Croatian
Olympic Family
Croatian
Olympic Family
Croatian Olympic Committee
› 1991 - 2011 ‹
Publisher
Croatian Olympic Committee
Trg Krešimira Ćosića 11
10000 Zagreb
Croatia
www.hoo.hr
On behalf of the Publisher
Josip Čop
Prepress
M 14 d.o.o.
Preradovićeva 23
10000 Zagreb
Authors
Radica Jurkin Lugović
Ante Drpić
Reviewer
Jura Ozmec
Copy Editor
Marijana Mikašinović Jambrović
Translator
Gordana Šeler
Design
Marin Stojić
Photos
Croatian Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
FAH (Hina)
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from
the National and University Library in Zagreb under
795876
ISBN 978-953-96571-7-6
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Forewords
Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee............................12
Antun Vrdoljak, Member of the International Olympic Committee................................14
Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees...................................16
Zlatko Mateša, President of the Croatian Olympic Committee.......................................18
Josip Čop, Secretary General of the Croatian Olympic Committee................................. 20
From Legends to Paris Idea..........................50
Croatian Vision and Foundation of the
Croatian Olympic Committee.......................54
Olympic Idea and Franjo Bučar.............................................................................................. 56
Croatian Sport and Democratic Changes..................................................................... 61
Foundation of the Croatian Olympic Committee.......................................................63
First Officials of the Croatian Olympic Committee...................................................70
Croatian Olympic Committee in Olympiads
From Barcelona to Atlanta................................................................................................. 72
From Atlanta to Sydney.......................................................................................................94
From Sydney to Athens.....................................................................................................120
From Athens to Beijing......................................................................................................150
From Beijing to... London..................................................................................................178
They Are Still with Us................................211
COC and IOC Awards and Recognitions.......223
Awards for Most Successful
Individuals and Teams ..............................229
Croatian Medallists since 1900..................235
Jacques Rogge
President of the International Olympic Committee
12
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
I
am very pleased to write a message for the monograph published by the Croatian Olympic Committee.
This publication recounts the history of the Olympic and sports movement in Croatia since the NOC’s creation
on 10 September 1991. It also tells us about the great moments of the nation’s athletes, as well as the increasingly
important role of the NOC.
We all know the sporting tradition and goodwill in Croatia. Over the last 20 years, we have witnessed the strengthening
of the national sports movement. In five editions of the Summer Games and six Winter Games, Croatian athletes have
won 27 Olympic medals. They have also shone on the continental and regional sporting stages, while inspiring their
young compatriots to strive for excellence through sport practised with friendship and respect.
Today, the Croatian Olympic Committee has become an efficient and reliable partner, not just for the International
Olympic Committee, but also for the European Olympic Committees and for the whole Olympic family.
I would like to thank the NOC team and its President, Zlatko Mateša, for such a commitment. Let me also pay tribute
to my colleague, Antun Vrdoljak, who has contributed in a major way to the promotion of Olympism in his country and
within the IOC.
As illustrated by this monograph, the Croatian Olympic Committee has achieved a great deal in its short history. I expect
this to continue for many years to come, especially as we look forward next year to the Olympic Games in London and
the Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck. All the best to you all!
I wish the Croatian Olympic Committee a very happy 20th birthday!
13
Antun Vrdoljak
Member of the International Olympic Committee
14
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
In the cathedral, when nights are leaden,
Visiting the Governor’s grave comes a woman
With a whole nation’s heavy cross anew,
And the statue speaks to her: Mother, audiant reges:
Regnum regno non praescribit leges,
And as long as there is heart, there will be Croatia too!”
Antun Gustav Matoš:
By the Holy King
I
OC President Juan Antonio Samaranch arrived in Split to
see the last two days of competition at the 1990 European
Athletics Championships. He was clearly delighted at the
success of the Championships. Actually, he was sincerely
surprised, as the Championships had been cancelled only 82 days
before the Opening Ceremony. I remember that he sent Artur
Takač to see President Tuđman and myself with the message:
“... if the Championships really get cancelled, Croatia will never
ever...” etc. etc. And there was even no Croatia yet, the somber
time of Vukovar, Škabrnja, Ćelije, that truck in Erdut... was yet
to come.
We almost never separated in those two days while he was
in Split. He was a complete stranger to me and immensely
interesting. He spoke little, he never said anything trivial. He
mostly asked questions, but discretely. He followed my answers
with very little reaction.
In the airport VIP lounge before his departure, he whispered to
me that he wanted to say good-bye to everybody there and that
only I was to go to the plane with him. It was very unpleasant
for everybody who came to see him off, but I was convinced that
I had to humour him: he was my guest! He also asked that we
walk. Halfway across the apron, he stopped:
“Why do you think I asked you to walk to the plane with me?”
“I suppose because conversations cannot be eavesdropped on the
apron.”
This was the first time I saw him laugh:
“So you have learned.”
This was followed by a question, which I had not expected:
“When are you going to apply for Croatia’s membership in the
International Olympic Committee?”
For two days, I had been thinking about how to lead him on
to talk about something like this, but silent people do not give
much opportunity to curious ones.
“Mr. President, Croats have tried to found their National
Olympic Committee twice. The first time it was at the
beginning of the 20th century, but the Hungarians didn’t
allow us to participate under the Croatian flag. When the
Austro-Hungarian Empire fell apart in 1918, Franjo Bučar, an
enthusiast, founded the Croatian Olympic Committee again,
but the Serbs simply moved it to Belgrade and changed the word
‘Croatian’ to ‘Yugoslav’. We shall wait for your message.” I said.
But the message was not arriving.
introduction of Hungarian as an official language in Croatia,
exclaimed in the “joint” Croatian-Hungarian Parliament (in
Buda – now part of Budapest - in 1790): “Regnum regno non
praescribit leges”, which meant: “A kingdom does not prescribe
laws to another kingdom”. But that honourable governor,
warrior, fighter for the unification of Croatia with Dalmatia
did not want to believe that once you gave up your country and
shared freedom and independence with others, all your rights
were gone with the wind.
We had to let our dream of a national Olympic committee go
with the wind twice, but a completely different Croatia rose on
10 September 1991, mostly on the shoulders of young people. The
images are unforgettable: from those from frontlines, or those of
Stojko Vranković’s and Dražen Petrović’s hunger strike in front
of the UN Headquarters to the oath to homeland that the first
sports military company took.
At the end of 1991, a delegation of the Croatian Olympic
Committee was received in Lausanne. Samaranch told me then:
“Nobody is to prevent Croatia’s young people from participating
in the Olympics!”
In Albertville in 1992, we carried our own flag at the Opening
Ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games. The Kostelić family was
not there yet, but we remember the announcer in the stadium
say:
“And now I trust that nobody will remain sitting. Let us stand
up and welcome Croatia, which is participating in the Olympic
Games for the first time!”
We won the first three medals in Barcelona that year, among
them also the one in the final against the basketball Dream
Team!
Before that, we needed to appoint the flag bearer for the Opening
Ceremonies. I invited Dražen Petrović and Goran Ivanišević to
meet with me:
“You two decide, I don’t have the heart to do it.”
They looked at each other: Dražen spoke up:
“Coach asked that we basketball players don’t go to the Opening
Ceremony, as we have a difficult game the following day, and
they say that it means standing for five hours...”
Goran didn’t hide his excitement. All those years, he had been
wearing a head band with the Croatian coat of arms. Dražen
gave him a mild slap on the cheek:
“Go on, kid, take it and carry it. I’ll hate you for this all my life!”
They hugged suddenly.
Erdödy cried: “Regnum regno non praescribit leges!” meaning: „A
kingdom doesn’t prescribe laws to another kingdom”. Croatian
poet Matoš added: „And as long as there is heart, there will be
Croatia too”
This is why Croatian athletes put their hand across their heart
when their flag is hoisted and national anthem played.
Still, we did found the Croatian Olympic Committee the third
time around, on 10 September 1991. Of course, we had read
the IOC Charter. It reads that only independent states may be
IOC members. Enthusiastic Bučar thought exactly what Ivan
Nepomuk Erdödy had thought, who, while fighting against the
15
Patrick Hickey
President of the European Olympic Committees
16
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
S
port, like nothing else, empowers people. It has the potential to inspire and motivate, since it shines a light on
what people can do, rather than what they cannot do. It has universal popularity: it is fun for everyone, whether
taking part or watching from the sidelines. And it is no accident that the words 'United' and 'Union' feature in so
many team names. Sport connects people and communities. It knows no distinctions of race, language, gender,
creed or culture: in our sports uniform, we are all part of the same team.
Thanks also to the perseverance of the Olympic Movement of Europe, the EU has also understood this and has introduced
these concepts into its policy. In 2007, the European Parliament added to its "Resolution on the Role of Sport in Education”,
saying that physical education was "the only school subject, which seeks to prepare children for a healthy lifestyle and
focuses on their overall physical and mental development, as well as imparting important social values such as fairness, selfdiscipline, solidarity, team spirit, tolerance and fair play”.
I must also say that the NOC of Croatia and the Government of Croatia have clearly understood the value of sport for the
future of society and today sets a splendid example, which many other organisations throughout the world should follow,
understanding how sport, like nothing else, can bring to a nation that spirit of unity and dynamism that is so fundamental
to its wellbeing.
I believe that, in the sports arena, Europe is on the brink of a new opportunity: the opportunity to harness sport’s great
potential, and make sport one of the building blocks for the creation of a new, innovative, and inclusive Europe. As my
eminent predecessor Mario Pescante often says, sport can lead the way where politics and diplomacy fear to tread and it is
indeed my hope that through sport Europe may find the sort of sense of unity and purpose that it has been able to inspire
the people of Croatia with.
I know there are many challenges on the way, but I am genuinely excited by the prospects ahead. And I believe we can
address these challenges together through cooperation and mutual respect and so build a better and broader united Europe
and in this way give our young a better tomorrow.
17
Zlatko Mateša
President of the Croatian Olympic Committee
18
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
C
roatian athletes have always participated in the idea of the modern Olympic movement and Games, which
have developed into an excellent global cultural and sporting event.
They have always been ambassadors for the Croatian idea of Olympism and spokespersons for their country,
either by participating in the Games, winning medals, founding institutions of particular importance for
international sport or being their members.
They were also eager then when they only dreamed about having their own country and when, while draped in a foreign
flag, they did their utmost for the benefit of Croatia’s sports history, which we are enjoying as the national heritage today.
Over 250 medals at Olympic Games, of which 27 since Croatia became an independent country, are a proof that athletes
are the most powerful testimony of belonging to the Olympic community and the first ambassadors of our country.
I thank them for that on behalf of all members of the Croatian Olympic family that is celebrating its 20th extraordinary
years.
I would also like to thank my predecessors, all sports officials and employees, who have made an invaluable contribution
to what the Croatian Olympic Committee is today: a reliable partner to the global and European Olympic community
– the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Solidarity, the European Olympic Committees – regional nongovernmental organisations, the EU community, which Croatia belongs to, Croatian Presidents, Croatian Governments
and institutions as a careful and caring strategist and organiser of the present and future of Croatian sport, which has
been entrusted to it.
The Croatian Olympic Committee is marking its 20th anniversary in 2011.
We have witnessed top sports achievements, flawless sports organisations, manifestation of international solidarity, sports
friendship, respect and fair play, responsible and enterprising participation of the educational and academic community
in creating an athletes’ education and training system, Croatian economy in supporting sport and a media venture such
as an own television company – Sports Television.
Congratulations to everybody on the 20th anniversary of the Croatian Olympic Committee!
19
Josip Čop
Secretary General of the Croatian Olympic Committee
20
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
O
n the occasion of such significant anniversaries, we would all like to say something
big, impressive, memorable, and do it in little space. It gets even more difficult when
you talk about sport, which has constantly been bringing in medals, praises and
recognitions from all important continental and global competitions.
Many individuals, from athletes, through their coaches to sports officials, have woven a part of
their time and knowledge in those top-level achievements.
Of course, in the 20 years since its foundation, the Croatian Olympic Committee has also
played a big and important role in Croatian sport. Today, it deals with what its pRomeary task is:
athletes, sports officials and the profession itself. But its role does not stop there, it also takes care
of the athletes’ development, their education, it deals with kindergarten children and sport at a
local level, and it also takes care of those, who could not secure their existence through sport.
In the year, in which it is marking its 20th anniversary, the Croatian Olympic Committee
opened another window to sports through an own TV channel. We are the first in the world who
made it possible for athletes in all sports to be equally present in the homes throughout Croatia
through our Sports Television.
Today, the Croatian Olympic Committee is an important stakeholder at the international level
and a respectable member of the European and global Olympic family. We can say that it is a
role model and beacon to numerous neighbouring Committees regarding its development plans
for athletes and coaches or its educational program implemented through the Croatian Olympic
Academy.
I would like to thank all those, who have in any way contributed to the development of the
Croatian Olympic Committee, and by this of Croatian sport, as well, because in this way they have
been making its history at the same time.
21
BARCELONA 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES
Croatian basketball team
Dražen Petrović
BARCELONA 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES
Goran Ivanišević
BARCELONA 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES
Goran Ivanišević & Goran Prpić
ATLANTA 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES
Croatian handball team
Top row: Velimir Kljaić, Vladimir Jelčić, Goran Perkovac, Alvaro Načinović, Bruno Gudelj, Nenad Kljaić, Venio Losert, Slavko Goluža,Valter Matošević, Zlatan Saračević
Bottom row: Stanislav Peharec,Vladimir Nekić, Irfan Smajlagić, Milan Rončević, Božidar Jović, Antun Vrdoljak, Vladimir Šujster, Josip Guberina, Iztok Puc, Zoran Mikulić,
Valter Franković, Patrik Ćavar, Damir Suman
ATLANTA 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES
Croatian water polo team
Top row: Tino Vegar, Siniša Školneković, Igor Hinić, Damir Glavan, Dubravko Šimenc, Joško Kereković, Perica Bukić
Bottom row: Maro Balić, Vjekoslav Kobešćak, Ratko Štritof, Zdeslav Vrdoljak, Renato Vrbičić, Ognjen Kržić
SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES
Nikolay Pechalov
SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES
Men’s rowing eight
Top row: Igor Francetić, Tihomir Franković, Siniša Skelin, Nikša Skelin, Krešimir Čuljak
Bottom row: Branimir Vujević, Silvijo Petriško (coxswain), Tomislav Smoljanović, Igor Boraska
ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES
Croatian handball team
Top row: Slavko Goluža, Ivano Balić, Venio Losert, Drago Vuković, Blaženko Lacković, Denis Špoljarić, Valter Matošević
Bottom row: Vlado Šola, Nikša Kaleb, Vedran Zrnić, Antun Vrdoljak, Petar Metličić, Mirza Džomba, Davor Dominiković, Igor Vori, Goran Šprem
ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES
Duje Draganja
ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES
Siniša and Nikša Skelin
ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES
Ivan Ljubičić and Mario Ančić
ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES
Nikolay Pechalov
BEIJING 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES
Filip Ude
BEIJING 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES
Blanka Vlašić
BEIJING 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES
Snježana Pejčić
BEIJING 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES
Martina Zubčić
BEIJING 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES
Sandra Šarić
SALT LAKE CITY 2002 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Janica Kostelić
TORINO 2006 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Janica Kostelić
TORINO 2006 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Ivica Kostelić
VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Ivica Kostelić
VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Jakov Fak
The Games – Legend and Reality
A
s there are no reliable sources, there are only legends about the origin of the Olympic Games
recorded in literature. One of them says that Heracles, the son of the principal god Zeus
and the mortal woman Alcmene, organised numerous competitions while playing with his
brothers and he would crown the winner with an olive wreath.
Another legend says that King Oenomaus, the son of Ares, the god of war, enjoyed chariot racing
and that he killed all his opponents after defeating them. He promised to give his kingdom and
his daughter Hippodamia to the one who would best him. Until Pelops, the son of Tantalus,
appeared, Oenomaus had killed 13 suitors (hence allegedly the superstition about the number 13
being unlucky). The legend goes on to say that Pelops resorted to cunning and promised charioteer
Myrtilus half the kingdom if he took a screw out of a wheel of the king’s chariot. Thanks to this
deceit, Pelops killed the king, married Hippodamia and took the throne. When Myrtilus came
to claim the promised reward, Pelops threw him off a cliff into the sea as punishment for the
dishonourable deed. The whole region was named the Peloponnesus after him. He founded the
Olympic Games in honour of King Oenomaus, who had liked competitions, and put up a pillory
for all those who used dishonourable means to win a competition.
Ancient Olympic Games
The first Olympic Games, of which there is a trustworthy record, were held at Olympia in 776
BC and the last ones in 392 BC. In that period, over 290 games were staged in a society, in which
physical exercise was one of the bases of education and upbringing. Olympia never became a
town, because only competitors, referees, artists and representatives of participating city-states
were allowed to enter the site. Women were not allowed as the competitors were naked. Trade
flourished during the Olympic Games, artists exhibited their works of art, poets read theirs
and philosophers interpreted their views on the world and life in it. Politicians made pacts and
merchants made agreements. The remains of Olympia, destroyed by an earthquake and by the
Roman Emperor Theodosius I, who also abolished the Games, were rediscovered in archaeological
explorations in the 19th century. This discovery led to reviving the modern games. Consequently,
Ancient Olympia became interesting for tourists and sports fans from around the world.
Fro
m
to P L
ari
s
s
d
n
a
e
e
g
e Id
50
51
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Revival of Olympic
Games and IOC
ORGANISATION AND
ACTIVITIES OF THE
INTERNATIONAL
OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
The International Olympic
Committee was founded
to encompass the sports
movement throughout the
world and it is the first
sports organisation, which
has made it possible for
all athletes to compete
equally, regardless of
nationality, religion, class
and race. According to the
IOC Statutes, the President
of this association is
elected every four years
and he was supposed to
come from the country,
in which the following
Olympic Games would be
held. According to those
criteria, the first President
was Demetrios Vikelas of
Greece, because it was
decided in Paris that the
1st Modern Olympic Games
would be held in Greece in
1896.
T
he Greeks tried to revive their ancient games in the second half of
the 19th century, but their attempt failed. Great enthusiast of physical
education, pedagogue, historian and diplomat Pierre de Coubertin
(1863 - 1937) had the same idea and started developing his plan to
revive the Olympic Games in 1888. After receiving support from his friends
during his travels through England and the USA, he first presented his ideas to
representatives of French sports clubs in Paris at the end of 1892.
At first, his Olympic dream
was received with reserve, but de
Coubertin did not give up. Finally,
an international congress of sports
officials was held at the Sorbonne, in
Paris, in June 1894. The International
Olympic Committee was founded
on the eight day of the congress,
on 23 June 1894, after numerous
discussions and consultations. It
was also unanimously decided that
the Modern Olympic Games be established. It was agreed that the first great
show be entrusted to Athens in 1896. After that, the Games were to take place
according to the cycle of the Ancient Olympic Games – every four years, always
in a different city and different country.
Over 2000 sports enthusiasts attended that historic congress, among them
79 official delegates from a dozen countries from Europe and the USA. Written
support arrived from Australia, as well.
Fourteen eminent persons were elected on the IOC Executive Committee.
Greek writer Demetrios Vikelas was elected as the first President and Baron
Pierre de Coubertin as the Secretary General. “Citius, altius, fortius” – „faster,
higher, stronger” – became the motto of the Olympic Games, in which only
amateurs could participate.
The decisions of the 1894
congress did not envisage
the participation of women.
However, female athletes
already competed at the 2nd
Olympic Games in Paris in
1900 (tennis and golf).
Members of the International
Olympic Committee in Athens
in 1896
Standing (from left to right):
Gebhardt (Germany), GuthJarkovsky (Bohemia), Kemeny
(Hungary), Balck (Sweden); Sitting:
de Coubertin (France), Vikelas
(Greece), Butowski (Russia)
52
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
a nd
Cro
ati
a
Co
mm
Fo
n
o
i
s
i
V
n
e
a
h
i
t
t
f
a
o
o
n
r
c
o
i
C
i
p
t
a
m
d
y
l
n
u n O ee
t
it
54
55
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Olympic Idea
and Franjo Bučar
F
ranjo Bučar was the first to start promoting the modern Olympic movement
in Croatia. Only two months after the international sports congress in
Paris, he wrote in Gymnastics magazine (Zagreb, 1894, year IV, No. 8, p.
128):”The Union des Sociétés Francais de Sports Athletiques organised a
major international gymnastics meeting to re-establish the Olympic Games and
define the rules of those games and various other issues regarding amateurism and
professionalism in competition, and held it in Paris from 16 to 23 June. All nations
were invited to that meeting, and most have also attended with their most important
representatives. Numerous meetings, practical lectures and presentations of various
games took place on that occasion”.
At the beginning of 1896, Bučar wrote in Gymnastics again, among other things:
“There is little interest in the Olympics (in European countries), despite a lively
campaign for them”. He added that gymnastics societies and their associations were
particularly disinclined. He went on to state that sport would triumph in Athens,
which was contrary to their principles. The Belgians, Swiss and Dutch announced
that they would not go to Greece because of that.
Franjo Bučar (circled) at
the celebration of the 35th
anniversary of the French
Gymnastics Federation in
Paris in 1908
56
The Italian Gymnastics Federation “could not accept the invitation” because it had
spent all its money, and the Norwegians (who did like the idea of the Games) thought
Athens was too far away. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which Croatia was a
part of, the Hungarians were particularly interested in the Games A “participation
committee” was founded in Vienna although the Sokol Association in Austria was
against it. It was estimated that there would not be many participants in the first
modern Olympics, because professional athletes were excluded from them.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
First Attempts to Include Croatia
Closely following the events during the historic Congress in Paris and after it,
Franjo Bučar was strongly committed to the idea that Croatia should join the
IOC. During his studies at the Royal Central Gymnastics Institute in Stockholm
(1892-1894), and during his numerous travels around Europe, he met IOC
members – Viktor Balck of Sweden, Alexei de Butowski of Russia and Jiři GuthJarkovski of Bohemia (today the Czech Republic).
As the Czechs had founded their National Olympic Subcommittee in 1896,
and their state had similar legal status within the Austro-Hungarian Empire
as Croatia, Franjo Bučar tried to use their experience in Croatia’s application
for IOC membership. Thanks to Jiři
Guth-Jarkovski, he was invited to the
IOC meeting in Le Havre in 1897.
Bučar did not attend that meeting
due to personal commitments, and
also due to his disappointment
with the bad situation in Croatian
physical culture and sport after
Izidor Kršnjavi left the position
of the Head of the Theology and
Education Department of the State
Government. Thus he probably
missed a historic chance to become
a member of the world’s most
respectable sports organisation
already then.
Contacts with de Coubertin
The International Olympic Committee, which was still trying to establish itself
and gain acceptance, sought support from as many countries as possible. After the
extremely successful 1st Modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, the 2nd Olympic
Games in Paris in 1900 and 3rd in Saint Louis in 1904 were poorly organised, so that
the world started questioning the point of their further existence.
The Greeks took advantage of the weaknesses in the Olympic movement
after the 2nd and 3rd Games, carried away by the idea that the Olympic Games
should always be held in their homeland - Greece. This is why they organised
the first intermediate games called the Intercalated Games in Athens in 1906,
on the tenth anniversary of the 1st Olympic Games. Wanting Croatian athletes
to participate in them as well, Franjo Bučar sent a preliminary entry form for
gymnasts from the Croatian Sokol Association.
He also asked for financial assistance, which was a common thing at that
time. The first reply from the Greeks was positive, but thereafter, following the
Hungarians’ request, they referred him to the Hungarian Olympic Committee,
which had already received funding to participate in the Athens Games. As
Croatia belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time, Franjo Bučar
proposed to the Hungarian Olympic Committee that the Croats should found
their own Olympic Committee, so that Croatian athletes could also participate
in the Intercalated Games.
The Hungarians insisted that the Croats join the Hungarian Olympic
Committee in which they could nominate one Vice-President, and if Croatian
athletes wanted to participate in the Athens Games, they would have to earn
the right to do so in pre-trials against Hungarians, and then compete under the
Hungarian flag. The Croats did not accept these conditions. Physical education
teachers Franjo Bučar, Ivan Trstenjak and Josip Prikril did go to the Intercalated
Games. Their travel and stay was financed by the Government of Croatia,
Slavonia and Dalmatia.
Franjo Bučar holds a games
class as part of the course
for gymnastics teachers in
Samostanska Street, today
Varšavska, in Zagreb, in 1895
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
At the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the French Gymnastics Federation
in 1908, Bučar visited Paris as part of the delegation of the Croatian Sokol
Association and discussed the possibility of Croatia becoming a member of the
IOC with IOC President de Coubertin.
Pierre de Coubertin suggested that Croatia’s largest gymnastics association at
the time, the Croatian Sokol Association, send their membership application to
the IOC. The application was sent on 23 May 1909, but despite de Coubertin’s
promise, this issue wasn’t included in the agenda of the IOC meeting, so that
Croatian athletes did not participate in the 5th Olympic Games in Stockholm
in 1912. Franjo Bučar went to those Games as a guest of the Swedish Olympic
Committee and his visit was paid by the Croatian Government.
Physical education teachers Ferdo Krizmanić, Josip Prikril and Ivan Trstenjak
also went to the Stockholm Games; they were to explore the organisational
structure of this huge international sporting event. In Stockholm, Franjo
Bučar met with de Coubertin again and discussed the possibility of Croatia’s
independent participation in the Olympic Games.
Croatian Sports Association Founded
II Croatian Pan-Sokol Rally
in Zagreb in 1911
In seeking the best possible solutions for Croatian athletes to establish
themselves at a national and international level, the Croatian Sports Association
was founded in Zagreb on 5 October 1909. Nine sports sections, that is, nine
separate sports associations were founded within it. Unfortunately, already at
the beginning of the First World War, in 1914, the Croatian Sports Association
was banned, together with all other civic organisations except for the Red Cross.
However, a committee was formed to organise sporting events for the benefit of
the Red Cross and Franjo Bučar accepted to guide it. After the war, in 1918, the
Croatian Sports Association was allowed to resume its activities.
