining the first 10 in history at the Montreal Olympic Games, that her roots are in Romania and that there is no more appropriate place to celebrate.

'I am very excited to see almost my entire life in images and to enter this majestic hall where all my colleagues and all the generations after me are, and the little girls who will surely perform tonight. I am happy that gymnastics still has a wave of desire to do something amazing. The Palace of the Parliament is a location of Romania and to have this gala here tonight is an honor for me too, and I am happy that I am sitting very close and that I see this house of the people every time. I thank the Romanians from the bottom of my heart. I cannot believe that this 50th anniversary celebration is taking place here in Romania. I am extremely happy, because my roots are here and I cannot imagine a more beautiful place where I can celebrate this anniversary,' Comaneci declared.

'I don't think there has ever been and I don't know if there will ever be again, there has never been so much glory of gymnastics, and not only of gymnastics. Because personalities from other sports will also come. It is a celebration that of course honors 50 years of performance and excellence, but at the same time it is a motivation for a young generation and a celebration for us. Because the generation was built with a team, nothing happened overnight. We have always tried to go before we discovered our limit, and now we are here to celebrate', added the former great gymnast.

She specified that it is an honor to receive the National Order 'Star of Romania' in the degree of Grand Cross, the decree having already been signed by President Nicusor Dan.

'I knew it would be a tour de force in Romania, I try to cope with each person. People came from many countries and it is an extraordinary gesture. I will do my best to thank everyone. I respect very much that I will be decorated, I understand that it is the greatest honor of our country and I am glad that my husband can be present at this gala and tomorrow at the president's, because I want him to see the warmth with which Romania and the Romanians have seen me every time. And I hope that he will also be left with memories as beautiful as I will have', said Nadia Comaneci.

The meeting with her former coach Marta Karolyi, present at the gala at the Palace of Parliament, was emotional for all the generations that worked with her.

'Meeting Marta was fabulous. I saw Marta a few years ago with the other colleagues, but we have never seen each other on this team before. And I am glad that she is here, because she is also of a respectable age and I am glad that she can see how many gymnasts have passed through her hands and celebrate this moment. I am happy for her and for all the gymnasts who are here', said Nadia Comaneci.

Nadia Comaneci is celebrated, on Friday evening, during a special gala organized at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest on the 50th anniversary of the first 10 in the history of world gymnastics, obtained at the Montreal Olympic Games.

A series of great personalities of Romanian and world sports are participating in the event, such as Gheorghe Hagi, Ilie Nastase and Simona Halep.AGERPRES(RO - writing by: Adrian Tone; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)