April 30, 2023 - Feliks Lukas, the sports manager and leader of the WTA tournament in Makarska has received a prestigious personal award, reports Dalmatinski Portal.
Feliks Lukas, known to the public as a successful sports manager and director of the WTA tournament in Makarska, is a new knight of the Order of St. George. This order was founded in the 14th century by the Austrian Habsburg dynasty and Pope Paul II, with the aim of preserving the traditions of the countries of Central Europe, most of which were part of the Habsburg Monarchy. At the head of the Order of St. George, which is based on the idea of Central Europe as a Christian, cultural, intellectual and ethical center, is still today the direct heir of that line of Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen.
The solemn ceremony of announcing the new knights of the Order of St. George was held on April 22nd in Vienna, and after swearing to act in accordance with the principles, values and goals of the Order, Feliks Lukas was personally knighted by Archduke Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen himself. Particularly attractive was the parade of knights through the streets of Vienna to the most beautiful baroque cathedral Karlskirche, where the ceremony took place.
"In Croatia, there are about twenty members of the Order of St. George, while there are only about 700 of them in the world. Being a part of this order that works humanitarian and supports a number of activities in the field of economy and culture is a matter of prestige. Not everyone can approach him, but the future knight must be proposed by one of the respected members,' says Lukas, and he was recommended by two well-known noble families, Count Markus Paar from Austria and Count Mario Festetics de Tolna originally from Hungary. After the initiation process and the final decision to enter their Order, the knight title was officially confirmed at a solemn ceremony.
By the way, Lukas, in addition to successfully leading the WTA tennis tournament for years, which was moved from Bol to Makarska last year, is also highly respected outside sports circles. So recently, as the only sports manager from Europe, he participated in the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington with US President Biden.
Appointment as a knight of the Order of St. George is another valuable personal recognition for him on the eve of the WTA spectacle, which will be held in Makarska from June 5 to 11 and will gather around forty of the best female tennis players from Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovakia, Montenegro, Italy, China, Luxembourg, and Serbia, Slovenia, and Croatia.
You can learn more about this year's Makarska Open WTA tennis tournament on the tournament website.