Thanks to the Association, numerous sports officials emerged in the post-war
Zagreb, and they initiated the foundation of almost all sports associations in the
new state – the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
Foundation of the Yugoslav Olympic Committee
On the initiative of Franjo Bučar, the Croatian Sports Association started
organising the founding session of the Yugoslav Olympic Committee (YOC).
Franjo Bučar and Antun Jakovac, an attorney from Zagreb, who was to become
a member of the founding assembly and first YOC Secretary, were in charge of
the organisation of the session and drafting the rules of the YOC.
Franjo Bučar’s IOC
Membership Card from 1924
The founding session of the Yugoslav Olympic Committee was held in
Gundulićeva Street 29 in Zagreb on 14 December 1919. Franjo Bučar was
elected the first President; he held the post until 20 January 1927, when the
organisation’s headquarters were relocated from Zagreb to Belgrade for political
reasons. Due to lack of activity, the Yugoslav Olympic Committee moved back
to Zagreb in 1932, and Stevan Hadži was elected its President.
Bučar Becomes IOC Member
In 1920, Bučar became an IOC member and Croatian athletes participated in
the 7th Olympic Games in Antwerp for the first time under the Yugoslav flag.
Neither IOC meetings nor the Olympic Games were held during the Second
World War. After the war, IOC President Sigfried Edström suggested that Bučar
revive the Olympic Committee in the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia.
Bučar raised this question in a letter he sent to the Croatian Physical Culture
Committee, but passed away on 25 December 1946, before receiving a reply.
The 7th Olympic Games in
Antwerp
58
In 1960, fourteen years after Bučar’s passing, the IOC elected another Croat to
its membership – Boris Bakrač.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
IOC MEMBERS BEFORE CROATIA’S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
FRANJO BUČAR
IOC Member from 1920 to 1946
F
ranjo Bučar, a promoter of the modern Olympic
movement in Croatia, was born in Zagreb, on 25
November 1866. He received a degree in History
and Geography from the University of Zagreb, and his
doctoral degree in History in Graz, Austria, in 1897. He
worked as a physical education teacher at secondary
schools in Zagreb, and from 1894 to 1896, he organised
a course for gymnastics teachers at the first Croatian
school, which provided training for physical education
teachers.
He promoted new sports and founded numerous clubs,
vocational associations, as well as the Croatian Sports
Association (1909) and the Yugoslav Olympic Committee
(1919).
In August 1894, two months after the foundation of
the International Olympic Committee, he published the
information about the event in Gymnastics magazine.
During his studies at the Royal Central Gymnastics
Institute in Stockholm from 1892 to 1894, and during his
numerous travels throughout Europe, he met a number
of IOC members with whose help he attempted to secure
Croatia’s membership in the IOC. During his visit to Paris
in 1908, he discussed the possibility of Croatia becoming
a member of the IOC with Pierre de Coubertin. Pierre de Coubertin basically
agreed, but the IOC never discussed Croatia’s application.
Bučar’s book titled The 1912 Stockholm Olympics substantially contributed
to the development of the Olympic movement in Croatia. He had visited these
Games as a guest of Victor Balck, President of their Organising Committee.
Franjo Bučar was elected the first President of the Yugoslav Olympic
Committee, founded in 1919, and he held this post until 20 January 1927. He
became an IOC member in 1920. He corresponded with IOC Presidents Pierre
de Coubertin, Henri de Baillet-Latour and Sigfrid Edström regarding tasks and
issues related to Olympism.
After the Second World War, he offered himself to the authorities as a
mediator in activities related to joining the IOC. He sent a letter to the Croatian
Physical Culture Committee, but passed away on 25 December 1946, before
receiving a reply.
For fifty years, Franjo Bučar published numerous articles on the Olympic
movement in daily newspapers, sports magazines, lexicons and encyclopaedias.
He collaborated on many memorial documents, sports organisations
monographs and official gazettes of the Yugoslav Olympic Committee.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
IOC MEMBERS BEFORE CROATIA’S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
BORIS BAKRAČ
IOC Member from 1961 to 1987
B
oris Bakrač was born in Slavonska
Požega on 25 March 1912. He
graduated from the Faculty of
Technology in 1936. From 1944 to
the end of war, he was the prisoner
exchange officer of the Partisan Army
Headquarters. He was the Minister
of Civil Engineering in the Croatian
Government from 1948 to 1951 and
President of the Republic Council of
the Croatian Parliament from 1974 to
1978.
He was also the President of the
Tourism Association of Croatia (19731980), Croatian Football Federation
(1952-1962) and Yugoslav Olympic
Committee (1953-1961). He was elected
to the IOC at the session in Rome in
1960; he remained an IOC Member
until 1987, when he voluntarily
resigned his membership with the official explanation that it was due to health
issues. The real reason was his disagreement over the activities of the Yugoslav
Olympic Committee Secretariat in Belgrade.
He was a member of the IOC Mixed Commission from 1968 to 1971 and
member and Vice-President of the IOC Culture Commission from 1984. He
was at the Summer Olympic Games seven times and at the Winter Games
twice and he participated in 26 IOC sessions. He exchanged official and private
correspondence with IOC Presidents Avery Brundage, Lord Killanin and Juan
Antonio Samaranch. His activities in the IOC left a deep mark, so that he was
declared an Honorary IOC Member after his decision to resign. President
Samaranch presented him with one of the Association’s highest awards, the IOC
Olympic Prize
The life of this diligent sports official was filled with activities, which
contributed to the promotion of sport and the Olympic movement in his
homeland. He advocated that the country be entrusted with the organisation of
the 14th Session of the IOC Executive Board with National Olympic Committees,
which was held in Dubrovnik in 1969, and with the organisation of the 1979
Mediterranean Games in Split, the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and
the 1987 University Games in Zagreb, for which he was Vice-President of the
Organising Committee. He published numerous articles on sports and the
Olympic movement in daily newspapers and sports magazines.
He received the Croatian Physical Culture Association Trophy in 1958 and
the Croatian Physical Culture Lifetime Achievement Award in 1981. He died in
Zagreb on 29 November 1989.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Croatian Sport
and Democratic
Changes
A
fter the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, democratic changes
also spread to South-East Europe. Social and political life in most
countries changed dramatically; this was also reflected on political
processes in Croatia. In such circumstances, following the first free
parliamentary elections and the formation of a multi-party Parliament on 30
May 1990, as well as the adoption of a new Constitution on 22 December 1990,
Croatia was established as a sovereign, democratic and social state.
As an independent sovereign state, Croatia took care of sport, among other
things. The Croatian Parliament adopted a new Sports Act on 28 December 1990.
Pursuant to these changes, the Croatian Physical Culture Association ceased to
exist on 31 December 1990, when the Croatian Sports Association was founded.
This marked the beginning of a new era in the development of Croatian sport.
Members of the Founding Assembly of the Croatian Olympic Committee at the Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb on 10 September 1991
Front row from left to right: Stjepan Križić, Ivo Zlatar, Ivan Čaklec, Ivo-Goran Munivrana, Franjo Tuđman, Sanda Dubravčić
Šimunjak, Ivan Hegedüs, Antun Vrdoljak, Zdravko Marušić, Drago Marović and Josip Kecerin
Back row from left to right: Marinko Šišak, Marko Pećina, Tomislav Šepec, Marijan Malović, Bojan Stranić, Boris Volčanšek,
Zdravko Hebel, Zlatko Celent, Mirko Novosel, Damir Škaro, Vlado Juriša, Matija Ljubek and Osvaldo Vavra
61
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
However, Croatia was already
facing organised outlawry and
terrorism, which was directly
encouraged by the Yugoslav Army
and the Serbian Government in order
to overthrow the constitutional order
and threaten the integrity of the
Republic of Croatia.
On 25 June 1991, the Croatian
Parliament made a constitutional
decision to declare the sovereignty
and independence of the Republic of
Croatia. The decision was based on
the results of the referendum carried
out on 19 May 1991, at which as many
as 94.17 percent of Croatia’s citizens
voted in favour of independence.
This led to open Serbian aggression,
which already yielded its first
Croatian casualties. Sharing the fate
of their fellow citizens, numerous
Croatian athletes were among the
first to voluntarily join the Croatian
Army, demonstrating that the
defence of their homeland was their
pRomeary duty.
Members of the Founding
Committee for the Croatian
Olympic Committee
appointed by the Croatian
Sports Association (from left
to right): Boris Volčanšek,
Slavko Podgorelec, Ivan Kern,
Marijan Malović, Vladimir
Findak
These were the circumstances
in which the Croatian Sports
Association, which was the legal successor of the Croatian Physical Culture
Association, and which started to operate on 1 January 1991, led by its first
President Ivan Kern and Secretary General Marijan Malović, had to provide
organisational, expert and financial conditions for Croatian athletes to participate
in Croatian and international competitions, and to uphold the reputation of
Croatian sport and earn the right to join the international sports family under
Croatian state insignia. On 5 June 1991, the Executive Board of the Croatian
Sports Association appointed the Founding Committee for the Croatian Olympic
Committee (COC). The Decision to appoint the working group, which was to
organise the founding of the COC, read:
“Pursuant to the provision of Article 38 of the Bylaws of the Croatian Sports
Association (SI glasnik HŠS official gazette No. 1/90), at the meeting held on 5
June 1991, the Executive Committee makes the following
DECISION to appoint members of the Working Group, which is to organise
the founding of the Croatian Olympic Committee
The appointed Working Group members are:
- Ivan Kern - Chairman
- Vladimir Findak - member
- Boris Volčanšek - member
- Slavko Podgorelec - member
- Marijan Malović - member
Zvonimir Šemper shall perform duties of the Working Group Secretary.
The Working Group shall start the procedure and take all necessary actions
pertaining to the foundation of the Founding Committee and the Croatian
Olympic Committee.
This Decision shall become effective upon its adoption.
President of the Croatian Sports Association
Ivan Kern, m.p.“
62
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
At the same time, the Executive Committee of the
Croatian Sports Association, in charge of the activities
of national sports federations, called upon all athletes
and sports officials to withdraw from all Yugoslav sports
competitions.
Shortly afterwards, at the Executive Board meeting on
1 August 1991, the Croatian Sports Association decided
to discontinue the participation of Croatian athletes
on Yugoslav teams, and to terminate cooperation of
Croatian Sports Association representatives within the
Yugoslav Physical Culture Association and Yugoslav
Olympic Committee, and break off the relations with the
Serbian Physical Culture Association. All European and
international sports organisations, as well as the IOC, were
informed about the decision.
Foundation
of the Croatian
Olympic
Committee
The international community imposed a
three-month moratorium on the decision
on Croatia’s declaration of independence
made on 25 June 1991. On 8 October, a day
after its expiration, the Croatian Parliament
decided to terminate all constitutional ties
with the former Socialist Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia. A day earlier, on 7 October
1991, the Croatian Sports Association
made a final decision to withdraw from
the Yugoslav Physical Culture Association
and the Yugoslav Olympic Committee,
and to terminate the agreement on the
association of republic sports associations
with corresponding Yugoslav sports
associations and withdraw from them.
This paved the way to the independent
participation of Croatian athletes in
international competitions under the
Croatian flag.
M
eanwhile, the working group was intensely
preparing for the founding assembly of the
Croatian Olympic Committee. Based on
a preparations report, the Croatian Sports Association decided
to convene the founding assembly of the Croatian Olympic Committee at its
meeting in Zagreb on 20 August 1991.
The Founding Assembly of the Croatian Olympic Committee was held in
the Emerald Hall of the Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb on 10 September 1991
Ivan Kern, Chairman of the Founding Committee, presided at the session.
Numerous athletes, sports officials and guests were present, as well as Croatian
President Franjo Tuđman, Presidium Chairman of the Socialist Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia Stjepan Mesić, Croatian Deputy-Prime Minister Mate Granić,
Minister of Education and Culture Vlatko Pavletić, Health Minister Andrija
Hebrang, Foreign Minister Zvonimir Šeparović, President of the Zagreb City
Assembly Boris Buzančić, Chairman of the Zagreb University Assembly Jure
Radić and many other dignitaries and representatives of the media: Croatian
Television, the Vjesnik, Večernji list, Sportske novosti, Slobodna Hrvatska and
Slobodna Dalmacija daily newspapers, Croatian Radio, Radio Sljeme, Borba and
the Croatian national news agency HINA.
Based on a report by the Verification Commission (Chairman: Zdravko Hebel,
members: Drago Marović and Damir Škaro), the Croatian Olympic Committee
elected the first COC members to a term until 1995.
Those were representatives of 29 Olympic sports associations, as well as of
the Croatian Sports Journalists Association, the Sports Medicine Section of
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
the Croatian Medical Association and the Physical Education School of the
University of Zagreb. Ivo Zlatar was Chairman of the Election Commission, and
its members were Josip Kecerin and Stjepan Križić.
“At the meeting held on 10 September 1991, based on the report by the
Verification Commission, the Croatian Olympic Committee makes the
DECISION
on the verification of the mandates of the COC members
for the term of 1991-1995
I The mandates of the following COC members are verified:
1 Croatian Athletics Federation - Antun Vrdoljak
2 Croatian Badminton Association - Marinko Šišak
3 Croatian Baseball Association - Osvaldo Vavra
4 Croatian Cycling Federation - Vlado Juriša
5 Croatian Boxing Federation - Damir Škaro
6 Croatian Gymnastics Federation - Ivan Čaklec
7 Croatian Wrestling Association - Marijan Malović
8 Croatian Hockey Federation - Ivo Zlatar
9 Croatian Sailing Federation - Damir Matošić
10 Croatian Judo Federation - Vlatko Škiljo
11 Croatian Canoe Federation - Dubravko Mataković
12 Croatian Equestrian Federation - Zdravko Marušić
13 Croatian Basketball Federation - Mirko Novosel
14 Croatian Fencing Federation - Bogomir Jambrošić
15 Croatian Football Federation - Mladen Vedriš
16 Croatian Volleyball Association - Bojan Stranić
17 Croatian Swimming Federation - Boris Volčanšek
18 Croatian Handball Federation - Marijan Flander
19 Croatian Weightlifting Federation - Ivan Helman
20 Croatian Ice Hockey Association - Ivan Hegedüs
21 Croatian Ice and Roller Skating Federation - Sanda Dubravčić-Šimunjak
22 Croatian Diving Federation - Stjepan Križić
23 Croatian Ski Association - Josip Kecerin
24 Croatian Table Tennis Association - Ivo-Goran Munivrana
25 Croatian Archery Association - Nenad Slukić
26 Croatian Shooting Federation - Tomislav Šepec
27 Croatian Tennis Association - Stanko Bick
28 Croatian Water Polo Federation – Zdravko Hebel
29 Croatian Rowing Federation - Zlatko Celent
30 Croatian Sports Journalists Association - Drago Marović
31 Sports Medicine Section of the Croatian Medical Association - Marko Pećina
32 Physical Education School of the University of Zagreb - Zlatko Šimenc
After the mandates were confirmed, members of the Assembly made a
unanimous Decision on the foundation of the Croatian Olympic Committee,
which reads:
“Pursuant to the Decision on the appointment of the Working Group to
prepare and found the Croatian Olympic Committee No. 1112 made by the
Executive Committee of the Croatian Sports Association at the meeting held
on 5 June 1991, and pursuant to Article 18 of the Rules of the Croatian Olympic
Committee, the Croatian Olympic Committee makes the
64
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
65
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
DECISION on the foundation of the Croatian Olympic Committee
at its meeting held on 10 September 1991.
The Croatian Olympic Committee is founded.
Through its activities in accordance with the Olympic Charter, the Croatian
Olympic Committee shall:
- promote sport as universal civilisation’s heritage for improved mutual
understanding and communication among people
- establish friendly relations and create a better world and peaceful human
coexistence
- spread Olympic principles, ethical and moral norms in sports
- bring competitors and other participants of the Olympic Games closer
together in the greatest sporting event in the world
- promote top sporting achievements of Croatian athletes
- promote the Republic of Croatia as a democratic country towards the
establishment of closer relations with other countries, which respect and
protect human rights and the rights of nations
- inspire fair play among participants of sporting events
- develop all forms of sports in the Republic of Croatia
The Croatian Olympic Committee is founded by the national Olympic sports
associations. The Decision shall become effective upon adoption.
Chairman of the Founding Committee: Ivan Kern, m.p.
The unanimous decision on the foundation of the Croatian Olympic Committee,
as well as the adoption of the first Rules (today’s Bylaws), set the basis for the
tasks and objectives of the Croatian Olympic Committee. In accordance with
the Olympic Charter, the Croatian Olympic Committee shall contribute to the
benefit of Croatian sport, the Olympic movement and the International Olympic
Committee.
Telegram to IOC President
On the same day, 10 September 1991, the participants of the COC Founding
Assembly sent the following telegram to IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch,
a great friend of Croatian sport and Croatia:
“Your Excellency, Mr. President, we are proud and delighted to inform you that the
Croatian Olympic Committee was founded today, on 10 September 1991. The most
deserving Croatian athletes and eminent sports officials attended the Founding
Assembly meeting, as did the highest state officials.
The foundation of the Croatian Olympic Committee is the realisation of the centurylong dream of Croatian athletes and the entire nation to become a part of the world’s
greatest and most significant sporting movement, the magnificent Olympic family.
The Croatian Olympic Committee accepts the basic norms and principles of the
IOC Olympic Charter, as well as the obligations pertaining thereto. Your Excellency,
we kindly ask you to support our historic aspiration to become a member of the
International Olympic Committee as soon as possible. Croatia’s athletes and sports
officials will be deeply grateful for it.
Looking forward to your continued successful representation and leadership of the
noble Olympic movement,
Yours respectfully and sincerely”
Election of COC Leaders
Based on a report on the election of COC officials prepared by the Election
Commission led by Ivo Zlatar, the Croatian Olympic Committee elected Antun
Vrdoljak as the President. Zdravko Hebel and Mirko Novosel, who were elected
Vice-Presidents, also became ex officio COC Council members in accordance
with the COC Rules.
Following the proposal of COC President Antun Vrdoljak, who assumed chairing
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
First members of the COC Council
(1991- 1995)
COC President
Antun Vrdoljak
COC Vice-Presidents
Zdravko Hebel
Mirko Novosel
Members
Zlatko Celent, Marijan Flander
Matija Ljubek, Marijan Malović,
Drago Marović, Damir Škaro
First members of the
COC Supervisory Board
(1991 - 1995)
Chairman
Marijan Kraljević
Members
Franjo Jurjević
Tomislav Ribarić
Zvonko Franjčec
Mihael Zambeli
this historic meeting after his election, Zlatko Celent, Marijan Flander, Matija
Ljubek, Marijan Malović, Drago Marović and Damir Škaro were appointed COC
Council members to a term until 1995.
Antun Vrdoljak
- First COC President
The first COC Secretary General Slavko Podgorelec also became an ex officio COC
Council member. He was appointed to this post at the COC Council meeting on 16
September 1991.
The Decision on the election on the COC President and Vice-Presidents read:
“Based on the Election Commission report on the COC President and two VicePresidents election results and pursuant to Article 18 of the Croatian Olympic
Committee Rules, the Croatian Olympic Committee made the
DECISION on the election of the President and two Vice-Presidents
of the Croatian Olympic Committee
at its meeting held on 10 September 1991.
Matija Ljubek and Mirko
Novosel
Antun Vrdoljak was elected the President of the Croatian Olympic Committee for
the term from 1991 to 1995.
Zdravko Hebel and Mirko Novosel were elected the Vice-Presidents of the Croatian
Olympic Committee for the term from 1991 to 1995.
The Decision shall become effective upon adoption.
Chairman of the Founding Committee Ivan Kern, m.p.”
The Decision on the COC Council members read:
“Based on the proposed list of candidates, the COC Council members election
held by secret ballot and the Election Commission report on the election results,
and pursuant to Article 18 of the Croatian Olympic Committee Rules, the Croatian
Olympic Committee made the
Zdravko Hebel
DECISION on the election of the members
of the Croatian Olympic Committee Council
at its meeting held on 10 September 1991.
1 The following persons were elected as members of the Croatian Olympic
Committee Council for the term from 1991 to 1995:
- Zlatko Celent
- Marijan Flander
- Matija Ljubek
- Marijan Malović
- Drago Marović
- Damir Škaro
2 The COC President and Vice-Presidents shall be ex officio COC Council members
3 This Decision shall become effective upon adoption.
Chairman of the Founding Committee Ivan Kern, m.p.”
67
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
President Tuđman Becomes the
First COC Honorary Member
Besides the historic decisions on the foundation
of the Croatian Olympic Committee, the election
of the first COC President and COC Council
members, there was also the decision of the COC
Assembly to appoint the first COC Honorary
Member. It was Croatian President Franjo Tuđman,
who congratulated the founders and welcomed the
foundation of the Croatian Olympic Committee,
emphasising that the fact that Croatia was joining
the global sports community was yet another
success in the acknowledgement of Croatia’s
democracy.
Croatian President Franjo
Tuđman was appointed the
first Honorary Member of the
Croatian Olympic Committee
The Decision on that matter read:
“Pursuant to Article 18 of the Croatian Olympic
Committee Rules, the Croatian Olympic Committee made the
DECISION on the appointment of the first Honorary Member
of the Croatian Olympic Committee
at its meeting held on 10 September 1991.
1 President of the Republic of Croatia Franjo Tuđman is appointed the first
Honorary Member of the Croatian Olympic Committee.
2 The Decision shall become effective upon adoption.
President of the Croatian Olympic Committee
Antun Vrdoljak, m.p.”
COC Appoints First Ambassadors
for Young State of Croatia
Understanding that Croatia had no embassies or consulates, but only a few
offices in the first year of its independence, the Croatian Olympic Committee
Council established an honorary post of the Ambassador for the Croatian
Olympic Committee on 23 September 1991.
59 ambassadors – athletes and sports officials, patriots and distinguished sports
figures were the first and only advocates, spokespersons and representatives of
the young Croatian state and the Croatian Olympic Committee in the countries,
in which they lived or worked around the world.
Here are their names: Slavko Bambir (handball, Iceland), Otto Barić (football,
Austria), Milivoj Bebić (water polo, Italy), Đurđica Bjedov Gabrilo (swimming,
Switzerland), Miroslav Ćiro Blažević (football, Greece), Zvonimir Boban (football,
Italy), Ozren Bonačić (water polo, Italy), Branko Cikatić (kickboxing, Germany),
Željko Čajkovski (football, Germany), Nurko Čaušević (volleyball, Italy), Žarko
Dolinar (table tennis, Switzerland), Veselin Đuho (water polo, Italy), Tihomir
Filipović (motorsport, Austria, Italy), Željko Franulović (tennis, Switzerland),
Andrija Fuderer (chess, Switzerland), Sabrina Goleš (tennis, USA), Hrvoje Horvat
(handball, Germany) Željko Hrbud (table tennis, Germany) Goran Ivanišević
(tennis, Monaco), Tomislav Ivić (football, France), Vladimir Janković (volleyball,
Italy), Zdravko Ježić (water polo, USA), Mirko Jozić (football, Chile), Kamilo
Keretić (tennis, Germany), Velimir Kljaić (handball, Germany), Zlatko Cico
Kranjčar (football, Austria), Toni Kukoč (basketball, Italy), Franjo Kukuljević
(tennis, RSA), Deni Lušić (water polo, Italy), Željko Matuš (football, Switzerland),
Dragan Matutinović (water polo, Spain), Zdravko Miljak (handball, Germany),
Ante Nakić (water polo - basketball, Greece), Bruno Orešar (tennis), Tomislav
Papak (boxing, Australia), Tomislav Paškvalin (water polo, Italy), Željko Pavličević
68
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
(basketball, Greece), Željko Perušić (football,
Switzerland), Dražen Petrović (basketball, USA),
Nikola Pilić (tennis, Germany), Goran Prpić
(tennis), Ilija Puljević (handball, Sweden), Dino
Rađa (basketball, Italy), Marijan Režek (tennis,
Australia), Suad Rizvanbegović (tennis, USA),
Zoran Roje (water polo, Italy), Petar Skansi
(basketball, Italy), Marijan Stipetić (swimming,
Canada), Mislav Stipetić (swimming, Canada),
Karlo Stipanić (water polo, Switzerland),
Gordan Šnajder (volleyball, France), Dragutin
Šurbek (table tennis) Ivo Trumbić (water polo,
the Netherlands), Velimir Valenta (rowing,
Zvonimir Boban
Switzerland), Stojko Vranković (basketball, USA),
Velimir Zajec (football, Greece), Goran Žuvela (judo, Australia), Marko Winkler
(tennis, USA), Tomislav Würth (tennis, Germany).
Petar Skansi
First Delegation in Lausanne
The first delegation of the Croatian Olympic Committee, led by President
Antun Vrdoljak, met with IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch in Lausanne
on 26 November 1991 and informed him about the beginning of activities of the
Croatian Olympic Committee, the preparation of a COC request for recognition
by the international Olympic community, about the successes of Croatian
athletes and the role of Croatian sports ambassadors in the international
community. The delegation also included Mirko Novosel, Matija Ljubek, Željko
Franulović and Ivan Lacković Croata.
Miroslav Blažević
IOC Recognition
Two months after the first official visit of the Croatian delegation to the
IOC, on 17 January 1992, the IOC Executive Board, led by President Juan
Antonio Samaranch, granted provisional recognition to the Croatian Olympic
Committee, thus making it possible for Croatian athletes to participate in the
Albertville Olympic Winter Games (8 – 23 February 1992) for the first time under
the Croatian flag.
Celebrating this historic decision, on 24 January, two weeks before the
Olympic Winter Games, the Croatian Olympic Committee Assembly held its
second session in Zagreb. Two decisions were adopted there – first, the IOC
decision on the provisional recognition complying with IOC Regulations. The
second decision concerned submitting an application for outright recognition
and membership of the Croatian Olympic Committee in the International
Olympic Committee in compliance with the Olympic Charter.
The decision of the IOC President and four Vice Presidents on the provisional
recognition in accordance with IOC Regulations was ratified at the 98th IOC
Session in Albertville on 6 February 1992, on the eve of the Olympic Winter
Games there.
Dragutin Šurbek
IOC’s Outright Recognition of the Croatian
Olympic Committee
The IOC decided to grant outright recognition to the Croatian Olympic
Committee at its 101st Session, held in Monaco on 24 September 1993.
“The International Olympic Committee has noted with satisfaction that your
NOC has completed its structure and organisation so as to fully comply with
the provisions of the ‘Olympic Charter’, and has thus fulfilled the conditions
laid down by the IOC Executive Board at the moment of your conditional and
provisional recognition...” This was written in the letter from Monaco dated 24
September, in which IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch informed COC
President Vrdoljak of the decision of the IOC.
69
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
ANTUN VRDOLJAK
First COC President (1991 – 2000)
A
ntun Vrdoljak was the first President of the Croatian
Olympic Committee, the first Croatian IOC Member since
Croatia’s declaration of independence and the first COC
Honorary President.
An eminent film, political and sports figure, Vrdoljak was
elected President of the Croatian Olympic Committee at the
founding assembly on 10 September 1991, as the representative
of the Croatian Athletics Association, one of the 29 national
Olympic sports associations, which were the founding
members of the Croatian Olympic Committee.
At the proposal of IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch,
who became acquainted with him as a great expert on sports
and the Olympic movement dedicated to the principles of
Olympism, Antun Vrdoljak was elected to the IOC at the 104th
session of the International Olympic Committee in Budapest
in June 1995. He was the first Croat in the independent
Republic of Croatia to become a member of the Olympic
movement’s highest international body. His election was a
great personal honour, and also a great honour for Croatia and
the Croatian Olympic movement.
In 1996, IOC member Antun Vrdoljak was appointed to the
IOC Radio and Television Commission and the IOC Culture
and Olympic Education Commission in 2006, of which he
is still a member. He served two terms as President of the Croatian Olympic
Committee, until October 2000, and was declared its Honorary President in
December 2003.
Antun Vrdoljak’s great influence in sport began with the first task entrusted to
him – saving the European Athletics Championships, which were to be held in
Split in 1990. 57 days before the beginning of the Championships almost nothing
was ready, so Split faced the danger of losing the Championships. Thanks to
Vrdoljak’s dedication and enormous energy and efforts, the European Athletics
Championships became an example of good organisation.
Antun Vrdoljak was born in Imotski on 4 June 1931.In his youth, he was
involved in athletics, handball and table tennis, and his activities also included
sports journalism and acting. He graduated from the Zagreb Drama Academy
and became a film director. He has directed many films, ten of which are deemed
classics in the annals of Croatian film history: When You Hear the Bells (1969),
A Pine Tree in the Mountain (1971), Snowstorm (1977), Cyclops (1982), The
Glembajs (1988), Love and a Few Curses (1969), The Return (1979), Deps (1974),
From Friday to Friday (1985) and Carnival, Angel and Dust (1989). He directed his
latest film, A Long Dark Night, in 2005 and TV series Tito in 2010.
He has received numerous international and national awards for his directing.
In 1991, he was appointed Director General of Croatian Radio and Television; a
post he held until 1996.
For his outstanding contribution to the development of the Olympic
movement, Antun Vrdoljak received the distinguished IOC prize, the IOC
Centennial Trophy, in 1994, and the most prominent Croatian sports award –
the Franjo Bučar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
SLAVKO PODGORELEC
The First COC Secretary General (1991 – 2000)
S
lavko Podgorelec originated and initiated the foundation of the Croatian
Olympic Committee; he was the first COC Secretary General and ex officio
member of its highest executive body, the COC Council, from 1991 to
2000. Before becoming COC Secretary General, he was the first Manager of the
Croatian Sports Fund.
Besides being one of the initiators of the establishment of the COC and
its international recognition and admission to the Olympic family, Slavko
Podgorelec also significantly contributed to the preparation of the first two
Sports Acts in the independent and sovereign Republic of Croatia (1992 and
1997), which set the foundations for democratic development of Croatian sport.
Slavko Podgorelec, who holds a Masters degree in Economics, was born in
Zagreb on 4 September 1934. In his youth, he practiced gymnastics, weightlifting
and wrestling. He achieved the most success as a weightlifter and wrestler. He
was Croatian Champion in both sports from 1951 to 1957.
An experienced athlete with comprehensive knowledge, a wrestling coach and
instructor, after finishing his career as an athlete, he became President of the
Croatian Wrestling Association for two terms, from 1972 to 1980. He also served
two terms as President of the former Yugoslav Wrestling Association from 1977
to 1985. For his outstanding contribution to the development of wrestling at the
international level, among other honours, Slavko Podgorelec was awarded the
FILA Gold Star by the International Wrestling Federation in 1973.
For significant contribution to the development of the Olympic idea in
Croatia and the unity of the Olympic Movement in the world, Slavko Podgorelec
received the IOC Olympic Movement Unity Trophy in 1995.
For furthering sport and the Olympic idea, the Republic of Croatia awarded
the highest honour, the Franjo Bučar National Sports Lifetime Achievement
Award, to Slavko Podgorelec in 2001.
71
XXV Olympiad
From Barcelona to Atlanta
(1992 - 1996)
T
he XXV Olympiad, the period from 1992 to 1996, will go down in the Olympic history
as the last time that the Summer and Winter Games were held in the same year, but
also the first time that Croatia’s athletes participated in the Olympic Games under
their own national symbols only 20 days after the International Olympic Committee granted
provisional recognition to the Croatian Olympic Committee.
It happened at the XVI Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, on 8 February 1992. At
the Opening Ceremony, figure skater Tomislav Čižmešija presented the world with the flag
of a new country – the Republic of Croatia. Back then, Croatia didn’t have athletes who could
achieve noticeable results in winter sports and the most important thing was that Croatia’s
athletes were given an opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games as representatives
of an independent and internationally recognised country after waiting for it for almost a
hundred years. However, good results were expected at the XXV Summer Olympic Games in
Barcelona and Croatia’s basketball and tennis players made the nation happy by achieving
them a few months later.
During the XXV Olympiad, the Croatian Olympic Committee became Croatia’s highest
sports body, which adopted a number of basic rules and criteria for the development of
Croatian sport.
Pa
rt
t
n
a
t
r
e
o
t
p
a
m
p
I
i
c
s
i
a
to
It W
In that period, the COC founded the Croatian Olympians Club and established the Great
Day of Croatian Sport celebration, which was to remind future generations of the day when
the Croatian Olympic Committee was admitted to the Olympic family on 17 January 1992.
72
Successes of Croatian athletes
at World and European Championships
Men and Women: 109 medals
Juniors and Cadets: 86 medals
WCh 46 - 13 gold, 10 silver, 23 bronze
ECh 63 - 10 gold, 22 silver, 31 bronze
WCh 24 - 4 gold, 7 silver, 13 bronze
ECh 62 - 10 gold, 22 silver, 30 bronze
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Barcelona 1992
Olympic Games
(25 July – 9 August 1992)
- THE GAMES OF THE XXV OLYMPIAD HELD IN BARCELONA FROM 25 JULY TO 9 AUGUST 1992 included 9,356 athletes (2,704
women and 6,652 men) from 169 countries, who competed in 28 sports. 13,082 media members (5,131 print and 7,951
broadcast media members) covered the Games, 34,548 volunteers assisted the athletes and officials.
- SPANISH KING JUAN CARLOS I OPENED THE GAMES AND PARALYMPIC ARCHER ANTONIO REBOLLO LIT THE OLYMPIC FLAME.
Sailor Luis Doreste Blanco took the Olympic Oath on behalf of the athletes and water polo referee Eugenio Asensio
on behalf of all officials.
Croatia’s First Medals
since Declaration
of Independence
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Goran Ivanišević
At the Closing Ceremony:
Dražen Petrović
Medals:
SILVER
Croatian men’s
basketball team
Vladan Alanović,
Franjo Arapović, Danko
Cvjetićanin, Alan Gregov,
Arijan Komazec, Toni
Kukoč, Aramis Naglić,
Velimir Perasović, Dražen
Petrović, Dino Rađa, Žan
Tabak, Stojko Vranković
BRONZE
Goran Ivanišević
and Goran Prpić
men’s tennis doubles
BRONZE
Goran Ivanišević
men’s tennis singles
B
arcelona was a “double struggle” for Croatia’s athletes: first, for the
right to participate, which they gained when the Croatian Olympic
Committee was recognised on 17 January 1992, despite the trials, which
were already underway, and almost over in some sports, and also the
struggle to achieve the best results possible, preferably win medals. Eventually,
they won both struggles.
The men’s basketball team, who qualified in an additional Olympic
qualifications tournament, reached the final, where they met Team USA, the
famous Dream Team featuring the greatest NBA stars. It was the first time that
NBA professional players were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games and
this placed the men’s basketball tournament in Barcelona in the limelight of
international sports attention.
This is how the Croatian team played: in the first game of Group A, they easily
defeated Brazil 93-76, lost to the USA 70-103, defeated Spain 88-77, Germany
99-78 and Angola 73-64. In the quarter-final against Australia, Croatia won by a
wide margin 98-65, but the real drama unfolded in the semi-final game against
the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States founded after the breakup of
the USSR). Only a minute before the end of the game, the CIS was leading by six
points. Dino Rađa reduced it to 70-74, and the CIS players failed to score on the
following offense. 30 seconds before the end, Toni Kukoč brought Croatia back
into the game by scoring a three-point shot and reducing the score to 73-74. Nine
seconds before the end, Croatia’s captain Dražen Petrović was holding the ball,
when a foul was committed on him. The legendary captain set the final score
of 75-74 from two free shots and led Croatia to the final against the USA. The
outstanding game, in which Croatia was leading 25-23 at one point, ended in the
U.S. victory 117-85. This was the beginning of a great Croatian sports fairy tale.
Goran Ivanišević and Goran Prpić were Croatia’s first athletes to receive an
Olympic (bronze) medal in Barcelona – they finished third in the men’s tennis
doubles. After that, Ivanišević also won the bronze medal in the men’s singles. To
74
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
win the medal, Ivanišević played four matches on clay and won each of them in
five sets. Marc Rosset, who was to become the Olympic Champion, defeated him
in the semi-final 3-6, 5-7, 2-6. On the way to the semi-final, Goran first defeated
Portugal’s representative Mota 6-2, 6-2, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3 and then Paul Haarhuis
of the Netherlands 6-7, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round. Ivanišević also
defeated Czech-born Swiss player Jakob Hlasek 3-6, 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 and 9-7 and then
Fabrice Santoro of France 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 8-6 in the quarter-final.
Croatian delegation before the Parade of
Nations at the Opening Ceremony of the XXV
Olympic Games in Barcelona (front row from
left to right): Dubravko Škorić, Damir Škaro,
Marijan Malović, Mirko Novosel, Antun
Vrdoljak and Goran Ivanišević
Ivanišević’s bronze medal was the first individual Olympic medal for the
independent country of Croatia and it went down in Croatia’s recent sports
history. To achieve that, Goran had to play on the clay surface of the Vall
d’Hebron Stadium for long 14 hours and 6 minutes.
In the doubles tournament, Ivanišević and Prpić defeated Haarhuis and
Kovermans of the Netherlands 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round, Indonesia’s
Suharyadia and Wiryawan 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in the eight-final and India’s Krishnan and
Paes 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the quarter-final. In the semi-final, Ivanišević and Prpić
lost to the silver medallists Ferreira and Norval of the Republic of South Africa
7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
Croatian Olympic Delegation to Barcelona 1992
The Croatian Olympic Delegation included 39 competitors (of whom three were
women), who participated in 12 sports: athletics, boxing, wrestling, sailing, kayak/
canoe, equestrian sport (show jumping), basketball, table tennis, shooting, tennis,
rowing and taekwondo
Chef de Mission: Marijan Malović
Mission Members: Vlasta Horvat, Ljiljana Ujlaki, Zoran Kovačević (Press Attache)
Olympic Attache: Conrad Blanch Fors
Croatian Delegation in Barcelona
Chef de Mission: Marijan Malović
Chef de Mission at the 1992
Games in Barcelona and 1996
Games in Atlanta and at the
Languedoc-Roussillon 1993
Mediterranean Games. He was
a member of the COC Founding
Assembly in 1991, member of
the first COC Council and Sports
and Executive Director of the
Croatian Olympic Committee. He
won the 1996 Franjo Bučar National Sports Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Branko Zorko
ATHLETES:
Athletics: Branko Zorko, Ivan Mustapić
Basketball: Vladan Alanović, Franjo Arapović, Danko Cvjetićanin, Alan Gregov,
Arijan Komazec, Toni Kukoč, Aramis Naglić, Velimir Perasović, Dražen Petrović,
Dino Rađa, Žan Tabak, Stojko Vranković
Boxing: Željko Mavrović
Equestrian: Hermann Weiland
Kayak/canoe: Danko Herceg, Stjepan Perestegi, Zvonimir Krznarić, Vlado Poslek
Rowing: men’s coxed four - Sead Marušić, Marko Banović, Ninoslav Saraga,
Aleksandar Fabijanić, Goran Puljko (coxswain); men’s coxless pair - Zlatko
Buzina, Marko Perinović
Sailing: Karlo Kuret, Bojan Grego, Sebastijan Miknić
Shooting: Željko Vađić, Jasminka Francki, Suzana Skoko, Mirela Skoko
Table Tennis: Dragutin Šurbek, Zoran Primorac
Tennis: Goran Ivanišević, Goran Prpić
Wrestling: Stipe Damjanović
Taekwondo (demonstration sport): Dragan Jurilj, Miet Filipović
TEAM LEADERS: Boris Lalić, Rato Tvrdić (basketball), Damir Škaro (boxing),
Matija Ljubek (kayak/canoe), Romano Bajlo (rowing), Marinko Mrduljaš (sailing),
Josip Ćuk (shooting)
COACHES: Darko Palčić (athletics), Aleksandar Petrović, Petar Skansi
(basketball), Stjepan Krznarić (kayak/canoe), Srećko Šuk (rowing), Minski Fabris
(sailing), Zvonimir Kovačević (shooting), Dubravko Škorić, Dubravko Lilek (table
tennis), Bruno Orešar (tennis), Zoran Emeršić, Željko Pjaca (wrestling), Dražen
Mađarević, Andrija Mijačika (taekwondo – demonstration sport)
MEDICAL TEAM: Marko Pećina, Ivan Fattorini, Jožef Blažić, Branko Žaler
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Stojko Vranković
77
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM BARCELONA
· Vladan Alanović · Franjo Arapović
· Danko Cvjetićanin · Alan Gregov
· Arijan Komazec · Toni Kukoč
· Aramis Naglić · Velimir Perasović
· Dražen Petrović · Dino Rađa
· Žan Tabak · Stojko Vranković
Croatia’s men’s Olympic basketball team from Barcelona received the 1992 Franjo Bučar Croatian Annual Sports Award
Vladan Alanović
Olympic silver medallist at Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games
Olympic team member at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the European bronze
medal in Germany in 1993 and Greece in 1995
Clubs: Zadar, Jugoplastika, Cibona, Novi Zagreb, Tofas and
Turk Telekom (Turkey), Murcia (Spain), CSKA (Russia) and
Slask (Poland).
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
Franjo Arapović
Olympic silver medallist at two Olympic Games:
Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992
Olympic team member at Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992
Member of the national team who won the bronze medal at
the 1986 World Championship in Spain and 1993 European
Championship in Germany
Clubs: Lokomotiva (Mostar), Cibona, Croatia osiguranje (Split),
Zrinjevac, Sassari (Italy), Zhalgiris (Lithuania), Krka Telekom
(Slovenia), Fenerbahçe (Turkey), Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem
(Israel)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
Danko Cvjetićanin
Olympic silver medallist at two Olympic Games:
Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992
Olympic team member at Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992
Member of the national team who won the bronze medal at
the 1986 World Championship in Spain, the 1993 European
Championship in Germany and the 1987 European
Championship in Greece
Clubs: Partizan (Belgrade, Serbia), Cibona, Estudiantes (Spain).
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
78
Alan Gregov
Olympic silver medallist at Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games
Olympic team member at Barcelona 1992
Member of the national team who won the bronze medal
at the 1994 World Championship in Canada and European
Championships in Germany in 1993 and Greece in 1995
Clubs: Zadar, Cibona, Anwil Wroclawek, Prokom Trefl Zepter,
Idea-Slask (Poland), Split, Aris and Apollon (Greece).
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
Arijan Komazec
Olympic silver medallist at Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games
Olympic team member at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at the
1990 World Championship in Argentina and 1991 European
Championship in Italy and the bronze medal at the 1994 World
Championship in Canada, the 1993 European Championship in
Germany and 1993 European Championship in Greece
Clubs: Zadar, Panathinaikos, Cimberio, Buckler (Italy), Zadar,
Fortitudo Bologna, Olympiacos (Greece), Vancouver Grizzlies
(NBA), AEK Athens, Air Avellino (Italy).
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
Toni Kukoč
Olympic silver medallist at Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992
Olympic team member at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 1990 World Championship in Argentina and the 1989
European Championships in Zagreb and 1991 in Italy, and the
bronze medal at the 1994 World Championship in Toronto and
the 1987 and 1995 European Championships in Greece
Clubs: Jugoplastika, Benetton (Italy), Chicago Bulls,
Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks (NBA).
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Dražen Petrović
79
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM BARCELONA
Aramis Naglić
Olympic silver medallist at Barcelona 1992
Olympic team member at Barcelona 1992
Clubs: Kantrida, Kvarner, Jugoplastika, Pop 84, Zadar, Cibona, Aqualora (Italy),
Jadrankolor (Rijeka), Slovakofarma (Slovakia).
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Velimir Perasović
Olympic silver medallist at Barcelona 1992
Olympic team member at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at the 1990 World
Championship in Argentina and the 1991 European Championship in Italy and
the bronze medal at the 1993 European Championship in Germany and the 1995
European Championship in Greece
Clubs: Jugoplastika, Breogan, Taugres, Saski Baskonia, Baloncesto Fuenlabrada,
Alicante (Spain).
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Arijan Komazec
Dražen Petrović
Olympic silver medallist at Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992
and Olympic bronze medallist at Los Angeles 1984
Olympic team member at Barcelona 1992, Seoul 1988, Los Angeles 1984
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at the 1990 World
Championship in Argentina and the 1989 European Championship in Zagreb and
the bronze medal at the 1986 World Championship in Spain and the 1987 European
Championship in Greece
Clubs: Šibenka, Cibona, Real Madrid, Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets (NBA).
He was awarded the Order of Duke Branimir with Ribbon and the Order of Croatian
Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Dino Rađa
Olympic silver medallist at Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992
Olympic team member at Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at the 1989 European
Championship in Zagreb and 1991 in Italy and the bronze medal at the 1984 World
Championship in Canada and the 1987 European Championship in Greece, 1993 in
Germany and 1995 in Greece
Clubs: Dalma, Jugoplastika, Virtus (Italy), Boston Celtic (NBA), Panathinaikos
(Greece), Zadar, Olympiacos (Greece), Cibona, Split.
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Stojko Vranković
Olympic silver medallist at Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992
Olympic team member at Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the bronze medal at the 1986 World
Championship in Spain and the 1993 European Championship in Germany and 1995
in Greece
Clubs: Zadar, Aris (Greece), Boston Celtic (NBA), Panathinaikos (Greece), Aris,
Panathinaikos, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), Fortitudo
Bologna.
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Žan Tabak
Olympic silver medallist at Barcelona 1992
Olympic team member at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the bronze medal at the 1993 European
Championship in Germany
Clubs: Jugoplastika, Backer, Recoaro (Italy), Huston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Boston
Celtics, Indiana Pacers (NBA), Fenerbahçe (Turkey), Real Madrid, DKV Joventut,
Unicaja Málaga (Spain).
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Toni Kukoč
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
82
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM BARCELONA
DOUBLE BRONZE MEDALLIST AND CROATIA’S FLAG BEARER
Goran Ivanišević
Goran Ivanišević is Croatia’s most successful tennis
player of all time and one of the best athletes in
general. He participated in four Olympic Games: Seoul
1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
A
t Barcelona 1992, he was granted the honour to be Croatia’s first
flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympic
Games. In Barcelona, he won the first Olympic medal for Croatia,
first the bronze medal in the men’s doubles with Goran Prpić, and
then another bronze medal in the singles.
Croatian Olympian, patriot and a sports role model, left-handed
Ivanišević was renowned for his strong, offensive play and an extremely
powerful service. He soon ranked first on the list of the tennis players with
the most unreturned serves and set the world record in the number of aces
– he hit over 1,000 aces in five seasons, the most in 1996 – 1,477 aces. He
won 22 ATP singles titles and nine doubles, but he also played 27 further
finals, which he lost.
Ivanišević was born in Split on 13 September 1971. He first took a tennis
racket in his hands in 1977 and started playing on the very same courts
at Split’s Firule, where his famous predecessors Nikola Pilić and Željko
Franulović had also started their careers.
At age 16, he won the US Open junior men’s doubles title with Italy’s
Diego Nargiso in 1987 and ranked world’s No.3 junior already the following
season. Experts named them one of the most promising players, who played
equally well on all surfaces. He turned professional in 1988, when he won
his first doubles title with Germany’s Rüdiger Haas.
The story about his winning the Wimbledon title in 2001 is one of the
most beautiful sports stories ever. Many persons who truly appreciated
Ivanišević were saying that he was a great player, but that he would retire
without feeling the bliss of winning a Grand Slam title. After three losses
in Wimbledon finals, he needed a wildcard to enter in 2001 – he couldn’t
enter based on ranking, as he was ranked the World No.125 at that time.
The organisers awarded him the wildcard to bid the great player and threetime runner-up a nice farewell. Nobody believed that Goran could win the
title, as he hadn’t managed to do so even while being in much better form.
Anyway, since 1877, since tennis had been played at Wimbledon, it had
never happened that a wildcard even reached the final, let alone won the
title.
Goran defeated Sweden’s Frederik Jonsson in the first round, then Spain’s
Carlos Moya in the 2nd and U.S. player Andy Roddick in the 3rd round. He
had no major problems against home player Greg Rusedski in the 4th round.
In the quarter-final, he defeated Russia’s Marat Safin with brilliant serves to
advance among the four players who were to play for the title.
His opponent in the semi-final was Tim Henman, who was on his way to
83
ARCELONE
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
become the first British player in 63 years to reach
the final on home turf as he was leading 7-5, 6-7, 6-0
and 2-1 in the fourth set, which was stopped due to
rain. The following day, Goran won the fourth set in
the 13th game 7-5 and tied to 2-2. In the fifth set, when
Ivanišević was leading 3-2, rain stopped the match for
the second time; so the match started on Friday, 6
July, and finished on Sunday, 8 July 2001. On Sunday,
Goran didn’t give Henman any hope – he won the fifth,
deciding set 6-3 in only 14 minutes and earned the right
to play his fourth final at the world’s most appreciated
tennis tournament. Patrick Rafter, the 2000 runner-up
and third seed, was waiting for him there. It was to go
down in history that Goran won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7
after a great tennis drama, converting his fourth match
point.
The Croatian Olympic Committee awarded Goran
Ivanišević as Croatia’s best athlete in 1996 and 2001
and as the most successful promoter of Croatia in the
world in 1994. For outstanding contribution to sport,
Ivanišević received the 1992 Franjo Bučar National
Annual Sports Award. He received the Order of Duke
Branimir with Ribbon and the Order of Croatian
Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
MEN’S DOUBLES BRONZE MEDALLIST
WITH IVANIŠEVIĆ
Goran Prpić
Goran Prpić will go down in history as
the tennis player, who won the bronze
medal in the men’s doubles with Goran
Ivanišević at the 1992 Olympic Games
in Barcelona, the first ones, at which
Croatia participated as an independent
country.
G
oran Prpić was born in Zagreb on 4 May
1964. He turned professional in 1984.
His career best was winning the first
Croatia Open title in Umag in 1991, when he
defeated Goran Ivanišević in the final. This is the only
ATP title he has won. His best ATP ranking was in 1991,
when he ranked 16th.
Today, Goran Prpić is the head coach of Croatia’s men’s
and women’s national tennis team.
For his contribution to sport, Ivanišević received the
1991 Franjo Bučar National Annual Sports Award. He
received the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
84
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
85
Goran Prpić
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Albertville 1992
Olympic Winter Games
(8 - 23 february 1992)
- THE XVI OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES IN ALBERTVILLE IN 1992 WERE THE LAST WINTER GAMES HELD IN THE SAME YEAR AS THE
SUMMER GAMES (BARCELONA 1992) 64 countries participated with 1,801 athletes (488 women). 5,894 media members
covered the Games (2,271 print and 3,623 broadcast media members). There were 8,647 volunteers.
- FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANÇOIS MITERRAND OPENED THE GAMES, figure skater Surya Bonaly took the Olympic Oath on
behalf of the athletes and Pierre Bornat (Alpine skiing) on behalf of all officials.
Croatia’s First Participation
under Its Own Flag
T
he XVI Olympic Winter Games in Albertville were the first
Olympic Games in which Croatia participated as an independent
country, under its own flag. This is why this has gone down
in Croatian Olympic history as a historic event of paramount
importance.
Flag bearers;
At the Opening Ceremony:
Tomislav Čižmešija
At the Closing Ceremony:
Siniša Vukonić
Croatian delegation at Albertville
1992 (front row left to right):
Tomislav Čižmešija, Chef de Mission
Sanda Dubravčić Šimunjak, Željka
Čižmešija, Mladen Mumelaš; (back
row): Ozren Müller, Vedran Pavlek,
Siniša Vukonić, Darko Štimac, Ivo
Drinković
86
The small, but very important Olympic delegation led by Chef de Mission
Sanda Dubravčić Šimunjak included sibling figure skaters Željka and
Tomislav Čižmešija, alpine skier Vedran Pavlek and cross-country skier
Siniša Vukonić. They were accompanied by team doctor Ivan Drinković and
coaches Ozren Müller, Mladen Mumelaš and Darko Štimac.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Lillehammer 1994
Olympic Winter Games
(12 - 27 february 1994)
- THE XVII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES IN LILLEHAMMER WERE HELD IN THE YEAR, WHICH MARKED THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF
THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT (1894 – 1994), in the International Year of Sport and Olympic Ideal, and included 67 countries
with 1,737 athletes (522 women). Media coverage was ensured by 6,633 media members (2,615 print and 4,018
broadcast media members). There were 9,054 volunteers.
- THESE GAMES REVIVED THE MEMORY OF THE 1984 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES IN SARAJEVO, THE CITIZENS OF WHICH WERE
SUFFERING UNDER WAR AND OCCUPATION IN THAT OLYMPIC YEAR OF 1994 . The International Olympic family led by
President Juan Antonio Samaranch sent an appeal to the global community: “In memory of Sarajevo: Our message is
stronger than ever: Please stop the fighting. Stop the killing. Drop your guns.”
- NORWEGIAN KING HARALD V OPENED THE GAMES, cross-country skier Vegard Ulvang took the Olympic Oath on behalf
of the athletes and figure skating referee Kari Karing on behalf of all officials.
6-Member Delegation
in Norway
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Vedran Pavlek
At the Closing Ceremony:
Vedran Pavlek
A
t the XVII Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Croatia was represented
by a 6-member delegation led by Chef de Mission Sanda Dubravčić Šimunjak,
Croatia’s best figure skater, 1981 European Vice-Champion from Innsbruck and
participant of the 1984 Sarajevo Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo, where she
also lit the Olympic flame at the Opening Ceremony.
Three Croatian athletes were on the Croatian team at Lillehammer: Vedran Pavlek
competed in alpine skiing and Siniša Vukonić and Antonio Rački competed in Nordic
events.
Chef de Mission:
Sanda Dubravčić Šimunjak
Chef de Mission at
Albertville 1992 and
Lillehammer 1994, an
Olympic athlete who
participated in the 1980
Games in Lake Placid and
the 1984 Olympic Games
in Sarajevo. The only
Croatian athlete, who has
lit the Olympic flame at the
Opening Ceremony of any
Olympic Games (she did it
at Sarajevo 1984). She was
a member of the Croatian
Olympic Committee Council.
She is an international
figure skating referee and
advisor to the International
Skating Union.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Languedoc-Roussillon 1993
Mediterranean Games
(16 - 27 june 1993)
Croatia’s First Participation
in Mediterranean Games after
Declaration of Independence
T
o avoid holding the Mediterranean Games in the year before the Olympic
Games, this event’s calendar was changed. So after the XI Mediterranean
Games, held in Athens in 1991, the XII Mediterranean Games were held
in Languedoc-Roussillon, France, from 16 to 27 June 1993.
Miloš Milošević
The Games included 2,598 athletes coming from 19 countries of the
Mediterranean basin, who competed in 24 sports. The Croatian delegation
consisted of 197 athletes, who won 9 gold, 6 silver and 19 bronze medals and
placed 6th in the medal count.
GOLD MEDALLISTS: Ivan Mustapić (athletics); women’s volleyball team: Nataša
Osmokrović, Marija Anzulović, Snježana Mijić, Sergeja Lorber, Slavica Kuzmanić,
Barbara Jelić, Vanesa Sršen, Zvjezdana Širola, Gordana Jurcan, Andrea Jurčić, Maja
Dujić, Irina Kirilova; Miloš Milošević (swimming); men’s handball team: Tonči
Peribonio, Mirko Bašić, Goran Perkovac, Alvaro Načinović, Ivica Obrvan, Bruno
Gudelj, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Ratko Tomljanović, Vlado Šola, Vladimir Jelčić,
Patrik Ćavar, Irfan Smajlagić, Nenad Kljaić; women’s handball team: Adrijana
Prosenjak, Indira Botica, Dijana Jelaska, Koraljka Milić, Snježana Petika, Irena
Sladoljev, Daniela Tuđa, Eržika Bakai, Rada Ciganović, Viktorija Garnusova, Ljerka
Krajnović, Renata Pavlačić, Ines Dogan, Klaudija Klikovac, Danijela Petković;
Jasminka Francki (air rifle and small bore rifle), Maja Murić (tennis - women’s
singles) and Maja Murić - Silvija Talaja (tennis - women’s doubles).
SILVER MEDALLISTS: men’s basketball team: Alan Gregov, Ivica Žurić, Velimir
Perasović, Vladan Alanović, Žan Tabak, Danko Cvjetićanin, Franjo Arapović, Stojko
Vranković, Arijan Komazec, Dino Rađa, Emilio Kovačić, Veljko Mršić; table tennis:
men’s singles – Zoran Primorac, men’s doubles Zoran Primorac - Dragutin Šurbek
and women’s doubles Mirela Šikoronja – Sandra Sušilo; shooting: Suzana Skoko;
men’s water polo team: Dubravko Šimenc, Joško Kreković, Tomislav Paškvalin,
Denis Lušić, Dragan Rebić, Anto Vasović, Dejan Savičević, Ognjen Kržić, Perica
Bukić, Elvis Fatović, Vjekoslav Kobešćak, Antonio Milat, Siniša Školneković.
Nataša Osmokrović
BRONZE MEDALLISTS: Silvija Babić (athletics), Pero Šakota (boxing), Tonči
Antunović (sailing), Dragomir Tavra and Hrvoje Filipan (judo), Zvonimir Krznarić
(kayak – 500 and 1000 m K1), Dražen Funtak (canoe – 500 and 1000 m C1),
Dražen Funtak – Ivan Šabjan (canoe – C2), Goran Romić (karate), Dorotea Bralić
(swimming), women’s 4x100m medley relay (swimming), Mirela Šikoronja (table
tennis), Mirela Skoko and Saša Špirelja (shooting), Igor Velimirović, Sead Marušić,
Ninoslav Saraga, Marko Banović (coxless four), Zlatko Buzina, Mario Perinović
(coxless pair) and Igor Boraska, Tihomir Franković, Zoran Adamović (coxed pair).
Jasminka Francki
88
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Brief
Olympic
Reminder
89
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Who Is Who until 1995
COC Council
COC President
Antun Vrdoljak
COC Vice-Presidents
Zdravko Hebel, Mirko Novosel
(until 10 September 1993)
and Matija Ljubek (from 10 September 1993)
Members
Zlatko Celent (until 24 February 1992),
Marijan Flander, Vedran Rožić (from 10
September 1992), Marijan Malović (until
10 September 1993), Jurica Malčić (from
10 September 1993), Drago Marović,
Damir Škaro, Miroslav Fajerbach (from 10
September 1993), Rato Tvrdić (from 1993),
Slavko Podgorelec (COC Secretary General)
COC Supervisory Board
President
Marijan Kraljević
Members
Franjo Jurjević
Tomislav Ribarić
Zvonko Franjčec
Mihael Zambeli
First Anniversary
of the Croatian
Olympic Committee
Zagreb 1992
The Croatian Olympic Committee
celebrated its first anniversary at
the Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb
on 10 September 1992. Many
distinguished figures from political,
sports and cultural life, media and
business, sponsors of the Croatian
Olympic delegation attended.
On that occasion, the first
Croatian medallists from the
Barcelona Olympic Games
received the first COC gold pins
as special recognition for their
accomplishments at the most
important sporting event in the
world in 1992.
Croatian President Franjo Tuđman,
the first COC honorary member,
also received a COC gold pin, as a
token of appreciation and gratitude
for his concern and support
for Croatian sport during the
struggle for Croatia’s international
recognition.
The Croatian Olympic Committee
also presented special recognitions
to the basketball team coaches
and officials: Mirko Novosel, Petar
Skansi, Aco Petrović and Rato
Tvrdić.
First Official Visit of
IOC High Officials
Zagreb 1993
IOC President Juan Antonio
Samaranch’s first official visit to
the Croatian Olympic Committee
took place on 26 August 1993. He
was accompanied by IOC member
and AENOC (today EOC) President
Jacques Rogge, Sports Director
Gilbert Felli, President’s advisor
Fekrou Kidane and personal
assistant Annie Inchauspe and
Sport Intern Magazine journalist
Karl-Heinz Hiba.
A formal session of the COC
Council, chaired by COC President
90
Croatian President Franjo Tuđman
presented a high national award to IOC
President J.A. Samaranch
Antun Vrdoljak, was held on that
occasion at the Esplanade Hotel in
Zagreb. Antun Vrdoljak presented
Juan Antonio Samaranch with a
Charter making him an honorary
member of the Croatian Olympic
Committee.
The IOC President was also
received by Croatian President
Franjo Tuđman, who awarded him
the Grand Order of King Tomislav
with Sash and Great Morning
Star Medal for his outstanding
contribution and efforts to ensuring
that Croatian athletes could
compete under their own flag for
the first time in history, and thus
independently join the global
Olympic family.
IOC President Juan Antonio
Samaranch, who posthumously
awarded Dražen Petrović with the
IOC President’s Trophy, visited
the great basketball player’s grave,
accompanied by his hosts.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
The Croatian Olympic Committee celebrated its first anniversary at the Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb on 10 September 1992.
Croatian Prime Minister Hrvoje Šarinić, COC President Antun Vrdoljak and COC Secretary General Slavko Podgorelec
spoke about a successful year.
First Olympic
Medals Celebration
Zagreb 1993
All Croatia’s 129 Olympic medallists
from the 1948 to 1992 Games received
the IOC pins according to a list made
up by the IOC at a ceremony held
at The Best discotheque in Zagreb
on 22 December 1993. This Olympic
celebration also included Croatia’s
participants in the Barcelona
Olympic Games.
Damir Škar0
Under the flag of former Yugoslavia,
Croatian Olympic athletes won, or
participated in winning 45 medals
at the Games from London 1948
to Seoul 1988. Of the 45 medals,
15 were gold, 20 silver and 10
bronze, and they were won in 13
sports: athletics, boxing, wrestling,
kayak/canoe, basketball, football,
swimming, handball, tennis, table
tennis, shooting, water polo and
rowing.
The great Olympic medals
celebration included the Croatian
Stojk0 Vranković
Nikola Plećaš
Television Symphony Orchestra
and Choir that performed the song
We Are the Champions by Zlatan
Stipišić Gibonni for the first time
there. He gave it as a present to the
COC and it was declared the official
anthem of the Croatian Olympic
Committee.
Olympians Founded
Their Club
Zagreb 1993
The founding session of the
Croatian Olympians Club was
held at the then School of Physical
Culture, University of Zagreb
(School of Kinesiology today) on
22 December 1993. Zlatko Šimenc
was elected the first President,
and Albin Vidović Vice President.
Katica Ileš, Vladimir Firm, Zdravko
Kovačić, Josip Čorak, Miroslav
Poljak, Damir Šolman and Nikola
Plećaš were elected Board members.
91
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Perica Bukić
Katica Ileš
Andro Knego
In September 1995, the Croatian
Olympians Club became a
full member of the Croatian
Olympic Committee, with three
representatives in its Assembly.
members: Tomislav Paškvalin,
Slavko Goluža, Zoran Primorac,
Vlado Lisjak, Katica Ileš, Stjepan
Deverić, Igor Boraska, Goran Prpić,
Janica Kostelić and Kornelija Kvesić.
The first representatives for a term
until 2000 were Matija Ljubek,
Albin Vidović and Zlatko Šimenc.
Led by President Perica Bukić, one
of Croatia’s most prolific medallists,
who won two gold and one silver
Olympic water polo medals, and
Secretary General Damir Škaro,
Olympic boxing bronze medallist,
the Club officially became an
association in 2001 and joined the
international family of 110 national
Olympians associations.
Management Board
from 2009 to 2013
Zoran Primorac, Chairman, Danira
Bilić, Igor Boraska, Tomislav
Paškvalin, Petar Skansi Vice-Chairs,
members: Mario Ančić, Perica
Bukić, Stjepan Deverić, Slavko
Goluža, Tomislav Smoljanović,
Dubravko Šimenc, Vladimir Šola
and Martina Zubčić
From 2005, the Croatian Olympians
Club was led by Stojko Vranković,
top-level basketball player, twotime silver medallist and VicePresident of the Croatian Olympic
Committee from 2004 to 2008.
Since 18 June 2009, the post of
the President of the Croatian
Olympians Club has been held by
Zoran Primorac, an extraordinary
athlete, Olympic table tennis
silver medallist and participant
of six Olympic Games in Seoul,
Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens
and Beijing, and 2012 Olympic
candidate.
Management Board
from 2001 to 2005
Perica Bukić, Chairman, Katica Ileš,
Vice-Chair, members: Đurđa FočićŠourek, MilivojBebić, Andro Knego,
Vlado Lisjak, Zdravko Miljak, Damir
Škaro and Ninoslav Saraga.
Management Board
from 2005 to 2009
Stojko Vranković, Chairman,
92
Croatia’s First
Participation
in EYOF
Valkenswaard 1993
Croatia’s athletes first participated
in the European Youth Olympic
Days in the 2nd Summer EYOD in
Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, in
1993. The European Youth Olympic
Festival was founded upon an
initiative by then EOC President
Jacques Rogge in 1990 and
organised by the European Olympic
Committees under the auspices of
the IOC. It took place every two
years ever since – it has a summer
and a winter edition.
It is a celebration of the Olympic
ideas for athletes between 14 and
18 years of age, whose careers are
only starting. The first Summer
European Youth Olympic Festival
was held in Brussels (Belgium) in
1991 and it included 31 national
Olympic delegations (out of 33).
Already in 1999, athletes from all
48 National Olympic Committees,
Zdravko Miljak
EOC members, participated in the
EYOF held in Denmark’s Esbjerg.
Croatian Olympic
Committee
Co-Founds
European Fair-Play
Movement
Zürich 1994
The European Fair-Play Movement
(EFPM) was founded in Zurich in
May 1994. Today, it works under the
auspices of the European Olympic
Committees (EOC). Its basic task is
to promote and propagate fair-play
and tolerance as a philosophy of life
and basic value of modern sport.
The Croatian Olympic Committee
was one of the founders of this
eminent European institution,
which includes 38 European
countries. Darko Dujmović signed
the EFPM founding document on
behalf of the Croatian Olympic
Committee at the founding
session in Zurich. He was the COC
representative on the EFPM until
2005, when he was replaced by
Morana Paliković Gruden, a COC
Council member.
United in the
Olympic
Movement
Paris 1994
The International Olympic
Committee marked its 100th
anniversary with the Centennial
Congress, held in Paris from 29
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
August to 3 September 1994.
Over 2,000 representatives of the
IOC, International Federations
and NOCs attended, as did the
media from all over the world.
COC President Antun Vrdoljak
and Secretary General Slavko
Podgorelec also participated in it.
In the four key topics, which were
discussed – Contribution of the
Olympic Movement to Modern
Society, The Modern Athlete,
Sport and Social Environment and
Sport and Media – the Olympic
Movement demonstrated full
responsibility and readiness to face
the changes and challenges of the
third millennium, and to influence
them effectively and in due time.
IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch and COC President Antun Vrdoljak at
the COC celebration in Zagreb on 17 January 1995
Through its composition and
conclusions, the Centennial
Congress, which was declared the
Congress of Unity, demonstrated
the complete unity of the
international Olympic Movement
on all issues, at the place where the
IOC had been founded a hundred
years earlier, in 1894.
COC Celebrates
its First Great Day
Zagreb
17 January 1995
The Great Day of Croatian Sport,
17 January 1992, today an annual
celebration of Croatia’s admission
to the international Olympic family
and sports progress of Croatia’s
athletes, was first marked on 17
January 1995.
It was held at the Croatian National
Theatre in Zagreb and attended
by numerous Croatian prominent
public figures and IOC President
and COC Honorary Member Juan
Antonio Samaranch.
That was the first time that the
Croatian Olympic Committee
awarded the most successful
athletes and teams from the
previous year of 1994. Marijeta
Željković (taekwondo) received
the Best Female Athlete award and
Zoran Primorac (table tennis) the
Best Male Athlete award.
Most successful male athlete in 1994
Zoran Primorac
Most successful female athlete in 1994
Marijeta Željković
Most successful
athlete and best
promoter of
Croatia in the
world: Goran
Ivanišević
The Croatian bowling team was the
most successful women’s team, and
the men’s coxed pair - rowers Igor
Boraska and Tihomir Franković and
cox Milan Ražov - were the most
successful men’s team in 1994.
That was also the first time that the
most successful athlete and best
promoter of Croatia in the world
was honoured - the title went to
tennis player Goran Ivanišević.
At the ceremony, Juan Antonio
Samaranch presented Antun
Vrdoljak with a special IOC
recognition – the 1994 IOC
Centennial Trophy (Trophee
du Centenaire) for outstanding
contribution to the development
of the international and Croatian
Olympic movement.
93
XXVI Olympiad
From Atlanta to Sydney
(1996 - 2000)
T
he period of the XXVI Olympiad (1996 – 2000) went
down in the Croatian Olympic history. It was the first
time that the Croatian flag was raised to the highest
pole and the national anthem played, thanks to the title
that the men’s handball team won at the 1996 Olympic Games in
Atlanta.
The participation in the Nagano Olympic Winter Games marked
the beginning of Janica Kostelić’s (then aged 16) successful career.
Today one of the world’s most successful skiers has won as many as
six Olympic medals.
Besides sports achievements, the XXVI Olympiad was a period of
even more intensive activities of the Croatian Olympic Committee
in joining European and global sports and Olympic developments;
the COC founded the Croatian Olympic Academy, it was among
the first NOCs in Europe to start a website, it became a full
member of European non-governmental sporting organisations...
g
n
i
n
in
Pe
rfo
W
e
c
d
l
n
l
l
o
a
a
G db
m
r
n
a
H
94
Successes of Croatian athletes at
World and European Championships
Men and Women: 236 medals Juniors and Cadets: 185 medals
WCh 113 - 29 gold, 31 silver, 53 bronze
ECh 123 - 39 gold, 42 silver, 42 bronze
WCh 91 - 26 gold, 31 silver, 34 bronze
ECh 94 - 27 gold, 25 silver, 42 bronze
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Atlanta 1996
Olympic Games
(19 September – 4 October 1996)
- THE GAMES OF THE XXVI OLYMPIAD HELD IN ATLANTA FROM 19 SEPTEMBER TO 4 OCTOBER 1996 included 10,318 athletes
(6,806 men and 3,512 women) from 197 countries. They competed in 271 events in 28 sports. 15,108 media members
(5,695 print and 9,413 broadcast media members) covered the Games. There were 47,466 volunteers.
- U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON OPENED THE GAMES AND BOXER MUHAMMAD ALI LIT THE OLYMPIC FLAME. Basketball player
Teresa Edwards took the Olympic Oath on behalf of the athletes and diving referee Hobie Billingsly on behalf of all
officials.
The First Olympic
Gold Medal
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Perica Bukić
At the Closing Ceremony:
Goran Perkovac
Medals:
GOLD
Men’s handball team
Patrik Ćavar, Slavko
Goluža, Božidar Jović,
Nenad Kljaić, Venio
Losert, Valter Matošević,
Alvaro Načinović, Goran
Perkovac, Iztok Puc,
Zlatko Saračević, Irfan
Smajlagić, Bruno Gudelj,
Zoran Mikulić, Vladimir
Jelčić, Valner Franković,
Vladimir Šujster
SILVER
Men’s water polo team
Maro Balić, Perica Bukić,
Damir Glavan, Igor Hinić,
Vjekoslav Kobešćak,
Joško Kreković, Ognjen
Kržić, Dubravko Šimenc,
Siniša Školneković, Ratko
Štritof, Renato Vrbičić,
Zdeslav Vrdoljak, Tino
Vegar
96
T
he first time that the Croatian national anthem was ever played and
the Croatian flag raised to the highest pole at the Olympic Games was
at the Atlanta Olympic Games thanks to the men’s handball team.
The Croatian handball team’s path to the gold medal was full of thorns. Few
would have predicted such an outcome if they had judged by the first game
against Switzerland. During the second half, Croatia was losing 13-19, but then,
the youngest player on the team, goalkeeper Venio Losert, “locked” the goal and
deserved the most credit for the tie towards the end of the game. In the last
moments of the game, Patrik Ćavar scored for the final 23-22 for Croatia from a
penalty shot. In the second game in Group A, Croatia defeated Kuwait 31-22 and
the USA 35-27 in the third.
Many believe that the deciding game for one of the two top positions in the
group, which led to the semi-final, was the one against Russia. Although Croatia
had a bad start and were losing 11-13 at half time, it was the goalkeeper again,
who was the star of the second half; this time, it was Valter Matošević, who
saved a penalty shot by Torgovanov at 24-24 in the last minute of the game.
Croatia’s best player in that game, pivot Božidar Jović, scored his seventh goal in
that game in a counter-attack and secured a place for Croatia in the semi-finals.
In the last game in the group, Croatia lost to Sweden 18-27 and advanced to the
semi-final as the second-ranked team.
Then World Champions France were the opposing team in the fight for
the final. Croatia was leading 12-8 already at half time and ended the game
routinely, winning 24-20. Patrik Ćavar scored eight of those goals.
The final was again against Sweden, who had defeated Spain 25-20 in the
other semi-final and reached the final undefeated. The Olympic gold medal was
the only one, which the many-time European and World Champions hadn’t
won yet. Still, the experienced Swedish players could not hold out against the
vigorous Croatian team who were leading 16-11 at half time. Captain Goran
Perkovac, wing player Irfan Smajlagić and pivot Božidar Jović scored six goals
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
each in that game. Thirteen seconds before the end of the game, pivot Nenad
Kljaić scored the key goal for the final 27-26. Ecstatic celebration broke out
at the sound of the siren and the players went down on their knees to form a
“caterpillar” before an audience of 25,000 at the Georgia Dome and millions of
TV viewers – a form of their victory celebration still well-known today.
Before the Croatian flag was raised and national anthem played, IOC Member
and then COC President Antun Vrdoljak presented the gold medals on behalf of
the International Olympic Committee to Patrik Ćavar, Valner Franković, Slavko
Goluža, Bruno Gudelj, Vladimir Jelčić, Božidar Jović, Nenad Kljaić, Venio Losert,
Valter Matošević, Zoran Mikulić, Alvaro Načinović, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc,
Zlatko Saračević, Irfan Smajlagić and Vladimir Šujster.
The second medal for Croatia at the Atlanta Olympic Games was won by
the men’s water polo team. In Group B, hey first defeated Greece 8-5 and then
Romania 11-6. They lost to Italy 8-10 and defeated Ukraine 16-8. Team USA won
the decisive second-place game in the group 10-8. With two defeats, Croatia
finished third in the group, which made them play Yugoslavia in the quarterfinal. In it, the Croatian team led by coach Bruno Silić were leading from the
beginning to the end and Dubravko Šimenc was the hero of this game, which
Croatia won 8-6 (3-1, 2-1, 1-2, 2-2). He scored three goals, among which also the
last two ones for 7-5 and 8-6.
In the semi-final, Croatia played Italy, then led by coach Ratko Rudić, and
won 7-6 (0-1, 2-1, 1-0, 1-2, 1-2, 2-0) after two overtimes. Joško Kreković scored
four goals in the game. Head coach Bruno Silić was ejected from this game and
suspended from the final game against Spain. Many believe that this was the key
reason for Croatia’s defeat in the final.
Croatia took a lead in the first quarter. Thanks to the goals scored by
Damir Glavan and Tino Vegar Croatia were leading 3-0 in the second quarter,
which finished 3-1. But then they started making mistakes that were hard to
understand and after captain Perica Bukić was ejected, Spain tied 3-3. Croatia
still had some strength left for the third quarter, in which Spain scored 4 shots
and Croatia 2 and the third quarter ended with a 5-5 tie. Croatia’s goalkeeper
Siniša Školneković did a great job throughout the game and he was the team’s
only strong support. He had a few excellent saves in the last quarter, as well, but
he couldn’t stop two Spanish shots and Croatia lost 5-7 (1-0, 2-1, 2-4, 0-2).
The silver medal was earned by: Maro Balić, Perica Bukić, Damir Glavan, Igor
Hinić, Vjekoslav Kobešćak, Joško Kreković, Ognjen Kržić, Dubravko Šimenc,
Siniša Školneković, Ratko Štritof, Tino Vegar, Renato Vrbičić and Zdeslav
Vrdoljak.
Croatian Olympic Delegation to Atlanta 1996
Žan Tabak and Dino Rađa
84 Croatian athletes participated in the Atlanta Games, of whom 8 women.
They competed in 14 sports: athletics, boxing, wrestling, gymnastics, sailing,
kayak/canoe, basketball, swimming, handball, table tennis, shooting, tennis,
water polo, rowing.
Chef de Mission: Marijan Malović
Mission members: Vlasta Horvat, Ljiljana Ujlaki, Višnja Peran, Saša Malović,
Ante Drpić (Press Attache)
Olympic Attache: Lisabeth E. Bone
ATHLETES:
Athletics: Branko Zorko, Ivan Mustapić, Dragan Mustapić, Siniša Ergotić
Basketball: Stojko Vranković, Veljko Mršić, Dino Rađa, Damir Mulaomerović,
Toni Kukoč, Slaven Romeac, Arijan Komazec, Josip Vranković, Velimir Perasović,
Suzana Skoko
98
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Dubravko Šimenc
99
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Davor Marcelić, Vladan Alanović, Žan Tabak
Boxing: Stipe Drviš
Gymnastics: Alexei Demyanov
Handball: Patrik Ćavar, Slavko Goluža, Božidar Jović, Nenad Kljaić, Venio Losert,
Valter Matošević, Alvaro Načinović, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević,
Irfan Smajlagić, Bruno Gudelj, Zoran Mikulić, Vladimir Jelčić, Valner Franković
Kayak/canoe: Andrej Glücks, Danko Herceg, Ivan Šabjan, Dražen Funtak
Rowing: Marko Banović, Ninoslav Saraga, Siniša Skelin, Sead Marušić, Igor
Boraska, Tihomir Franković, Hrvoje Telišman, Danijel Bajlo
Sailing: Karlo Kuret, Ivan Kuret, Marko Mišura
Shooting: Mladenka Malenica, Suzana Skoko, Mirela Skoko-Kovačević, Roman
Špirelja
Swimming: Gabrijela Ujčić, Tinka Dančević, Marko Strahija, Tomislav Karlo,
Dominik Galić, Miloš Milošević, Alen Lončar, Marijan Kanjer, Miroslav Vučetić,
Krešimir Čač, Gordan Kožulj
Table tennis: Tamara Boroš, Zoran Primorac, Eldijana Aganović, Damir Atiković
Tennis: Iva Majoli, Goran Ivanišević, Maja Murić, Saša Hiršzon
Water polo: Maro Balić, Perica Bukić, Damir Glavan, Igor Hinić, Vjekoslav
Kobešćak, Joško Kreković, Ognjen Kržić, Dubravko Šimenc, Siniša Školneković,
Ratko Štritof, Renato Vrbičić, Zdeslav Vrdoljak, Tino Vegar
Wrestling: Stipe Damjanović
TEAM LEADERS: Mihovil Nakić (basketball), Josip Guberina (handball), Ivan
Varvodić (swimming), Zdravko Hebel and Jakov Matošić (water polo)
COACHES: Drago Plačić (athletics), Petar Skansi, Rudy Tomljenović, Jasmin
Repeša, Mirko Krolo (basketball), Pero Tadić (boxing), Aleksandar Černov
(gymnastics), Velimir Kljaić and Milan Rončević (handball), Dubravko Lilek,
Stjepan Krznarić (kayak/canoe), Nikola Bralić, Igor Čulin and Dragutin
Milinković (rowing), Lukša Cicarelli (sailing), Ante Špirelja and Siniša Vitez
(shooting), Dimitar Bobev and Laszlo Ludmany (swimming), Neven Cegnar and
Dubravko Škorić (table tennis), Željko Franulović and Dragutin Majoli (tennis),
Bruno Silić and Vlado Jeh (water polo), Vlado Lisjak (wrestling)
Gordan Kožulj
MEDICAL TEAM: Boris Labar, Ivo Vidović, Stjepan Bučan, Miran Martinac,
Stanislav Peharec, Damir Suman, Ante Tranfić, Stevo Kuric
OTHERS: Željko Kavran, Vladimir Mekić, Zoran Gobac, Anton Kovačev, Željko
Pavličević, Slavko Trninić
Coach Petar Skansi and Toni Kukoč
100
Karlo Kuret
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
101
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM ATLANTA
· Patrik Ćavar · Slavko Goluža
· Božidar Jović · Nenad Kljaić
· Venio Losert · Valter Matošević
· Alvaro Načinović · Goran Perkovac
· Iztok Puc · Zlatko Saračević
· Irfan Smajlagić · Bruno Gudelj
· Zoran Mikulić
The Croatian handball team from Atlanta received the 1996 Franjo Bučar Annual National Sports Award
Patrik Ćavar
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the silver medal
at the 1995 World Championship in Iceland and European
bronze medal in Portugal in 1994
Clubs: Metković, Borac Banja Luka, Badel 1862 Zagreb,
Barcelona, BM Granollers, Agram Medveščak, Saint
Marcel Vernon
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Slavko Goluža
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004
Olympic Games
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal, silver medal at
the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and the bronze
medal at the 1994 European Championship in Portugal
Clubs: Metković Jambo, RK Badel 1862 Zagreb, KC
Fotex Veszprem (Hungary), TuS Nettelstedt Lübbecke
(Germany), Paris Saint Germaine (France)
He was awarded the Order of Duke Branimir with Ribbon
and the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of
Franjo Bučar.
Božidar Jović
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the gold medal
at the 2003 World Championship in Portugal and silver
102
medal at the 1995 World Championship in Iceland
Clubs: Borac (Banja Luka), Badel 1862 Zagreb
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Nenad Kljaić
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the silver medal at
the 1995 World Championship in Iceland
Clubs: Medveščak, Badel 1862 Zagreb, TV Grosswallstadt
(Germany)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Venio Losert
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004 and
Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won the silver medal
at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and 2009 in
Croatia
Clubs: Badel 1862 Zagreb, Garbel Zaragoza, Teka
Cantabria, Granollers, Portland San Antonio, Frigorificos
del Morrazo Cangas, Barcelona, Créteil, Ademar León
(Spain)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Valter Matošević
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Patrik Čavar
103
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM ATLANTA
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal
Clubs: Zamet (Rijeka) and Zagreb
He was awarded the Order of Duke Branimir with Ribbon
and the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image
of Franjo Bučar.
Alvaro Načinović
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and bronze medallist
at Seoul 1988
Olympic team member at Seoul 1988 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the silver medal at
the 1995 World Championship in Iceland
Clubs: Zamet (Rijeka), Badel 1862 Zagreb, Pivovarna Laško
(Celje)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Goran Perkovac
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and bronze medallist
at Seoul 1988
Olympic team member at Seoul 1988 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the silver medal at
the 1995 World Championship in Iceland
Clubs: Slatina, Medveščak, Kolinska Slovan (Slovenia),
Borba, TV Suhr, Pfadi Winterthur (Switzerland)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Iztok Puc
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and bronze medallist
at Seoul 1988
Olympic team member at Seoul 1988, Atlanta 1996 and
Sydney 2000 (member of the Slovenian national team at
Sydney 2000)
Member of the national team who won the silver medal at
the 1995 World Championship in Iceland
Clubs: RK Šoštanj (Slovenia), Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia
and Herzegovina), Badel 1862 Zagreb (Croatia)
and Pivovarna Laško (Slovenia)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Zlatko Saračević
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and bronze medallist
at Seoul 1988
Olympic team member at Seoul 1988 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the gold medal
at the 1986 World Championship in Switzerland, silver
medal at the 1995 World Championship in Iceland and
bronze medal at the 1994 European Championship in
Portugal
Clubs: Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina),
Medveščak (Croatia), Girondines, Usam,
Creteil (France)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Irfan Smajlagić
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and bronze medallist
at Seoul 1988
Olympic team member at Seoul 1988 and Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the silver medal at
the 1995 World Championship in Iceland
Clubs: Borac Banja Luka, Medveščak, Ivry, Nimes (France),
Badel 1862 Zagreb
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Bruno Gudelj
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Clubs: Badel 1862 (Croatia), HC TSG Bielefeld (Germany)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Slavko Goluža
104
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Valter Matošević
Zoran Mikulić
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Clubs: Borac (Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina), RK
Metaloplastika (Serbia), SD Caja, CB Octavio,
HC Granollers (Spain)
Valner Franković
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996
Vladimir Jelčić
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Clubs: Metković, Zagreb, HC Principe (Italy),
Badel 1862 Zagreb, Zadar Gortan
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Clubs: Zamet (Rijeka), Rudar (Labin), Badel 1862
Vladimir Šujster
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Clubs: Rudar (Rude), Medveščak, Karlovačka pivovara,
Badel 1862 Zagreb
105
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM ATLANTA
· Maro Balić · Perica Bukić
· Damir Glavan · Igor Hinić · Vjekoslav
Kobešćak · Joško Kreković · Ognjen
Kržić · Dubravko Šimenc · Siniša
Školneković · Ratko Štritof · Renato
Vrbičić · Zdeslav Vrdoljak · Tino Vegar
Croatia’s water polo team from Atlanta received the 1996 Franjo Bučar National Sports Award
Maro Balić
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the 2001 European
Club title and the 2000 LEN Cup title with his club
Club: Jug (Dubrovnik)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
Perica Bukić
Olympic gold medallist at Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988
and silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988 and
Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
World Championships (Madrid 1986, Perth 1991), World Cups
(Thessaloniki 1987, Berlin 1989), silver medal at European
Championships (Sofia 1985, Strasbourg 1987, Bonn 1989),
World Cups (Barcelona) etc. He also won several Champions
Cup, Cup Winners Cup and LEN Cup titles with his clubs
Clubs: Solaris (Šibenik), Mladost (Zagreb), Jadran (Split)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar and the Order of Croatian Plaitwork.
Damir Glavan
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Clubs: Primorje (Rijeka), Mladost (Zagreb), Pescara, Padua,
Catania (Italy)
Igor Hinić
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 Athens
2004 and Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2007 World Championship in Melbourne and the 2010
106
European Championship in Zagreb, silver medal at European
Championships (Florence 1999 and Kranj 2003) and holder of
the 2002, 2003 and 2005 LEN Cup club titles
Clubs: Primorje (Rijeka), Brescia, Roma (Italy), Mladost Zagreb
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Vjekoslav Kobešćak
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and
Athens 2004
Member of the national team who won the silver medal at
European Championships (Florence 1999 and Kranj 2003)
and holder of the 1991 and 1996 European Club titles and the
1999 Cup Winners Cup club title
Club: Mladost (Zagreb)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Joško Kreković
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team and holder of the 1991 and 1992
European Club titles and the 1986 Cup Winners Cup club title
Clubs: Mornar, Jadran, POŠK (Split), Pescara and Nervi (Italy)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Ognjen Kržić
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000
Member of the national team and holder of the 1992, 1993,
2001 and 2006 European Club titles, the 2000 LEN Cup and
the 2006 European Super Cup club titles
Clubs: Jug (Dubrovnik), Jadran (Split), Savona (Italy)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Ratko Štritof
Dubravko Šimenc
Olympic gold medallist at Seoul 1988 and silver medallist at
Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Seoul 1988, Atlanta 1996, Sydney
2000 and Athens 2004
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
World Championships (Madrid 1986 and Perth 1991), the 1989
FINA Cup in Berlin, silver medal at European Championships
(Sofia 1985, Bonn 1989, Florence 1999 and Kranj 2003) and
holder of the 1989, 1990 and 1992 European Club titles, 1994
and 1999 Cup Winners Cup and 1996 LEN Cup club titles
Clubs: Mladost (Zagreb), Jadran, POŠK (Split), Volturno,
Pescara, Como, Chiavari, Cremona, Bogliasco, Savona (Italy),
St. Julian, Neptunes (Malta), Los Angeles (USA),
Medveščak (Zagreb)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Siniša Školneković
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000
Member of the national team who won the silver medal at
1999 European Championship in Florence and holder of the
1996 European Club and 1996 European Super Cup titles
Clubs: POŠK, Jadran (Split), Mladost (Zagreb)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Ratko Štritof
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and
Athens 2004
Member of the national team who won the silver medal at
European Championships (Florence 1999 and Kranj 2003)
and holder of the 1989, 1990, 1996 and 2005 European Club
titles and the 1999 Cup Winners Cup title
Clubs: Mladost (Zagreb), Posillipo, Naples, Syracusa, Florentia,
Florence (Italy)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
Renato Vrbičić
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team and holder of the 1991 and 1992
European Club titles and the 1999 Cup Winners Cup and the
2001 LEN Cup titles
Clubs: Solaris, Šibenik (Šibenik), Jadran (Split), Catania,
Civitavecchia (Italy)
Zdeslav Vrdoljak
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996 and Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at the
2007 World Championship in Melbourne and holder of the 1996
European Club titles and the 1996 European Super Cup title
Clubs: Mornar, Jadran, POŠK (Split), Mladost (Zagreb) Padova
(Italy)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar and the Order of Croatian Plaitwork
Tino Vegar
Olympic silver medallist at Atlanta 1996
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996
Member of the national team who won the silver medal at the
1987 European Championship in Strasbourg, gold medal at the
1987 FINA Cup in Thessaloniki and holder of the 1996 European
Club titles and the 1983 and 1996 European Super Cup titles
Clubs: POŠK, Jadran (Split), Mladost, Medveščak (Zagreb)
Posillipo, Ortigia (Italy)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
107
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
108
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYIMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM ATLANTA
OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST AND CROATIAN FLAG BEARER
Perica Bukić
With three Olympic medals – two gold
medals (Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul
1988) and one silver (Atlanta 1996),
two World Champion titles (Madrid
1986 and Perth 1991) and over 40
trophies from world and European cups
and championships, Mediterranean
games and world university games,
Perica Bukić is one of the world’s most
decorated water polo players.
I
t was already at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los
Angeles that he was decorated with his first gold
medal as an exceptionally talented 18-year old
player. His talent and skills were confirmed four
years later, at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, when
he received another gold medal. At the Atlanta Games,
besides winning the silver medal on the team that he
was also the captain of, he also carried the Croatian flag
at the Opening Ceremony.
Perica Bukić was born in Šibenik on 20 February
1966. He started his long and successful career as an
athlete and official in his home water polo club of
Solaris in 1979. At the same time, he also studied and
received a degree in Economics.
As a member of the Yugoslav team, he won the gold
medal at the 1986 World Championship in Madrid and
the 1991 in Perth and silver medals at the European
Championships in Sofia 1987, Strasbourg 1992 and
Bonn 1989.
He played 300 games on the Yugoslav national team
from 1983 to 1991 and 150 games on the Croatian
national team from 1992 to 1998. During his long
career, Bukić only played for three clubs: Solaris
(Šibenik), Mladost (Zagreb) and Jadran (Split) and won
four European club titles (with Mladost in 1989, 1990
and 1996, and with Jadran in 1992) With Mladost, he
won the 1999 European Cup Winners Cup, the 1989
and 1996 European Super Cup and the 2001 LEN Cup.
After the end of his career as a player, he held the
post of the Mladost Water Polo Club Director from
2001 to 2008 and the President of the Croatian Water
Polo Federation from 2004 to 2010. During his term
in the National Federation, Croatia won the world and
European titles.
He was a member of the Croatian Olympic
Committee Council from 2000 to 2004 and President
of the Croatian Olympians Club from 2001 to 2004. In
2003, Bukić was elected to the Croatian Parliament and
he served two terms there. Since 2010, he has held the
post of the Vice-President and Director of the Croatian
Water Polo Federation.
Perica Bukić received the Franjo Bučar National
Sports Award twice: the first one as an individual in
1991 and the second in 1996 as the captain and member
of the national team, who won the silver medal at
the Atlanta Olympic Games. He was inducted into
the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort
Lauderdale on 13 July 2008.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Nagano 1998
Olympic Winter Games
(7 - 22 February 1998)
- The XVIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES NAGANO 1998 WERE THE LAST GAMES IN THE 20th CENTURY. They included 2,339
athletes (of whom 787 women) coming from 72 countries. 10,376 media members covered the Games. 2,568 were
print media members, almost as many as at Lillehammer 1994 (2,578). There were 5,737 international broadcast
media members and as many as 2,053 Japanese broadcast media members.
- JAPANESE EMPEROR AKIHITO OPENED THE GAMES AND FORMER FIGURE SKATING WORLD CHAMPION AND 1992 OLYMPIC
SILVER MEDALLIST FROM ALBERTVILLE MIDORI ITO LIT THE OLYMPIC FLAME. Nordic combined skier Kenji Ogiwara took
the Olympic Oath on behalf of the athletes.
Croatia’s Athletes in Nagano
T
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Janica Kostelić
At the Closing Ceremony:
Vedran Pavlek
he XVIII Olympic Winter
Games in Nagano featured
Croatia’s largest Olympic team
until then. Janica Kostelić,
then 16 years old new promising alpine
skier from Croatia’s capital of Zagreb,
also participated and had the honour of
carrying the Croatian flag at the Opening
Ceremony.
Janica Kostelić competed in all alpine skiing events. Her 8th place in the
combined event was the best result any Croatian athlete had ever achieved in
the history of the Olympic Winter Games. She finished 26th in the super giant
slalom, 25th in the downhill, 24th in the giant slalom and she did not finish her
slalom race.
Vedran Pavlek, who had participated in three Olympic Games as Croatia’s only
Olympic alpine skier before the Japan Games, finished his career as an athlete
there after finishing 28th in the giant slalom and 30th in the super giant slalom.
He had the honour of carrying the Croatian flag at the Closing Ceremony. Renato
Gašpar finished 32nd in the super-G and did not finish his giant slalom race.
Chef de Mission: Darko Dujmović
Chef de Mission at the Nagano
1998 Winter Olympic Games, the
Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympic
Games, Chef de Mission at the
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games,
Deputy Chef de Mission at the
Bari 1997 Mediterranean Games,
Chef de Mission at the Tunis
2011 Mediterranean Games and
other multi-sport events (EYOF).
He held the post of the Sports Director and Olympic
Program Director at the Croatian Olympic Committee.
He received the 2010 Franjo Bučar National Sports
Lifetime Achievement Award.
110
Alpine skier Thomas Lodler finished 23rd in the giant slalom and figure skater
Ivana Jakupčević was 25th in the short program, which wasn’t enough for her to
get in the group of 24 skaters who advanced to the free skating portion.
Croatian Olympic Delegation to Nagano
Chef de Mission: Darko Dujmović
ATHLETES:
Alpine skiing: Janica Kostelić, Vedran Pavlek, Renato Gašpar, Thomas Lodler
Cross-country skiing: Antonio Rački
Figure skating: Ivana Jakupčević
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
111
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Bari 1997
Mediterranean Games
(13 - 15 june 1997)
C
roatian athletes, who had contributed to this competition and its
significance in the development of international sport from the very
beginning, participated in the XIII Mediterranean Games, held in Bari
from 13 to 25 June 1997, for the second time under their own flag.
The 239 members of the Croatian delegation, led by Chef de Mission Matija
Ljubek, competed in 26 sports and won 33 medals: 6 gold, 16 silver and 11 bronze.
On the occasion of the 1997
Mediterranean Games, the
Croatian Olympic Committee
published a publication –
guidebook titled Bari 1997
Croatian Mediterranean Team.
Its cover was designed by
eminent Croatian designer
Boris Ljubičić, who also
designed the official
symbol and flag of the VIII
Mediterranean Games held
in Split in 1979. From that
year on, the International
Mediterranean Games
Committee adopted that
symbol with three Olympic
rings as the permanent symbol
of the Mediterranean Games.
The symbol received the
highest recognition when it
was listed in the book titled
100 Years World Trademarks.
Gold Medal Winning Handball Team
GOLD MEDALS: coxless four: Oliver Martinov, Krešimir Čuljak, Marko Banović,
Branimir Vujević; Tamara Boroš and Eldijana Aganović (table tennis), men’s
handball team: Goran Perkovac, Valter Matošević, Valner Franković, Božidar
Jović, Miro Barišić, Mario Bjeliš, Goran Jerković, Mirza Džomba, Enes Halkić,
Davor Dominiković, Silvio Ivandija, Igor Kos, Dragan Jerković, Neno Boban,
Mario Kelentrić, Mladen Prskalo; Suzana Skoko and Roman Špirelja (shooting)
and women’s basketball team: Vanda Baranović; Vedrana Grgin, Sonja Kireta,
Korana Longin, Slavica Pretreger, Monika Kovač, Emilija Podrug, Amra Đapo,
Tihana Abrlić, Katarina Maloča, Lidija Gnjidić, Mirjana Tabak.
SILVER MEDALS: Krešimir Čač, Miloš Milošević, Gordan Kožulj and Marko
Strahija (swimming), Valter Ivančić and Bojan Novak (boccia), women’s handball
team: Indira Botica, Snježana Petika, Renata Pavličić, Nataša Kolega, Samira
Hasagić, Irina Maljko, Božica Gregurić, Vlatka Mihoci, Renata Damjanić, Paula
Glavaš, Marija Čelina, Klaudija Bubalo, Helena Lulić, Irena Pušić, Vesna Horaček,
Ljubica Peršinović; Saša Špirelja (shooting), Branko Zorko (athletics), men’s water
polo team: Ognjen Kržić, Vjekoslav Kobešćak, Ivo Ivaniš, Mile Smodlaka, Dalibor
Perčinić, Hrvoje Herceg, Igor Hinić, Tomislav Rogin, Zdeslav Vrdoljak, Ratko
Štritof, Alen Bošković, Frano Vićan, Samir Barać; double scull: Hrvoje Telišman,
Daniel Bajlo and coxless pair: Tihomir Franković, Igor Boraska (rowing); Stipe
Drviš (boxing), Alexei Demyanov (gymnastics), Mario Miketek (wrestling) and
Zoran Primorac and Tamara Boroš (table tennis).
BRONZE MEDALS: men’s volleyball team: IvanDonald Marić, Darko Antunović, Ante Jakovčević, Boris
Osmokrović, Stanislav Zimakijević, Domagoj Krnić, Vadim
Yevtukhovich,
Yuriy Voriskiyevich, Igor Jurčić, Boris Zorica, Edin Bajković,
Zoran Periškić; Mladenka Malenica (shooting), Stipe
Damjanović (wrestling), Stevimir Ercegovac (athletics),
Zoran Primorac and Damir Atiković (table tennis), Krešimir
Čač (swimming), Mirko Filipović (boxing), Dražen Funtak
(kayak/canoe) Petra Banović (long distance swimming), and
Ana Sršen (disability swimming).
Besides 33 medals, Croatian athletes returned from
Bari with a gentlemanly conduct award – gymnast Alexei
Demyanov received the Fair Play Trophy.
112
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Brief
Olympic
Reminder
113
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Who Is Who
from 1995 to 2000
Croatian Olympic
Academy Founded
Zagreb 1996
Acting in accordance with the
rules of the IOC Olympic Charter
stipulating the role and tasks of
National Olympic Committees in
the area of the promotion of basic
Olympic principles at national
levels, the COC Council made a
decision to found the Croatian
Olympic Academy (COA) at its 58th
meeting in Zagreb on 27 June 1996.
COC Council
COC President
Antun Vrdoljak,
COC Vice-Presidents
Zdravko Hebel
Matija Ljubek (until 1997)
Rato Tvrdić (from 1997)
Members
Ante Drpić, Sanda Dubravčić Šimunjak,
Zdravko Fain, Katica Ileš (from 1997), Jurica
Malčić, Suad Rizvanbegović (from 1997),
Vedran Rožić, Damir Škaro (until 1998),
Miroslav Fajerbach (until 1999), Đurđa Fočić
Šourek (from 1999), Slavko Podgorelec (COC
Secretary General)
Supervisory Board
Chairman
Ivan Jelenčić
Members
Stipe Ćurković
Dražen Orešćanin
Radovan Lipovščak
Želimir Feitl
The objectives of the Academy are
to promote cultural values, train
sports staff in fair play, ethics and
moral principles and promote the
Olympic ideals at the national level
and on behalf of the international
Olympic community. At the
beginning, the Croatian Olympic
Academy acted as a body of the
COC Council and was under
its direct authority. Croatian
Minister of Culture Božo Biškupić
was appointed its President for a
term ending in 2000 and Darko
Dujmović was appointed its
Secretary.
The Croatian Olympic Academy
was registered as an institution in
2003. A Board of five members is
managing it today. COC President
Zlatko Mateša held the post of
the COA President for some time;
Franjo Prot has been holding the
post since 3 December 2008. Milan
Kolman is the COA Director.
Olympism in Europe –
The State and Sport
Zagreb 1996
The Croatian Olympic Committee
organised a panel discussion
titled Olympism in Europe – The
State and Sport in Zagreb on 12
September 1996. At the invitation
of IOC Member and COC President
Antun Vrdoljak, eminent guests,
IOC members, then EOC President
Jacques Rogge and Secretary
General Mario Pescante held
lectures on this very current topic.
Members of the COC Council and
114
Jacques Rogge
Arbitration Body, representatives
of national sports associations, the
media and numerous prominent
sports figures participated in
this panel discussion at the
Intercontinental Hotel. It was
chaired by COC President and
IOC member Antun Vrdoljak and
COC Secretary General Slavko
Podgorelec.
The prominent guests Jacques
Rogge and Mario Pescante were
received by then Croatian Prime
Minister Zlatko Mateša.
COC Becomes
Full Member of ENGSO
Reykjavik 1998
At the 6th General Assembly of
the European Non-Governmental
Sports Organisations (ENGSO),
held in Reykjavik, the capital of
Iceland, from 24 to 28 April 1998,
the Croatian Olympic Committee
(together with the NOCs of Ireland,
Greenland and Cyprus) was granted
full membership in this association,
which included 40 countries then.
The Croatian Olympic Committee
delegation consisting of then VicePresident Zdravko Hebel and COC
Council member Jurica Malčić,
participated in the work of the
General Assembly.
Topics, which ENGSO focuses
on, are the position of sport in
Europe, cooperation at all levels
of social responsibility within the
European Union, social and political
dialogue in sport, autonomy of
sports organisations, education, the
role of volunteers in sport, sport
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
and health, position of children
and youth in sport and especially
cooperation with the European
Olympic Committees, which gather
49 National Olympic Committees.
Defining the role of young persons in
sport resulted in the Youth Olympic
Games, first held in 2010, and in
the ENGSO Youth organisation.
Forums, which have been held since
the foundation of ENGSO, have a
special place in its activities. The
first forum was held in Vilnius, the
capital of Lithuania, on 24 and 25
October 1998. COC Vice-President
Zdravko Hebel participated in it
among 74 participants coming from
19 countries; he held a presentation
titled Structure and Financing of
Sport in Croatia. The Croatian
Olympic Committee was also one
of its successful hosts – it hosted
the 13th ENGSO forum on the topic
of Social Inclusion and Education
through Sport in Dubrovnik on 8
and 9 October 2010.
The Croatian Olympic Committee,
which has been actively
participating in ENGSO since
the very beginning, appointed
Romana Caput Jogunica as
its representative. Jogunica, a
University professor of Kinesiology
from Zagreb, was elected a
member of the ENGSO Executive
Committee in 2007.
International Seminar
on Women and Sport
Zagreb 1998
Organised by the IOC in
cooperation with the Croatian
Olympic Committee, and chaired
by IOC Vice President Anita
DeFrantz, a European Seminar on
Women and Sport was held at the
Sheraton Hotel in Zagreb on 9 and
10 September 1998.
Over 50 eminent representatives of
European sport and the Olympic
movement talked about how to
enhance the role of women in sport
and the Olympic movement. They
also discussed the role of the state
in the development of women’s
status in sport, women’s health
care through sport and physical
activity, as well as political, cultural
and other obstacles. “Although
there are obstacles at the political
level, governmental and nongovernmental institutions should
promote the role of women in
sport, as should the media.” This
was one of the conclusions of the
key-note speaker at the conference
and Chief of the IOC Section for
Women’s Advancement, Katia
Mascagni Stivachtis.
Eminent Olympian and former
U.S. rower Anita DeFrantz, the first
female Vice President in the history
of the Olympic movement, warned
that there was a need for more
scientific knowledge about women
in sport, who should participate
more in decision-making. She also
made many recommendations
regarding greater gender equality.
On behalf of the host, the Croatian
Olympic Committee, its President
and IOC Member Antun Vrdoljak
welcomed those present. He
pointed out the positive results of
the Croatian Olympic Committee –
Anita DeFrantz
more and more women participated
in Croatia’s sporting life. One of
the ways to institutionalise this was
to establish the COC Women in
Sport Commission, which, among
other things, deserved credit for
organisation of such a distinguished
international gathering.
Sanda Dubravčić Šimunjak,
Croatian Olympian, physician and
member of the COC Committee on
the Care for Women in Sport, spoke
about the position of women in
Croatian sport. The Committee was
chaired by another Olympian, an
Olympic handball silver medallist
Katica Ileš.
The IOC Women in Sport seminar
gathered women representatives
of the Croatian state authorities.
The seminar was opened by Deputy
Speaker of the Croatian Parliament
Jadranka Kosor and closed with an
address by Deputy Prime Minister
Ljerka Mintas Hodak on 10
September.
Anita DeFrantz and Antun Vrdoljak
were received by Croatian Prime
Minister Zlatko Mateša, who
gave full support to the Olympic
movement and its commitment to
equal participation of women in all
areas of sport and society.
First Spokespersons
for Croatia’s Olympians
COC 1998
Women and Sport Seminar, Zagreb, 9 and 10 September 1998
In accordance with the
recommendation of the
International Olympic Committee,
the Croatian Olympic Committee
115
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Council made a decision to appoint
the first Olympian spokespersons
on 28 May 1998.
Danira Nakić-Bilić, top basketball
player, Olympic silver medallist
(Seoul 1988) and member of
the Committee on the Care for
Women in Sport, was appointed the
spokeswoman for the care for women
in sport. Marko Banović, a rower,
architect with a Masters degree and
member of the COC Committee
for Sport and Environment, was
appointed the spokesman for sport
and environment.
First Youth
World Games
Moscow 1998
(11 – 19 July)
The First Youth World Games were
held in Moscow from 11 to 19 July
1998. 7500 young athletes from 137
countries competed there, among
them also 94 Croatian athletes, who
competed in 10 sports. 21 of them
– 7 track and field athletes and 14
handball players – won 5 medals.
Silver medals were won by Vera
Begić (48.70 m – discus throw),
Ljiljana Ćulibrk (4:21.11 min 1500 m), women’s 4x100 m relay
(Rukavina, Rubin, Karanikić,
Perošević - 47.68 s).
Bronze medals were won by Luka
Aračić (7.41 m – long jump), men’s
handball team (qualifications:
Croatia – Egypt 34-28, Croatia –
France 29-29, Croatia – Spain 22-29;
semi-final Croatia – Russia 18-34;
bronze medal game: Croatia –
Portugal 30-28.).
The Games, which were held under
the auspices of the IOC, whose
President Juan Antonio Samaranch
attended the Opening Ceremony
with Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov,
were opened by then Russian
President Boris Yeltsin on 13 July.
It was the first time in history
that the Olympic flame was lit
outside of the Olympic protocol
at Greece’s Olympia and brought
to Moscow, where it burned at the
Luzhniki Stadium until the end of
competition of the athletes born in
1980 and later.
116
Besides the athletes, the Croatian
delegation to the Ist Youth World
Games included Matija Ljubek –
Chef de Mission, Darko Dujmović
– Deputy Chef de Mission, Ante
Drpić – Press and Information
Officer, Dragica Stjepanović –
Accreditation and Administration
Officer and Radiša Mladenović Photographer.
The Mission also included medical
staff led by Boris Topić and
physiotherapists Mira Biondić and
Stevo Kuric.
First Croatian
Conference on Sport
Zagreb 1999
Numerous scholars and experts
from the fields of sport, medicine,
public management and legislation,
economy, economics, marketing,
information sciences, sociology and
other areas related to sport, as well
as representatives of the media,
gathered at the First Croatian
Conference on Sport, organised by
the Croatian Olympic Committee in
Zagreb, on 14 and 15 May 1999. The
topic was “Croatian Sport for the
21st Century – Current Status and
Development of Croatian Sport”.
On the eve of a new century, taking
into account global technological
and organisational achievements
in sport, the Croatian Olympic
Committee considered it necessary
to gather all Croatian scholars
and experts to find a solution
for the development of Croatian
sport as an interdisciplinary
action and integral element of the
international Olympic movement.
Sports Arbitration and
Croatian Olympic
Committee
Zagreb 1999
To resolve sports disputes and
various issues pertaining to legal
protection in sport, the Croatian
Olympic Committee founded
the Arbitration Body in 1994
and appointed eminent lawyersathletes and sports officials to
Jurica Malčić
it: Jurica Malčić as Chairman,
Darko Dujmović as Secretary and
Branka Batinić, Vlado Juriša, Ivan
Kern, Vedran Rožić, Damir Škaro
and Rato Tvrdić as members.
The activities of the Arbitration
Body had a great influence on
the regulation of this area in the
Sports Act (1997), in accordance
with the provisions of which the
COC founded independent and
autonomous sports arbitration
bodies in 1999 – the Sports
Arbitration Council and Arbitration
Tribunal.
The authority and composition of
and rules of arbitration procedures
before the Sports Arbitration
Council and Arbitration Tribunal
are stipulated by the Sports
Arbitration Rules and Regulations.
It also devised arbitration rules,
which stipulate their authority and
composition, and the arbitration
procedure, mediation procedure,
legal remedies, and COC Sports
Arbitration Council procedure
regulations.
Their task is resolving sports
disputes, as well as reviewing
decisions of sports associations
if other legal remedies have
been exhausted or there are no
other ways of legal protection.
Particularly important are decisions
on disciplinary measures and on
doping issues, procedures imposing
or implying long term ban from
sports competitions, those referring
to Olympic candidates and toplevel athletes, principles and
conditions of sports competitions
and other issues stipulated by the
COC Bylaws.
Since 1999, the Sports Arbitration
Council, which functions through
three smaller standing bodies today,
has deliberated on over a hundred
appeals for extraordinary review
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Nataša Vezmar
lighting the
flame at the
Opening
Ceremony of
the 2nd World
Military Games
in Zagreb
of decisions, requests for opinions
or other requests, and produced
decisions in accordance with sports
arbitration rules.
Sports Arbitration Council
1999 –2004
Chairman: Jurica Malčić
Deputy Chairman: Hrvoje
Momčinović.
Members: Ivica Crnić, Dražen
Franolić, Igor Gliha, Duško
Grabovac, Stanko Hautz, Andrej
Matijević, Ljerka Mintas-Hodak,
Alica Pelicarić, Marijan Prus, Zlatan
Turčić, Mladen Žuvela.
Sports Arbitration Council
2004 – 2009
Chairman: Jurica Malčić
Deputy Chairman: Hrvoje
Momčinović
Members: Ivica Crnić, Dražen
Franolić, Igor Gliha, Duško
Grabovac, Stanko Hautz, Andrej
Matijević, Ljerka Mintas-Hodak,
Alica Pelicarić, Marijan Prus, Zlatan
Turčić, Mladen Žuvela.
Secretary: Ivan Magličić
Sport Arbitration Council
2009 –2014
Chairman: Jurica Malčić
Deputy Chairman: Hrvoje
Momčilović
Members: Igor Gliha, Stanko Hautz,
Andrej Matijević, Alica Pelicarić,
Zlatan Turčić, Mladen Žuvela, Arno
Vičić, Siniša Petrović, Damir
Kramarić, Branimir Pocrnić and
Miljenko Guinio
Secretary: Ivan Magličić
II World Military
Games
Zagreb 1999
(8 – 17 August)
Under the motto Friendship
through Sport, the II World Military
Games were held in Zagreb from
7 to 17 August 1999. Over 6,500
soldier-athletes from around 80
countries competed in 24 sports.
The Organising Committee led by
General Josip Lucić hosted over
30,000 accredited persons, 1,000
accompanying persons and 500
media members from the whole
world.
Competitions took place at sports
venues in Zagreb: the Maksimir
Stadium, Jarun, Mladost, Šalata
Sports and Recreation Centres,
Dražen Petrović Basketball Centre,
Zagreb Sports Hall and others.
The 2nd World Military Games
were opened by Croatian President
Franjo Tuđman, under whose
auspices they were held, at the
Maksimir Football Stadium on
8 August 1999. IOC President
Juan Antonio Samaranch, COC
President and IOC Member
Antun Vrdoljak, President of the
International Military Sports
Council (CISM) Colonel Gianni
Golo, II World Military Games
Director General Josip Lucić and
many other prominent sporting,
political and public figures attended
the Opening Ceremony.
Croatia won 16 gold, 19 silver and 19
bronze medals and placed 4th in the
medal count (behind Russia, China
and Italy).
The first World Military Games
were held in Rome in 1995; 4000
soldier-athletes from 83 countries
participated, including those from
Croatia.
Gold medal winning Croatian women’s volleyball team
117
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
members, sports historians and
the most eminent figures of sports
journalism: Neven Bertičević,
Franjo Frntić, Đurđa Fočić-Šourek,
Zdravko Hebel, Katica Ileš, Zdenko
Jureša, Franjo Njegač, Žarko Susić
and Zdenko Uzorinac.
Since 2006, thanks to the
cooperation with the Ministry
of Science, Education and Sport,
Olimp has been available to all
elementary and secondary schools
and universities. It is also available
to readers worldwide in electronic
form with summaries in English in
Croatia’s Digital Archives.
First Issue of Olimp Magazine
COC 1999
The first issue of the new
magazine of the Croatian Olympic
Committee titled Olimp (Croatian
for Olympus) was published in
September 1999. It followed the
tradition of History of Croatian
Sport magazine, which had been
published for 30 years, from 1970.
The Editor in Chief throughout
all that time, for all its 120 issues,
was Franjo Frntić, eminent sports
official and sports historian.
After 120 issues, the need arose
for a more modern magazine,
which would continue the
tradition of History of Sport, but
also write about current topics in
Croatian and international sport,
especially those from Croatian and
international Olympic movement.
This is why the Croatian Olympic
Committee Council made a
decision to found Olimp Magazine,
a modern magazine with an
independent section on history as
a continuation of the History of
Croatian Sport.
Mario Zorko and Ante Drpić were
appointed the Olimp Editors
in Chief and its first editorial
staff consisted of COC Council
Editors in chief
Mario Zorko
and Ante Drpić,
COC President
Antun Vrdoljak,
COC Secretary
General Slavko
Podgorelec
and COC
Vice-President
Zdravko Hebel
118
Many prominent figures from
Croatian and international sport
have granted interviews to Olimp,
among whom Antun Vrdoljak,
Zlatko Mateša, IOC Presidents Juan
Antonio Samaranch and Jacques
Rogge. Numerous athletes who
have left their mark on Croatian
and international sport through
decades have been featured in the
section titled Olympic Legends.
The first few issues of the History
of Croatian Sport section were
edited by Franjo Frntić and Franjo
Njegač, but Zdenko Jajčević soon
took over and edited the section
until 2009 to be succeeded by Ana
Popovčić.
No original editorial staff members
are still on the staff, some have
unfortunately also passed away in
the meantime, but their visions
and ideas are still developed by the
current editorial staff: Saša Ceraj,
Gordana Gaćeša, Radica Jurkin,
Siniša Krajač, Jura Ozmec, Ana
Popovčić, Nada Senčar and Ivan
Škoro, as well as Ante Drpić, who
has been the Editor in Chief of all
Olimp issues to date.
The first issue of Olimp magazine
was presented by IOC Member
and then COC President Antun
Vrdoljak at the Zrinjevac Boccia
Hall in Zagreb on 16 July 1999.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
119
XXVII Olympiad
From Sydney to Athens
(2000 - 2004)
T
he period of the XXVII Olympiad will be remembered by outstanding successes of
Janica Kostelić, who left her mark on this period by winning three gold medals and
one silver at Salt Lake City and confirming her extraordinary career as the most
successful female alpine skier in the history of the Olympic Winter Games.
This period will also be remembered by Croatia’s first individual gold medal at Summer
Games since the declaration of its independence. It was the gold medal won at Sydney by
weightlifter Nikolay Pechalov, who stepped on the podium again in Athens, four years later,
to receive a bronze medal.
On the other hand, Croatian sport was going through financial and organisational
restructuring. At the extraordinary meeting of the Croatian Olympic Committee held on 16
October 2002, Zlatko Mateša, former Croatian Prime Minister and Member of Parliament,
took over the post of the COC President.
The treatment of top-level athletes (who, as everybody agrees, are all very successful
ambassadors for Croatia) by the state was also defined then. By the decision made on 3
April 2003, the Croatian Government bound itself to pay prizes to Olympic and Paralympic
medallists, as well as to those from men’s and women’s world championships and cups.
This was the first time that the issue of awarding top-level athletes and team officials was
systematically addressed.
Me
d
G
Fou
r
Ja
s
'
a
c d
i
n o l a ls
120
Successes of Croatian Athletes at Men and Women: 302 medals
World and European Championships WCh 150 - 53 gold, 38 silver, 59 bronze
ECh 152 - 37 gold, 55 silver, 60 bronze
Juniors and Cadets: 221 medal
WCh 122 - 39 gold, 41 silver, 42 bronze
ECh 99 - 33 gold, 37 silver, 29 bronze
121
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Sydney 2000
Olympic Games
(15 September - 1 October 2000)
- THE XXVI OLYMPIC GAMES, HELD IN SYDNEY FROM 15 SEPTEMBER TO 1 OCTOBER 2000, included 10,651 athletes (4,069
women and 6,582 men) from 200 countries. They competed in 300 events in 28 sports. 16,033 media members
(5,298 print and 10,735 broadcast media members) covered the Games. There were 46,967 volunteers.
- GOVERNOR GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA SIR WILLIAM DEANE OPENED THE GAMES AND SPRINTER CATHY FREEMAN LIT THE
OLYMPIC FLAME. Field hockey player Rechelle Hawkes took the Olympic Oath on behalf of the athletes and water
polo referee Peter Kerr on behalf of all officials.
First Individual Gold
O
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Zoran Primorac
At the Closing Ceremony:
Igor Boraska
Medals:
GOLD
Nikolay Pechalov
Weightlifting (-62 kg)
BRONZE
Rowing men’s eight
Igor Boraska, Tihomir
Franković, Krešimir
Čuljak, Branimir Vujević,
Tomislav Smoljanić,
Nikša Skelin, Siniša
Skelin, cox Silvijo
Petriško
ne could not have imagined a better beginning of the Games of the
XXVII Olympiad. It was already on the second day of competition
that the -62 weight class weightlifting competition took place at
the Convention Centre. Croatia’s representative Nikolay Pechalov
tactically outwitted and bested three-time Olympic Champion and one of the
most famous weightlifters today, Naim Suleymanoglu of Turkey, who had come
to win his fourth Olympic gold.
In the snatch event, Pechalov announced the 140 kg starting weight only
to raise it to 145 kg when he was stepping on the platform. This is how he
outwitted Suleymanoglu, who had to raise the weight to 142.5 kg according to
rules, but failed to lift it in three attempts. This is how Nikolay got rid of the
most serious opponent. But there was still excellent Greek competitor Leonidas
Sabanis, who easily lifted 147.5 kg. Pechalov responded with 150 kg, which he
failed to lift in the second attempt, but he did succeed in the last attempt. He
took the lead and practically secured the gold medal. Superbly prepared and
motivated, Pechalov could not lose the great advantage as the clean and jerk
event is a matter of technique. When he lifted 175 kg on his first clean and jerk
attempt, he definitely secured the gold medal and set a new Olympic record and
tied the world record with 325 kg. As he had two more attempts left, Pechalov
announced 185 kg – three times his body weight – but failed to lift it. However,
he had a 7.5 kg advantage over Sabanis, who finished second, and Oleshchuk of
Belarus, who finished third.
Nikolay Pechalov’s gold medal raised the spirits on the Croatian Olympic
team, but despite the expectations and a number of good performances,
Croatia’s athletes did not manage to win more medals right away. Hopes
were raised by an excellent performance of the men’s eight rowing crew,
who brilliantly won the heat and advanced directly to the final. Already the
participation in the Olympic final of the most elite rowing event was a great
success. But the squad led by coach Igor Čulin did not think in that way and
decided to do their best on the ninth, last day of the rowing competition at the
Penrith Lakes.
In the last event of the rowing regatta, Croatia’s eight had an excellent
start and they closely followed the brilliant Great Britain crew, who included
Croatian-born Luka Grubor. The Croatian eight kept their strokes strong and
synchronised and almost came abreast with Great Britain halfway through
122
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
123
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Chef de Mission: Matija Ljubek
Chef de Mission at Sydney 2000
Olympic Games, Chef de Mission
at the Bari 1997 Mediterranean
Games, three-time Olympic athlete
and four-time Olympic canoe
medallist: at Montreal 1976 (gold
and bronze), Moscow 1980, Los
Angeles 1984 (gold and silver)
and ten-time world medallist (4 gold, 3 silver and 3
bronze medals). He was Vice-President of the Croatian
Olympic Committee from its foundation in 1991 to
1995 and Executive Director and Multi-Sport Events
Director from 1996 until his death in 2000. He was
posthumously awarded the Franjo Bučar National
Sports Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.
the race. At the 1500m mark, they were 2 seconds behind Great Britain, but 1.5
seconds ahead of Australia, who picked up the pace, as did Italy. Croatia kept
up relentlessly. Australia overtook them at the finish but Croatia managed to
outperform Italy to win the bronze medal, leaving behind rowing giants Italy,
USA and Romania.
Croatian Olympic Delegation to Sydney 2000
The Croatian Olympic team consisted of 91 athletes, of whom 23 were women,
who competed in 12 sports: athletics, weightlifting, sailing, kayak/canoe,
volleyball, swimming, table tennis, shooting, taekwondo, tennis, water polo,
rowing
Chef de Mission: Matija Ljubek
Deputy Chef de Mission: Darko Dujmović
Members: Maja Gencel, Nikolina Otržan, Ante Drpić (Press Attache)
Olympic Attache: Michael Komadina
ATHLETES:
Athletics: Frano Bakarić, Tihomir Buinjac, Ivana Brkljačić, Stevimir Ercegovac,
Siniša Ergotić, Nino Habun, Andras Haklits, Darko Juričić, Slaven Krajačić,
Dragan Mustapić, Ivica Nekić, Kristina Perica, Elvis Peršić, Blanka Vlašić, Dejan
Vojnović, Branko Zorko
Kayak/canoe: Danko Herceg, Andrej Glücks, Nikica Ljubek, Dražen Funtak
Rowing: Ivan Jukić, Tihomir Jarnjević, Ninoslav Saraga, Oliver Martinov, Igor
Boraska, Tihomir Franković, Krešimir Čuljak, Igor Francetić, Branimir Vujević,
Tomislav Smoljanović, Nikša Skelin, Siniša Skelin and cox Silvijo Petriško
Sailing: Mate Arapov, Toni and Ivan Bulaja, Karlo Kuret
Shooting: Mladenka Malenica, Roman Špirelja
Swimming: Vanja Rogulj, Marijan Kanjer, Ivan Mladina, Duje Draganja, Alen
Lončar, Gordan Kožulj, Marko Strahija, Sandro Tomas, Smiljana Marinović,
Petra Banović, Miloš Milošević, Marijana Šurković, Lovrenco Franičević, Tinka
Dančević, Krešimir Čač
Table tennis: Eldijana Aganović, Tamara Boroš, Andrea Bakula, Zoran Primorac
Taekwondo: Nataša Vezmar
Tennis: Iva Majoli, Silvija Talaja, Goran Ivanišević, Ivan Ljubičić, Mario Ančić
Volleyball: Marija Anzulović, Elena Chebukina, Patricija Daničić, Biljana
Gligorović, Vesna Jelić, Barbara Jelić, Gordana Jurcan, Ana Kaštelan, Nataša Leto,
Marijana Ribičić, Beti Romeac, Ingrid Siscovich
Water polo: Samir Barač, Alen Bošković, Elvis Fatović, Igor Hinić, Ivo Ivaniš,
Vjekoslav Kobešćak, Ognjen Kržić, Višeslav Sarić, Mile Smodlaka, Dubravko
Šimenc, Siniša Školneković, Ratko Štritof, Frano Vićan
Weightlifting: Nikolay Pechalov
Ivana Brkljačić
TEAM LEADERS: Žarko Martinek (athletics), Branko Lovrić (kayak/canoe),
Srećko Šuk (rowing), Igor Božičević (sailing), Ivan Varvodić (swimming), Snježana
Mijić (volleyball), Jakov Matošić (water polo)
COACHES: Ivan Ivančić, Bojan Marinović, Georgi Draganov, Drago Palčić, Ivan
Veštić (athletics), Stjepan Perestegi, Laszlo Kovacs (kayak/canoe), Nikola Bralić,
Igor Čulin, Krešimir Ižaković (rowing), Minski Fabris, Tonči Antunović, Marko
Mišura (sailing), Ante Špirelja, Siniša Vitez (shooting), Dimitar Bobev, Mike
Bottom, Jure Topić, Alexandre Seleznev (swimming), Zlatko Novaković, Neven
Cegnar (table tennis), Ivica Klaić (taekwondo), Velimir Zovko (tennis), Ivica Jelić,
Nenad Komadina (volleyball), Neven Kovačević, Vojko Šegvić, Zoran Kačić (water
polo), Boško Čavka (weightlifting),
MEDICAL TEAM: Boris Labar, Damir Kovačić, Stjepan Bućan, Tomislav Kukin,
Vladimir Bošnjak, Dario Grgić, Robert Prusac, Mimi Vurdelja, Mira Biondić, Stevo
Kuric, Zdravko Beti, Emir Mujagić
Iva Majoli and Ivan Ljubičić
124
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
125
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM SYDNEY
WEIGHTLIFTING GOLD MEDALLIST
Nikolay Pechalov
Nikolay Pechalov, Olympic athlete and medallist,
won two medals for Croatia in his career - gold
and bronze (Sydney and Athens) - and two for
Bulgaria – silver and bronze (Barcelona and
Atlanta). He is one of the few weightlifters, who
participated in four Olympic Games and won a
medal each time.
H
e was born in the Bulgarian town of Pazardzik on
30 May 1970. He was granted Croatian citizenship
in 1998 with residence in Split. He got involved in
weightlifting at 12 in Bulgaria’s capital of Sofia, where
he also obtained coaching certifications.
At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Pechalov won the gold
medal in the -62 category, which will go down in the history of
Croatian sport as Croatia’s first individual Olympic gold medal.
Pechalov ended his long and successful career as an athlete with
his fourth participation in the Olympic Games in Athens, where he
stepped on the podium again after winning the bronze medal in
the -69 kg weight class.
At Sydney, Pechalov lifted almost incredible 150 kg in the
snatch event, to which he added 175 kg in the clean and jerk
event, and set a new Olympic record and tied the world record in
the -62 kg weight class with a total of 325 kg. His duel with then
the best weightlifter and three-time Olympic Champion Naim
Suleymanoglu of Turkey was one of the most interesting ones.
After that, “Great Naim” not only did not win a medal, but also
bombed out, failing to score at all.
Besides the four Olympic medals, Nikolay Pechalov won
almost 60 world, European and regional medals in his career, in
all age groups, and he also set world records 11 times. After an
exceptionally long and successful career as an athlete, he started
coaching young weightlifters in Croatia.
For his outstanding contribution to sport, Nikolay Pechalov
received the 2000 Franjo Bučar Croatian Sports Award.
126
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
127
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM SYDNEY
·Igor Boraska · Tihomir
Franković · Krešimir Čuljak
· Igor Francetić · Tomislav
Smoljanović · Branimir Vujević
· Nikša Skelin · Siniša Skelin
and cox Silvijo Petriško
The men’s rowing eight from Sydney received the 2000 Franjo Bučar National Sports Award
Igor Boraska
Olympic bronze medallist at Sydney 2000
Tomislav Smoljanović
Olympic bronze medallist at Sydney 2000
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996, Sydney
2000, Athens 2004 and Salt Lake City
(four-man bobsleigh)
Clubs: HVK Gusar (Split)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian
Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Olympic team member at Sydney 2000
Clubs: HVK Gusar (Split) and HAVK Mladost
(Zagreb)
Tihomir Franković
Olympic bronze medallist at Sydney 2000
Olympic team member at Sydney 2000 and
Athens 2004
Clubs: HVK Gusar (Split)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian
Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Krešimir Čuljak
Olympic bronze medallist at Sydney 2000
Olympic team member at Sydney 2000
Clubs: HAVK Mladost, VK Croatia and VK
Trešnjevka (Zagreb)
Nikša Skelin
Olympic silver and bronze medallist at Athens 2004
and Sydney 2000
Olympic team member at Sydney 2000,
Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Clubs: HVK Gusar (Split)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian
Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar
and the Order of Croatian Plaitwork.
Siniša Skelin
Olympic silver and bronze medallist at Athens 2004
and Sydney 2000
Igor Francetić
Olympic bronze medallist at Sydney 2000
Olympic team member at Sydney 2000,
Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Clubs: HVK Gusar (Split)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian
Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar
and the Order of Croatian Plaitwork.
Olympic team member at Sydney 2000
Clubs: VK Croatia and VK Trešnjevka (Zagreb)
Silvijo Petriško, coxswain
Olympic bronze medallist at Sydney 2000
Branimir Vujević
Olympic bronze medallist at Sydney 2000
Olympic team member at Sydney 2000,
Athens 2004
Clubs: VK Croatia (Zagreb)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian
Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Olympic team member at Sydney 2000
Clubs: VK Jadran (Zadar)
128
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
129
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
130
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM SYDNEY
CROATIAN FLAG BEARER
Zoran Primorac
Olympic table tennis silver medallist (Seoul 1988)
Zoran Primorac is Croatia’s only Olympic athlete, who
has participated in six Olympic Games: Seoul,
Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and Beijing, and
he has also qualified for his seventh Olympic Games
– the 2012 Games in London.
H
is rich collection contains over 30 medals from world and
European championships and Mediterranean Games. He
was born in Zadar on 10 May 1969, where he started his
long and successful career as a table tennis player, which is
still going on.
His first Olympic appearance was at Seoul 1988, when he won the
doubles silver medal with Ilie Lupulescu. His first Olympic Games
under the Croatian flag were the 1992 Games in Barcelona, when he
placed ninth in both the singles and doubles with Dragutin Šurbek. At
the 1996 Games in Atlanta, he finished in positions 9-16 in the singles
and 17-24 in the doubles with Damir Atiković.
At Sydney, where he had the honour of carrying the Croatian flag at
the Opening Ceremony, he lost out in the first round of the singles,
and in the second round at Athens 2004. At the 2008 Games in Beijing,
for which he qualified directly as one of the ITTF World Men’s Top 20
players, he lost out to Sweden’s Persson 4-1 in the singles qualification
round.
Zoran Primorac started his career in the Bagat Table Tennis Club in
the town of Zadar and won 7 European medals in the junior age group.
He changed clubs in 1985 and started playing for Vjesnik, Zagreb. He
won the doubles silver medal with Ilie Lupulescu at the 1987 World
Championships in New Delhi. To train with Lupulescu, he moved to
Belgrade and played for Partizan Club for two years. Later on, he also
played for Industrogradnja, Zagreb, and Royal Sporting Villete in the
Belgium city of Charleroi.
Primorac stood on the winners’ podium in various events at Olympic
Games, world and European championships and Mediterranean Games.
Besides the Olympic silver medal, his medal collections includes three
silver and three bronze medals from world championships, two gold,
five silver and seven bronze medals from European championships and
three gold, three silver and three bronze medals from Mediterranean
Games.
He received the 1993 Franjo Bučar Croatian Annual Sports Award for
his outstanding contribution to sports. He has been the Chairman of
the Croatian Olympians Club since 2010 and he is also the Chairman of
the ITTF Players Association.
131
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Salt Lake City 2002
Olympic Winter Games
(8 - 24 February 2002)
- THE XIX OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES, HELD IN SALT LAKE CITY, GATHERED ATHLETES FROM 77 NOCs, WHO COMPETED IN 78
EVENTS IN 15 SPORTS. Among 2,399 competitors, of whom 886 were women, there were also 14 Croatian athletes,
who competed in alpine and nordic skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh and figure skating. 8,730 media members (2,661 print
and 6,069 broadcast media members) covered the Games. There were 22,000 volunteers.
- U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH OPENED THE GAMES AND THE U.S. GOLD MEDAL-WINNING ICE HOCKEY TEAM FROM THE 1980
LAKE PLACID OLYMPIC GAMES LIT THE OLYMPIC FLAME. Skeleton athlete Jim Shea took the Olympic Oath on behalf of
the athletes and alpine skiing referee Allen Churs on behalf of all officials.
Four Medals of the
New Skiing Queen
A
t the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, the world got to
know the new skiing queen Janica Kostelić in full swing, winning as
many as four Olympic medals – three gold medals and one silver.
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Janica Kostelić
At the Closing Ceremony:
Ivan Šola
Medals:
GOLD
Janica Kostelić
alpine skiing
(giant slalom)
GOLD
Janica Kostelić
alpine skiing
(alpine combined)
In the crammed competition schedule of the Games, Janica decided to skip
the downhill to fully focus on the combined, in which she was considered the
favourite. Janica proved that on the race course later on. With two excellent
races in the combined slalom leg and a safe combined downhill run, she won
the first medal ever in the history of Croatian alpine skiing and Croatia’s first
medal at Olympic Winter Games.
Janica also had a brilliant super-G race, finishing only 0.05 seconds behind
the winner Daniela Ceccarelli of Italy. After the fast events were over, Janica
turned to the technical ones: she first won the slalom, outperforming France’s
Laura Pequegnot by 0.07 seconds to finish her series of victories with the best
times in both giant slalom races, winning her third gold medal and fourth
medal in total at Salt Lake City.
GOLD
Janica Kostelić
alpine skiing
(slalom)
With four medals, gold in the alpine combined, slalom and giant slalom, and
silver in the super giant slalom at the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake
City, Croatia’s best alpine skier managed to top two skiing legends - Anton
Sailer of Austria (Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956) and Jean Claude Killy of France
(Grenoble 1968) had been the only ones to win three gold medals at a single
Olympic Games since the first Olympic Winter Games held in Chamonix in
1924.
SILVER
Janica Kostelić
alpine skiing
(super giant slalom)
The Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games will also be remembered by
the fact that it was for the first time that Croatia had athletes competing in
bobsleigh and biathlon and also had the largest number of competitors since
declaration of independence: 14 athletes competing in 5 sports.
132
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Croatian Olympic Delegation
to Salt Lake City 2002
Chef de Mission: Darko Dujmović
ATHLETES:
Alpine skiing: Janica Kostelić, Nika Fleiss, Ana Jelušić, Ivica Kostelić
Biathlon: Žarko Galjanić
Bobsleigh: Ivan Šola, Boris Lovrić, Đuliano Koludra, Niki Drpić, Igor Boraska
Cross-country skiing: Maja Kezele, Damir Jurčević, Denis Klobučar
Figure skating: Idora Hegel
TEAM LEADERS: Vedran Pavlek (alpine skiing), Vilko Žiljak (bobsleigh)
COACHES: Ante Kostelić, Jurij Hafner, Slaven Petrović, Vincencij Jovan
(alpine skiing), Franjo Jakovac (biathlon), Zoran Skender, Duško Zatezalo
(cross-country skiing), Aleksandar Rožin (figure skating)
MEDICAL TEAM: Željko Šućur, Miodrag Radić
OTHERS: Boris Belamarić (bobsleigh), Ozren Müller (press attache of the alpine
skiing team)
Nika Fleiss
Vedran Pavlek
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLIST FROM SALT LAKE CITY
GOLD AND SILVER MEDALLIST
Janica Kostelić
With six Olympic medals - four gold and
two silver, five world championship titles
and three world cup titles (she won 30
world cup races in all events), Janica
Kostelić is the most successful alpine
skier in the history of Olympic Winter
Games and absolutely Croatia’s best
female athlete of all time.
J
anica Kostelić was born in Zagreb on 5 January 1982.
She started skiing aged 9 in the Zagreb Ski Club and
she won all the races she entered already as a girl.
Especially impressive was the season of 1996/1997,
when she participated in 22 races and won them all,
including the two most important races in the world of
children’s skiing – the Topolino and Pinocchio Trophies
slalom and giant slalom.
Her father and coach Ante Kostelić was with her from
the beginning of her career. With her mother Marica
and brother Ivica, he certainly deserves the most credit
for her incredible successes on the ski slopes throughout
the world, which she achieved in spite of the fact that
she had as many as 10 surgeries during her career. Janica
participated in three Olympic Winter Games and she
had the honour of carrying the Croatian flat at all
of them. The first time it was at the 1998 Games in
Nagano, where she was the youngest alpine skier at age
16 and her finishing eighth in the combined was the
greatest achievement of Croatia’s athletes at Olympic
Winter Games until then.
At the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City
in 2002, she amazed the world by winning the gold
medal in the combined, which was Croatia’s first medal
in the history of the Olympic Winter Games, and then
she added further gold medals in the slalom and giant
slalom and the silver medal in the super giant slalom.
Janica’s last Olympic appearance was at the 2006
Games in Torino, where she first won the gold medal in
the combined and then the silver medal in the super-G,
which completed her unique Olympic career, during
which she had won four gold and two silver medals.
Besides her impressive career as an Olympic athlete,
Janica also left a deep mark in international skiing.
Besides Janica, only Sweden’s Pernilla Wiberg and
Austria’s Petra Kronberger can boast with winning
world cup races in all five events, and only Petra
Kronberger won them in all five events in one season,
like Janica. Janica’s record of 1970 points won in the
season of 2005/2006 remains unsurpassed.
The Croatian Olympic Committee awarded Janica
as Croatia’s most promising athlete in 1998 and then
presented her with the Most Successful Female Athlete
Award six years in a row – in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,
2005 and 2006.
IOC President Jacques Rogge presented Janica with
the Eurosport and IOC SportStar Award at a ceremony
in Lausanne in 2002. She received it together with 28
European athletes, who had won medals at the 2002
Games in Salt Lake City. In 2006, she won the Laureus
Sportswoman of the Year Award by the Laureus
Academy from Barcelona, an association comprised of
46 world’s sports legends.
For her outstanding contribution to the reputation of
Croatian sport worldwide, Janica Kostelić received the
Franjo Bučar Croatian Annual Sports Award in 2001,
the Order of Duke Branimir with Ribbon in 2002 and
the Order of Croatian Plaitwork in 2006.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
137
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Tunis 2001
Mediterranean Games
(2 - 15 September 2001)
T
he 2001 Mediterranean Games in Tunis, held from 2 – 15 September,
should have been the usual XIV Mediterranean Games, but they were
marked by the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York, so this
is why there was just a symbolic Closing Ceremony on 15 September,
without the planned artistic program.
The Croatian Mediterranean Games delegation consisted of 138 athletes, led by
Chef de Mission Darko Dujmović. 23 countries participated and Croatian athletes
won 20 medals - 7 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze – so that Croatia placed 11th in the
medal count.
GOLD MEDALS: women’s basketball team: Amra Đapo, Božena Erceg, Koraljka
Hlede, Ana Lelas, Katarina Maloča, Jasenka Marohnić, Marina Mazić, Emilija
Podrug, Sandra Popović, Slavica Pretreger, Vanda Baranović-Urukalo, Jelena
Zrnić; men’s handball team: Ivano Balić, Tihomir Baltić, Zvonimir Bilić, Davor
Dominiković, Mirza Džomba, Slavko Goluža, Božidar Jović, Mario Kelentrić, Igor
Kos, Blaženko Lacković, Valter Matošević, Diego Modrušan, Goran Šprem, Renato
Sulić, Vedran Zrnić; Tamara Boroš (table tennis), Blanka Vlašić, Siniša Ergotić
(athletics), Vanja Rogulj, Marko Strahija (swimming).
Sanja Jovanović
SILVER MEDALS: Darko Jurčić, Nevena Lenđel (athletics), Sanja Jovanović and
men’s 4x100m medley relay: Miloš Milošević, Ivan Mladina, Vanja Rogulj and Marko
Strahija (swimming); Sandro Gulja (boccia), Mate Arapov (sailing).
BRONZE MEDALS: Sanja Jovanović and 4x100 m freestyle relay: Igor Čerenšek,
Lovrenco Franičević, Marijan Kanjer, Ivan Mladina (swimming); Edi Ponoš
(athletics), Jetiš Bajrami (boxing), Lana Susović (karate), Sandra Paović and Cornelia
Vaida (table tennis doubles).
Mate Arapov
Gold medal
winning women’s
basketball team
Blanka Vlašić
138
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Brief
Olympic
Reminder
139
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
First Croatian Sport
for All Conference
Rovinj 2002
The First Croatian Sport for All
Conference took place in Rovinj
on 19 and 20 April 2002. Over 150
representatives of all Croatian
counties discussed promotion
possibilities for this form of sports
recreation in Croatia. Jürgen
Palm, a leading expert on sports
recreation and President of the
TRome and Fitness International
Sport for All Association (TAFISA)
also participated in the conference.
Great Day of Croatian Sport celebration on 17 January 2001
10th Anniversary of the Croatian Olympic Committee
Zagreb 2001
The Croatian Olympic Committee
marked its 10th anniversary with
a formal COC General Assembly
session, held under the auspices of
Croatian President Stjepan Mesić in
the Zagreb City Assembly Hall on
15 October 2001. Numerous guests
from the political and cultural scene
of Croatia and the city of Zagreb
attended the celebration. After a
ten-minute film about the COC, the
first COC Sports Director and Chef de Mission Marijan Malović also spoke about the
foundation and activities of this umbrella organisation of Croatian sport. Then COC
President Zdravko Hebel thanked the athletes and sports experts, who had won over
1700 medals in 34 sports at European and World Championships and Cups, among
which the seven Olympic medals from Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney were to be
specially mentioned.
Awards to COC officials and Olympic medallists from the Games between 1992 and
2001 were presented at the ceremony, as well. The award recipients were: the first
COC President and IOC member Antun Vrdoljak, COC President Zdravko Hebel, Vice
Presidents: Mirko Novosel, Luciano Sušanj, Ivo Goran Munivrana, Petar Turković,
Rato Tvrdić and Matija Ljubek, members of the COC Founding Committee: Ivan
Kern, Slavko Podgorelec, Boris Volčanšek, Marijan Malović and Vladimir Findak,
COC Council members from all periods: Zlatko Celent, Marijan Flander, Drago
Marović, Damir Škaro, Ante Drpić, Zdravko Fain, Miroslav Fajerbach, Jurica Malčić,
Vedran Rožić, Duško Mrduljaš, Damir Skansi, Željko Širić, Mihovil Dorčić, Danica
Jurković, Sanda Dubravčić Šimunjak, Suad Rizvanbegović, Đurđa Fočić Šourek and
Katica Ileš, COC Secretaries General Slavko Podgorelec and Andrija Mijačika, acting
Secretary General Josip Čop, COC Directors Darko Dujmović and Ivan Varvodić,
tennis players Goran Ivanišević and Goran Prpić, basketball players Vladan Alanović,
Danko Cvjetićanin, Alan Gregov, Arijan Komazec, Toni Kukoč, Aramis Naglić, Velimir
Perasović, Dražen Petrović (posthumously), Dino Rađa, Žan Tabak and Stojko
Vranković, handball players Patrik Čavar, Valner Franković, Slavko Goluža, Bruno
Gudelj, Vladimir Jeličić, Božidar Jović, Nenad Kljaić, Venio Losert, Valter Matošević,
Zoran Mikulić, Alvaro Načinović, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Irfan
Smajlagić and Vladimir Šujster, water polo players Maro Balić, Perica Bukić, Damir
Glavan, Igor Hinić, Vjekoslav Kobešćak, Joško Kreković, Ognjen Kržić, Dubravko
Šimenc, Siniša Školneković, Ratko Štritof, Tino Vegar, Renato Vrbičić and Zdeslav
Vrdoljak, weightlifter Nikolay Pechalov and rowers Igor Boraska, Krešimir Čuljak, Igor
Francetić, Tihomir Franković, Silvijo Petriško, Nikša Skelin, Siniša Skelin, Tomislav
Smoljanović and Branimir Vujević.
Croatia’s most eminent lecturers
and sports recreation practitioners,
among whom also the initiator and
promoter of sports recreational
activities which enhance health
Mirko Relac, attempted to answer
the question of how to motivate
citizens to develop the habit of
continuous exercising, which was
not at a satisfactory level in Croatia.
One of the conference’s objectives
was to encourage actions, which
would include at least 30 percent of
Croatian citizens in sports activities,
to reach the European average.
To achieve this, it was necessary
to develop a training process
for amateur sports recreation
instructors, who would be included
in regular exercise programs.
First Croatian
Kindergarten
Olympic Festival
Zagreb 2002
Almost everybody agrees that what
is learned in childhood is never
forgotten, regardless of whether it
is riding a bike, ice skating, roller
skating, skiing or another sports
activity. This fact inspired then
Head of the COC Local Sport Office
and today COC Secretary General
Josip Čop to start a project on early
learning about sport and Olympism
- the First Croatian Kindergarten
Olympic Festival – in cooperation
with county sports associations.
The project objective was, among
other things, to promote the
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
basic objectives of the Croatian
Olympic Committee: to encourage
children to get involved in sports
and develop their inclination
towards sports, to influence the
development of their creativity
and self-initiative, to teach them
cooperation with others as a
personal and social value.
Over 2,500 girls and boys
participated in the First Croatian
Kindergarten Olympic Festival held
in a dozen towns and cities in 2002.
It was the beginning of an idea,
which marked its 10th anniversary
in 2011, when around 15,000 girls
and boys participated in it in about
40 towns and cities of all Croatian
counties. With the motto: “I, too,
will become an Olympic athlete”,
the festival is getting more and more
popular each year and its activities
have become a part of the national
celebration of the International
Olympic Day on 23 June, introduced
by the International Olympic
Committee in 1967
Anti-Doping
Cooperation and
Foundation of Croatian
Anti-Doping Agency
Zagreb 2003
Croatia committed itself to
cooperation with other sports
organisations and authorities in
the struggle against doping as
early as in 1993, when it signed
the European Convention against
Doping in Sport. Ten years later, in
2003, it also signed the World AntiDoping Conference Declaration.
On that occasion, COC leaders held
an advisory meeting on 9 April 2003.
Assistant Minister of Education and
Sport Stjepan Puhak attended the
meeting, as did Chairman of the
COC Anti-Doping Sub-Committee
Božidar Fučkar, Croatia’s first
anti-doping controller, trained
in Germany and France. Fučkar
held these posts at the Croatian
Olympic Committee from 1991 to
2008 and received the IOC’s highest
recognition, the IOC Sport and Fight
against Doping Trophy, in 2009.
The Croatian Government’s
representative on Doping in Sport
in the Council of Europe and doyen
of doping issues Ivan Fattorini also
attended the meeting, as did the
Council of Europe’s delegation on
anti-doping in sport led by Luis
Horta, Chairman of the Advisory
Group on Science. They discussed
legislation and financial support
for anti-doping control, the need to
form a national anti-doping agency
and the issues stipulated in the
Sports Act, which was being drafted
then, and which was adopted in
June 2006.
The adoption of the Sports
Act regulated the issue of the
foundation of a national antidoping agency, and the Croatian
Anti-Doping Agency (Croatian
abbreviation: HADA) was founded
by a Government’s regulation of 7
February 2007. In April 2007, its
Managing Board members were
appointed –all prominent medical
experts led by Ivan Fattorini.
In October 2007, the Croatian
Anti-Doping Agency signed an
agreement on the acceptance of
the WADA Code and use of its
data base. Present Manager Damir
Erceg was appointed as a temporary
Manager at the time. In 2010, the
Croatian Parliament adopted an
act, based on which the Agency was
incorporated into the Institute of
Toxicology.
XVI European
Conference on Sport
Dubrovnik 2003
Under the motto: “Making Sport
Attractive to All”, the XVI European
Conference on Sport was held in
Dubrovnik from 24 to 26 September
2003. Over 150 representatives
of governmental and nongovernmental associations,
Sports Ministries and NOCs of
29 European countries discussed
issues related to sports in the
context of EU enlargement.
The role and future of the
European Conference on Sport,
cooperation of governmental
and non-governmental sports
organisations, the role of experts in
the development of sport, as well
as creativity, design, planning, city
planning and management in the
construction and maintenance of
sports facilities were the topics,
which could serve as guidelines
for the further development of
European sport.
The greatest value of this
conference was found to be the
answer to the question of how
to reconcile elite sport with the
wish that sport be a general good
available to everybody. Members of
the Croatian academic community
made substantial contribution
to the work of the conference,
especially those coming from
the School of Kinesiology and
the School of Architecture, who
demonstrated that science in
Croatia was at the European level.
141
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
142
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Who Is Who
from 2000 to 2004
Members of the COC Council from 2000 to 2002
COC President
Zdravko Hebel
COC Vice-Presidents
Ivo Goran Munivrana, Luciano Sušanj, Petar Turković
Members
Mihovil Dorčić, Danica Jurković, Vlatko Marković, Andrija Mijačika (member from
27 February 2001), Duško Mrduljaš, Damir Skansi, Željko Širić, IOC member Antun
Vrdoljak, and acting COC Secretary General Josip Čop (member until 27 February
2001)
Members of the COC Council from 2002 to 2004
COC President
Zlatko Mateša
COC Vice-Presidents
Goranko Fižulić, Ivo Goran Munivrana, Nikola Švigir
Members
Perica Bukić, Marko Ćurković, Maja Inđić, Vlatko Marković, Franjo Prot, Nada
Senčar, Vlatko Škiljo, Josip Žufika, IOC member Antun Vrdoljak
Members of the COC Supervisory Board
from 2000 to 2004
Chairman
Ivan Jelenčić
Members
Branko Bazdan, Marin Glavočić, Zvjezdana Tuma Pavlov, Romeo Vrečko
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Zdravko Hebel
COC President
from 2000 to 2002
Z
dravko Hebel, an Olympian and Olympic Water Polo Champion
from the 1968 Olympic Games in Ciudad de Mexico, took over the
post of the COC President from his predecessor Antun Vrdoljak
after the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and resigned after the 2002
Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Zdravko Hebel had a very rich career as an athlete and sports
official; he was a member of the COC Founding Assembly as the
representative of the Croatian Water Polo Federation. He was one of
the two first COC Vice Presidents, who served the longest term – from
its foundation in 1991 until 2000. He was an ex officio COC Council
member from 1991 to 2002.
Zdravko Hebel was also President of the Croatian Water Polo
Federation from 1995 to 1998 and from 2000 to 2002, and President of
the Zagreb Sports Association for nine years – from 1991 to 2000.
As a top-level athlete, he played for the Mladost Academic Water
Polo Club from 1963 to 1977, with which he won three former
Yugoslav Championship titles (in 1967, 1969 and 1971) four European
Champions Cup titles (in 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1971) and the European
Cup Winners Cup and Super Cup titles in 1975. He played on the
Yugoslav national team twenty times between 1967 and 1970.
Even after finishing his career as an athlete, Zdravko Hebel remained
dedicated to water polo, also as an international referee. He was born in Zagreb
on 21 January 1943. He holds a doctorate in Electrical Engineering, and he is a
regular professor at the School of Electrical Engineering, University of Zagreb,
and a member of the Croatian Academy of Technological Sciences.
144
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
ANDRIJA MIJAČIKA
COC Secretary General
from 27 February 2001 to March 2002
A
ndrija Mijačika was COC Secretary General from 27 February
2001 and ex officio COC Council member from 2000 to 2001.
He served as Secretary General until 27 March 2002, when he
suddenly passed away at the age of 47. His last project was the 2002
Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
An excellent organiser and experienced sports official, he was Secretary
General of the Zagreb Sports Association from 1993 until he was
elected COC Secretary General in 2001. Before that, Andrija Mijačika
held several leading positions in municipal sports institutions in
Zagreb, among others in the Zagreb City Office of Education and Sport.
As a sports official, he held top positions in the organising committees
of many international competitions hosted by Croatia, such as the
II World Military Games in 1999. He deserves most credit for the
international esteem of the annual IAAF Zagreb Athletics Meeting,
which was gradually upgraded to IAAF Grand Prix status and which is a
World Challenge now.
Andrija Mijačika, who held a degree in Electrical Engineering, was
born in Zagreb on 12 July 1954. He practised gymnastics and water
polo in his youth. He achieved his best results in taekwondo, which he
practised from 1971 to 1984, when he placed fifth at the World Championships
in Glasgow. He was two-time Yugoslav and three-time Croatian champion.
After finishing his career as an athlete, he was a successful coach, national team
manager and Secretary General of the Croatian Taekwondo Federation.
145
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Zlatko Mateša
COC President
since 2002
Z
latko Mateša is the third President of the Croatian Olympic
Committee since its foundation in 1991. He was appointed in
October 2002, after his predecessor Zdravko Hebel resigned, for a
term until the end of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
He won the trust of the COC Assembly members, who re-elected
him as COC President at the election meeting on 22 October 2004 to
a full term until the end of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. On 22
October 2008, he was re-elected for his third term from 2008 to 2012.
In January 2006, he was elected to the EOC Preparation of the
Olympic Games Commission and in November 2009, to the EOC
Executive Committee for a term from 2009 to 2013. He is coordinator
of the EOC work group for drawing up a feasibility study for the
organisation of the European Games based on the example of other
continental games worldwide. He has been a member of the Executive
Committee of the International Mediterranean Games Committee
(CIJM) since 2009.
As COC President, he deserves special credit for intense cooperation
with National Olympic Committees belonging to the European
Olympic Committees and with NOCs from Asia, especially China and
Japan, as well as for the cooperation with the IOC Olympic Solidarity. Among
other things, he has intensified the influence of Croatian Olympic athletes in the
activities of the COC and worked on the design and development of a system of
care for education and training and employment of top athletes, co-financing
of athletes and coaches, as well as on the foundation of the Croatian Fair Play
Committee, the first Croatian Athletes Foundation and the Dražen Petrović
Memorial Centre...
His influence in the sports community contributed to the fact that Croatia
was entrusted with hosting major sporting events, such as the 2007 World Table
Tennis Championships and the 2009 Men’s World Handball Championship.
Zlatko Mateša, who holds
a Masters degree in Law, was
born on 17 June 1949. An athlete
himself – a water polo player,
sports pilot and sailor – he
was a member of the Croatian
Parliament until 2003 and Prime
Minister from 1995 to 2000.
He is Vice Dean and professor
of Strategic Management at the
Zagreb School of Economics
and Management. In 2009, he
received his doctoral degree in
Organisation and Management
of Olympic Games from the
Beijing Sports University, the
largest one of the kind in China
and Asia, being the first Croat
who obtained a doctoral degree
from that University.
146
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
JOSIP ČOP
COC Secretary General
since November 2004
J
osip Čop, a football expert and former top-level player, has been
COC Secretary General since June 2005, when he was appointed
to his first term of four years. He was re-appointed to the post of
the COC Secretary General for a second term of four years in 2009.
Josip Čop was COC Executive Director from 1999 to 2001 and Head
of the COC Local Sport Office from July 2001 to November 2004,
where he was especially in charge of the projects of closer cooperation
of regional and local communities with respective top-level sports
associations, as well as of the celebration of Olympism among the
youngest members of Croatian society.
He also served as acting COC Secretary General twice. The first
time was from 1 November 2000 to 27 February 2001, when he was
also an ex officio COC Council member, and the second time was
from 4 November 2004 to 17 June 2005.
Josip Čop joined the Croatian Olympic Committee after serving as
Secretary General of the Croatian Football Federation from 1996 to
1998. He directly participated in the successes of the Croatian football
team as a delegation member at the 1996 European Cup in England
and the 1998 World Cup in France, where Croatia won the bronze
medal.
Josip Čop was born in Varaždin on 14 October 1954. He holds
a degree in Economics (Business Marketing) from the School of
Economics, the University of Zagreb and a degree of senior football
referee from the School of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb. He
was an excellent football player; he played for Croatian clubs such as
Varteks, Dinamo, Zagreb and Hajduk, as well as Austrian ones, such
as Sturm Graz and Wildon, for six years.
At the international level, Josip Čop was Deputy Chairman of the
UEFA National Teams Committee,
on which he was in charge of
Under-21 teams, from 1996 to 2002,
and a member of the UEFA Stadium
and Security Committee for two
terms between 1996 and 2004. He is
both a FIFA and UEFA delegate.
For outstanding contribution
to Croatian sport, he received the
highest sports recognition, the 2006
Franjo Bučar Annual Croatian Sports
Award.
147
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
IVICA MIOČIĆ STOŠIĆ
COC Secretary General
from 1 December 2002 to 4 November 2004
I
vica Miočić Stošić, a sports official with a degree in Economics, was
COC Secretary General from 1 December 2002 to 4 November 2004.
He was a candidate for the post of the COC President at the regular
COC presidential election in 2004.
From 2004 on, he was a COC Assembly member representing the Croatian
Gymnastics Federation, which he was the President of from 2004 to 2008.
From 2001 to 2002, Ivica Miočić Stošić was Secretary General of the Zagreb
Sports Association, the post he took on after a rich experience in municipal
and national administrative sports institutions. From 1995 to 1997, he
was Senior Advisor in the Sports Department of the Croatian Ministry of
Education and Sport, especially active on the Council of Europe Sports
Committee, where he worked on the Eurofit project, the basis for strategic
planning of sports and recreation activities in EU countries.
From 1997 to 2001, he was Deputy Head of the Zagreb City Office of
Education and Sport, where he was especially active in the construction of
sports facilities of strategic significance for sport in Zagreb.
An excellent organiser, he was Chairman of the Organising Committee of
the IAAF Zagreb Athletics Meeting (now IAAF World Challenge) in 1997
and 1998 and its Director for three years. He was Deputy Chairman of the Organising
Committee of the 2nd World Military Games held in Zagreb in 1999.
Ivica Miočić Stošić was born in Zadar on 23 October 1961. He played football and
basketball in his youth. He was a successful basketball referee, the youngest national
referee in former Yugoslavia. Later on, he focused on coaching teams of all age groups
at the Dubrava Basketball Club in Zagreb.
He was a Member of the Zagreb City Assembly and Chairman of its Education and
Sports Committee from 2005 to 2009.
148
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
JOSIP GUBERINA
COC Secretary General
from 2 April to 30 November 2002
J
osip Guberina, a sports and culture official, was COC Secretary
General from 2 April to 30 November 2002, when Ivica Stošić
Miočić was elected.
From 1994 to 1996, he was Secretary General of the Croatian
Handball Federation and the team leader of the men’s handball team
who won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta –
Croatia’s first Olympic gold under the Croatian flag.
Josip Guberina started his long career as a sports official holding
many positions in municipal sports institutions, such as the Zagreb
Physical Culture Association, in which he was Secretary General from
1984 to 1990. Before becoming Secretary General of the Croatian
Handball Federation in 1994, he managed two handball clubs in
Zagreb: Modea and Zagreb.
Josip Guberina, who holds a degree in Kinesiology, was born in
Šibenik in 1944. After working in sports for almost 36 years, when he
left the Croatian Handball Federation, he turned to folklore, in which
he had had a successful career as a dancer in his youth. In 1996, he
became General Manager of the Lado Croatian Folk Dance Ensemble
and remained in this position until May 2002. In that year, Lado
received a distinguished Porin Croatian Music Award for their overall
artistic work. In April 2004, Josip Guberina became Music Program
Director at Croatian Radio and Television, and member of its Board –
its highest executive body. He remained in this post until retirement
in 2010.
149
XXVIII Olympiad
From Athens to Beijing
(2004 - 2008)
T
he period of the XXVIII Olympiad (2004 – 2008) brought eight Olympic medals to
Croatian sport – five at the Olympic Games in Athens and three at the Olympic Winter
Games in Torino, which is almost a third of the precious harvest at the Olympic Games
since Croatia’s declaration of independence.
By winning another gold and silver at the Torino Games, Janica Kostelić rounded off her unique,
brilliant Olympic career with six medals and said goodbye to competitive skiing. However, her
brother Ivica Kostelić, who won Croatia’s first men’s Winter Olympic medal ever there, heralded
the continuation of a splendid career.
The number of the Croatian Olympic Committee representatives on European sports
associations increased in this period and international cooperation became the standard of
activities regarding the development of Olympism in the region and Europe.
The Croatian Olympic Committee and its partners founded the Croatian Fair Play Committee
and the Croatian Athletes Foundation, introduced a long-term and integral system of care
for athletes and coaches, and a network of COC coordinators of the care for women in sport
organised the first seminars on raising awareness on gender equality in sport. The Dražen
Petrović Memorial Centre was opened in Zagreb; over 10,000 tourists, athletes, journalists and
prominent figures of cultural, political and social life visit it each year.
To honour individuals for outstanding contribution to the preservation of Olympic values
and development of Croatian sport, the COC introduced special recognitions for contribution
to the promotion of Olympic values, special merit in sport and fair play, as well as for other
achievements in the promotion of Olympic values.
Ha
ol
d!
r
e
h
t
o
n
A
l
l
a
b
d
n
G
150
Successes of Croatian Athletes at
World and European Championships
Men and Women: 377 medals
Juniors and Cadets: 404 medals
WCh 179 - 51 gold, 65 silver, 63 bronze ECh 198 - 50 gold, 80 silver, 68 bronze
WCh 198 - 49 gold, 65 silver, 84 bronze
ECh 206 - 73 gold, 72 silver, 61 bronze
151
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Athens 2004
Olympic Games
(13 - 29 August 2004)
- THE GAMES OF THE XXVII OLYMPIAD, HELD IN ATHENS FROM 13 TO 29 AUGUST 2004, included 10,625 athletes (4,329
women and 6,296 men) from 201 NOCs. They competed in 301 events in 28 sports. 21,500 media members covered
the Games. There were 45,000 volunteers.
- GREEK PRESIDENT KONSTANTINOS STEPHANOPOULOS OFFICIALLY OPENED THE GAMES. SAILOR NIKOLAOS KAKLAMANAKIS
LIT THE OLYMPIC FLAME. Swimmer Zoi Dimoschaki took the Olympic Oath on behalf of the athletes and basketball
referee Lazaros Voreadis on behalf of all officials.
Five New Olympic Medals
T
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Dubravko Šimenc
At the Closing Ceremony:
Siniša Skelin
Medals:
GOLD
Men’s handball team
Ivano Balić, Davor
Dominković, Mirza Džomba,
Slavko Goluža, Nikša Kaleb,
Blaženko Lacković, Venio
Losert, Valter Matošević,
Petar Metličić, Vlado Šola,
Denis Špoljarić, Goran
Šprem, Igor Vori, Davor
Vuković and Vedran Zrnić
SILVER
Duje Draganja
Swimming
(50 m freestyle)
Siniša & Nikša Skelin
Rowing (coxless pair)
BRONZE
Nikolay Pechalov
Weightlifting (-69 kg)
Mario Ančić
& Ivan Ljubičić
men’s tennis doubles
152
wo Olympic cycles after Atlanta 1996, where gold medals glistened
around their necks, the Croatian men’s handball team repeated the
success and brought the second gold medal back to independent
Croatia. The following players led by coach Lino Červar climbed
the top step of the podium in Athens: Ivano Balić, Davor Dominiković, Mirza
Džomba, Nikša Kaleb, Blaženko Lacković, Petar Metličić, Vlado Šola, Denis
Špoljarić, Goran Šprem, Igor Vori, Drago Vuković and Vedran Zrnić, as well as
Valter Matošević, Venio Losert and Slavko Goluža, who were on both Olympic
gold medal winning teams.
Duje Draganja’s silver medal in Athens was the first Olympic medal in the
history of Croatian swimming since the declaration of independence.
After winning bronze in the men’s eight at Sydney, Croatia’s best rowers
Siniša and Nikša Skelin won silver at Athens. In the coxless pair final, the
Skelin brothers finished 1.88 seconds behind the Olympic Champions Drew
Ginn and James Tomkins of Australia and 0.76 seconds ahead of the bronze
medallists Donovan Cech and Ramon Di Clemente of the RSA. With his bronze
weightlifting medal in the -69 kg category, Nikolay Pechalov rounded off his
long and successful Olympic career with four appearances and four medals.
Mario Ančić and Ivan Ljubičić won the bronze medal in the men’s tennis
doubles, defeating India’s Mahesh Bhupati and Leander Paes after over four
hours of play and rounded off the most prolific Olympic Games since Croatia’s
declaration of independence.
Croatian Olympic Delegation to Athens 2004
81 Croatian athletes participated in the Games (of whom 15 women). They
competed in 14 sports: athletics, boxing, weightlifting, sailing, kayak/canoe,
equestrian, swimming, handball, table tennis, shooting, taekwondo, tennis,
water polo and rowing.
Chef de Mission: Damir Šegota
Deputy Chef de Mission: Neven Šavora
Mission Members: Maja Gencel, Višnja Peran and Damir Tabaković (Press Attache)
Olympic Attache: Slavko Šimunović
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Chef de Mission:
Damir Šegota
Chef de Mission at Athens 2004,
Beijing 2008, Torino 2006 and
Vancouver 2010 as well as at
the first Youth Olympic Games
in Singapore in 2010. He was
also Chef de Mission at the
2005 Mediterranean Games in Almeria and Pescara in
2009, as well as at other multi-sport events, in which
Croatia’s sports delegations participated since 2003.
He served as COC Olympic Program Director and now
he is holding the post of the Assistant Secretary
General for Olympic Program.
ATHLETES:
Athletics: Ivana Brkljačić, Siniša Ergotić, Edis Elkasović, Sanja Gavrilović, Jurica
Grabušić, Blanka Vlašić, Vera Begić, Branko Zorko, Edi Ponoš, Andras Haklits,
Nedžad Mulabegović, Dragan Mustapić
Boxing: Vedran Đipalo, Marijo Šivolija-Jelica
Equestrian: Josef Puch
Handball: Ivano Balić, Davor Dominković, Mirza Džomba, Slavko Goluža, Nikša
Kaleb, Blaženko Lacković, Venio Losert, Valter Matošević, Petar Metličić, Vlado
Šola, Denis Špoljarić, Goran Šprem, Igor Vori, Drago Vuković, Vedran Zrnić
Kayak/canoe: Danko Herceg, Dinko Mulić, Emanuel Horvatiček
Rowing: Igor Boraska, Marko Dragičević, Petar Milin, Nikša Skelin, Siniša Skelin,
Damir Vučičić, Davorin Šindler
Sailing: Mate Arapov, Tomislav Bašić, Petar Cupać, Karlo Kuret
Shooting: Mirela Skoko-Ćelić
Swimming: Duje Draganja, Sanja Jovanović, Gordan Kožulj, Mario Delač, Nenad
Buljan, Vanja Rogulj, Krešimir Čač, Saša Imprić, Ivan Mladina, Igor Čerenšek,
Petra Banović, Anita Galić, Smiljana Marinović
Table tennis: Tamara Boroš, Zoran Primorac, Cornelia Vaida
Taekwondo: Sandra Šarić, Nataša Vezmar
Tennis: Jelena Kostanić, Karolina Šprem, Mario Ančić, Ivo Karlović, Ivan Ljubičić
Water polo: Samir Barać, Damir Burić, Elvis Fatović, Nikola Franković, Igor Hinić,
Vjekoslav Kobešćak, Danijel Premuš, Mile Smodlaka, Dubravko Šimenc, Ratko
Štritof, Frano Vićan, Goran Volarević, Tihomil Vranješ
Weightlifting: Nikolay Pechalov
TEAM LEADERS: Žarko Martinek (athletics), Pero Tadić (boxing), Michele
Schwarzenbach (equestrian), Ivica Udovičić (handball), Stjepan Perestegi (kayak/
canoe), Igor Čulin (rowing), Davor Vuković (sailing), Dimitar Bobev (swimming),
Neven Cegnar (table tennis), Marina Mihelić (tennis), Jurica Prižmić, (water polo),
Boško Čavka (weightlifting)
COACHES: Ivan Ivančić, Bojan Marinović, Ivan Veštić (athletics), Drago Mijić
(boxing), Lino Červar, Irfan Smajlagić (handball), Monika Lauber (horse groomer),
Nikola Bralić (rowing), Jozo Jakelić, Ivan Bulaja (sailing), Aleksandar Seleznev,
Michael Leo Bottom, Klara Šiljeg (swimming), Zlatko Novaković (table tennis),
Zvonimir Kovačević (shooting), Ivica Klaić (taekwondo), Nikola Pilić (tennis),
Zoran Roje, Zoran Kačić, Deni Lušić (water polo)
MEDICAL TEAM: Božidar Fučkar, Lucian Vukelić, Ante Županović, Stjepko
Bućan, Josip Feldbauer, Emir Mujagić, Stevo Kuric, Robert Prusac, Franjo Pavlović,
Stanislav Peharec, Mario Mlinarić, Milorad Sakradžija
Blanka Vlašić
154
Andras Haklits
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Tamara Boroš & Cornelia Vaida
20 years
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM ATHENS
· Ivano Balić · Davor Dominković
· Mirza Džomba · Slavko Goluža
· Nikša Kaleb · Blaženko Lacković
· Venio Losert · Valter Matošević
· Petar Metličić · Vlado Šola · Denis
Špoljarić · Goran Šprem · Igor Vori
· Davor Vuković · Vedran Zrnić
Croatian handball team from Athens received the 2004 Franjo Bučar Croatian Sports Award
Ivano Balić
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal, silver medals
at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and 2009 in
Croatia, as well as at the 2008 European Championship in
Norway and 2010 in Austria
Clubs: Split, Metković, Portland San Antonio (Spain),
Croatia osiguranje Zagreb
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Davor Dominiković
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal, silver medals
at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and at the
2008 European Championship in Norway
Clubs: Metković, Portland San Antonio (Spain)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Mirza Džomba
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal and the silver
medal at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia
Clubs: Badel 1862 Zagreb, Fotex Veszprém (Hungary),
Ciudad Real (Spain), Croatia osiguranje Zagreb
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Slavko Goluža
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004
Olympic Games
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal, silver medal at
the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and the bronze
medal at the 1994 European Championship in Portugal
Clubs: Metković Jambo, Badel 1862 Zagreb, KC Fotex
Veszprem (Hungary), TuS Nettelstedt Lübbecke
(Germany), Paris Saint Germaine (France)
He was awarded the Order of Duke Branimir with Ribbon
and the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of
Franjo Bučar.
Nikša Kaleb
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004
Member of the national team who won the gold medal
at the 2003 World Championship in Portugal and silver
medal at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia
Clubs: Metković, Qatar, Zagreb
He was awarded the Order of Duke Branimir with Ribbon.
Blaženko Lacković
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Vlado Šola
157
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM ATHENS
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal, silver medals
at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and 2009 in
Croatia, as well as at the 2008 European Championship in
Norway and 2010 in Austria
Clubs: Varteks, Metković Jambo, Zagreb, Flensburg, HSV
Hamburg (Germany)
He was awarded the Order of Duke Branimir with Ribbon
and the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of
Franjo Bučar.
Venio Losert
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004 and
Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won silver medals at
the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and 2009 in
Croatia
Clubs: Badel 1862 Zagreb, Garbel Zaragoza, Teka
Cantabria, Granollers, Portland San Antonio, Frigorificos
del Morrazo Cangas, Barcelona, Créteil, Ademar León
(Spain)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Denis Špoljarić
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004
Member of the national team who won the gold medal
at the 2003 World Championship in Portugal and silver
medals at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and
2009 in Croatia
Clubs: Zaprešić, Zagreb, Karlovac, Winterthur
(Switzerland), Celje (Slovenia), Füchse (Germany)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Goran Šprem
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won the gold medal
at the 2003 World Championship in Portugal and silver
medals at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and
2009 in Croatia
Clubs: Badel 1862. Zagreb, Zagreb, Flensburg, Nordhorn
(Germany)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Valter Matošević
Olympic gold medallist at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004
Igor Vori
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal
Clubs: Zamet (Rijeka) and Zagreb
He was awarded the Order of Duke Branimir with Ribbon
and the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of
Franjo Bučar.
Olympic team member at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal, silver medals
at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and 2009 in
Croatia, as well as at the 2008 European Championship in
Norway and 2010 in Austria
Clubs: Zagreb, Barcelona (Spain), Hamburg (Germany)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Petar Metličić
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at the
2003 World Championship in Portugal, silver medals at the 2005
World Championship in Tunisia and 2009 in Croatia, as well as
at the 2008 European Championship in Norway
Clubs: Brodomerkur Split, Metković Jambo, Ademar León
(Spain), Celje (Slovenia)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Vlado Šola
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal and the silver
medal at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia
Clubs: Budućnost (Sesvetski Kraljevec), Medveščak,
Sisak, Minden, Willstätt (Germany), Chambery (France),
Veszprem (Hungary), Zagreb
He was awarded the Order of Duke Branimir with Ribbon
and the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of
Franjo Bučar.
158
Drago Vuković
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Member of the national team who won silver medals at
the 2008 European Championship in Norway and at the
2005 Mediterranean Games in Almeria
Clubs: Brodomerkur Split, Zagreb; Gorenje Velenje
(Slovenia); Gummersbach (Germany)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
Vedran Zrnić
Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004
Olympic team member at Athens 2004
Member of the national team who won the gold medal at
the 2003 World Championship in Portugal, silver medals
at the 2005 World Championship in Tunisia and 2009 in
Croatia, as well as at the 2010 European Championship in
Austria
Clubs Zagreb Badel 1862; Prule 67 Ljubljana, Gorenje
Velenje (Slovenia); Gummersbach (Germany)
He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Mirza Džomba
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
160
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM ATHENS
OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST
Duje Draganja
Duje Draganja, Olympian and Olympic
silver medallist from the Athens Games,
participated in three Olympic Games Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing
2008
W
inning the Olympic silver medal in the 50 m
freestyle (with 21.94 seconds) in Athens and
two more finals – he finished seventh in the
100m butterfly (52.46) and sixth in the 100
m freestyle (49.23) – was a historic success for Croatian
swimming, with which Duje Draganja went down in the
history of Croatian sport. His was Croatia’s first Olympic
medal in swimming since it became an independent
country. Duje Draganja was born in Split on 27 February
1983. He started swimming at age 6 in his home club of
POŠK, Split. He demonstrated swimming talent very early
by winning at numerous competitions in younger age
categories, such as the Alps-Adriatic Youth Games. It was
already at European Junior Championships that he started
winning medals – he won seven gold medals and set two
world and four European junior records.
During his successful career, which is still going on, he
has won numerous medals, of which we shall mention
some of them from the men’s world and European
short course championships. World Championships:
Manchester 2008: gold medal and double world record
in the 50 m freestyle and bronze medal in the 100 m
freestyle; Shanghai 2006: gold medal in the 50m freestyle;
Montreal 2005: silver medal in the 50m freestyle;
Indianapolis 2004: bronze medal in the 50m butterfly.
European Championships: Eindhoven 2008: silver medal
in the 50m freestyle; Debrecen 2007: silver medal in the
50m freestyle; Budapest 2006: silver medal in the 50m
butterfly and bronze medal in the 50m freestyle.
He graduated from the University of California in
Berkeley. He swam the 100m freestyle in the final of the
NCAA (U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association)
Short Course Championships in 46.64 seconds and broke
the European record set by Alexander Popov 10 years
earlier.
The Croatian Olympic Committee awarded Duje
Draganja as Croatia’s most promising athlete in 1999 and
as the most successful male athlete in 2004 and 2005.
For outstanding contribution to swimming and
Croatian sport in general, he received the 2004 Franjo
Bučar National Sports Award and the Order of Croatian
Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
161
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM ATHENS
OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST
Nikša Skelin
Nikša Skelin, Olympic silver and bronze medallist, is one of Croatia’s best rowers. He
made three Olympic appearances: in the men’s eight at Sydney 2000 (bronze), in the
coxless pair with his brother Siniša at Athens 2004 (silver) and with Siniša again at
Beijing 2008 (B final).
B
esides the Olympic medals, Nikša
has also won numerous medals
and achieved notable results at
all famous international regattas.
He won the silver medal in the men’s
eight at the 2001 World Championships in
Luzern, the bronze medal in the coxless pair
with his brother Siniša at the 2002 World
Championships in Seville and the silver
medal in the coxless pair with his brother
again at the 2003 World Championships in
Milan.
With his brother, he also won the gold
medal at the World Cup regatta in Munich in
2008, silver at the World Cup regattas in Linz
and Amsterdam in 2007, gold at the World
Cup regatta in Eton in 2005, silver at the
World Cup regattas in Luzern and Munich
in 2005 and gold at the World Cup regatta in
Poznan in 2004. Siniša and Nikša Skelin won
the overall World Cup title in the coxless pair
in 2005 and 2007.
Nikša Skelin was born in Split on 25 March
1978. He started rowing at the Gusar Rowing
Club in 1991; he is still with the Gusar Club.
He demonstrated talent already as a junior,
when he won several Croatian titles. In the
men’s age category, he couldn’t find a partner
right away, so he competed in the single
scull. In 2002, he competed in the coxless
pair with his 4 year older brother Siniša at
the World Championships in Seville and won
the bronze medal.
The Croatian Olympic Committee
awarded the men’s eight, on which the Skelin
brothers were rowing, as the best men’s
team two years in a row, in 2000 and 2001.
For outstanding contribution to Croatian
sport, he received the Franjo Bučar Croatian
Sports Award as a member of the men’s eight
in 2000, and also as an individual athlete
in 2004. He received the Order of Croatian
Morning star with the Image of Franjo Bučar
and the Order of Croatian Plaitwork.
162
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST
Siniša Skelin
Siniša Skelin is the most experienced and most decorated Croatian rower, who
has won two Olympic medals: bronze in the men’s eight in Sydney 2000 and silver
in the coxless pair with his brother Nikša in Athens 2004. He made four Olympic
appearances.
H
is first Olympic appearance was in the
coxless four with Igor Boraska, Tihomir
Franković and Sead Marušić at Atlanta
1996. They finished first in the B final.
Four years later, in Sydney 2000, he was on the
bronze-winning eight composed of Igor Boraska,
Tihomir Franković, Krešimir Čuljak, Igor Francetić,
Branimir Vujević, Tomislav Smoljanović, Nikša Skelin,
Siniša Skelin and cox Silvijo Petriško. At Athens 2004,
he won the Olympic silver medal in the coxless pair
with his 4 year younger brother Nikša and made the
B final in the coxless pair with his brother at Beijing
2008.
He won three world silver medals and one bronze;
he won the first silver medal in the coxed four (Siniša
Skelin, Tihomir Franković, Igor Boraska, Denis Boban
and cox Ratko Cvitanić) in Cologne, Germany, in 1998.
He won his second world silver medal in the eight
composed of Branimir Vujević, Igor Boraska, Nikša
Skelin, Siniša Skelin, Krešimir Čuljak, Tomislav
Smoljanović, Damir Vučičić, Oliver Martinov and
cox Silvijo Petriško in Luzern, Switzerland, in 2001.
He earned his third silver medal in the pair with his
brother Nikša in Milan in 2003; the two of them won
bronze in Seville in 2002. In the World Cup regattas,
he and his brother Nikša won gold in Munich in 2008,
silver in Linz and Amsterdam in 2007, gold in Eton
in 2005, silver in Luzern and Munich in 2005, gold in
Poznan in 2004 and silver in Luzern in 2004. Siniša
and Nikša Skelin won the overall World Cup title in
the coxless pair in 2005 and 2007.
Siniša Skelin was born in Split on 14 July 1974. He
started rowing in the Gusar Rowing Club in 1988.
The Croatian Olympic Committee awarded the
men’s eight, on which the Skelin brothers were
rowing, as the best men’s team two years in a row,
in 2000 and 2001. For outstanding contribution to
Croatian sport, he received the Franjo Bučar Croatian
Sports Award as a member of the men’s eight in 2000,
and also as an individual athlete in 2004. He received
the Order of Croatian Morning star with the Image of
Franjo Bučar and the Order of Croatian Plaitwork.
163
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM ATHENS
OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLIST
Ivan Ljubičić
Ivan Ljubičić, a top-level athlete and Olympian, participated in two Olympic Games:
in Sydney 2000 and Athens, where he and Mario Ančić won the men’s doubles
bronze medal. After Barcelona 1992 and the bronze medal winning doubles pair
Goran Ivanišević and Goran Prpić, this was Croatia’s second Olympic doubles medal.
I
van Ljubičić deserves great
credit for the victory of the
Croatian tennis team in
Bratislava in 2005, where they
won the most significant team title –
Davis Cup.
Ivan Ljubičić was born in Banja
Luka on 19 March 1979, where he
started to play tennis in 1988. He
started playing at ATP tournaments
in 1995. Already in 1996, he played
in the final of the Junior Wimbledon
and the semi-final of the Australian
Open, which ranked him as the
world’s second junior. His career
best ranking was no. 3 on the ATP
list in May 2006, which is the second
best result among Croatian players,
behind Goran Ivanišević, who had
been no. 2.
Ivan Ljubičić has won ten ATP
titles in his career, starting from
Lyon in 2001, Metz and Vienna in
2005, Chennai, Zagreb and Vienna
in 2006, Doha and ‘s-Hertogenbosch
in 2007, Lyon in 2009 to the career
greatest success achieved in 2010,
when he won a Masters 1000 title in
Indian Wells.
The Croatian Olympic Committee
awarded the Croatian Davis Cup
team Ivan Ljubičić, Mario Ančić,
Ivo Karlović and Goran Ivanišević
as Croatia’s best male team and
Ivan Ljubičić as the most successful
individual male athlete in 2005.
For outstanding contribution to
Croatian sport Ljubičić received
the 2004 Franjo Bučar Croatian
Sports Award and also the Order
of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
164
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLIST
Mario Ančić
Mario Ančić, a top-level athlete and Olympian, participated in two Olympic Games: in
Sydney 2000, where he and Goran Ivanišević lost to a doubles pair from Venezuela
in round one, and the second time in Athens, where he and Mario Ančić won the
men’s doubles bronze medal.
M
ario Ančić was born in Split
on 30 March 1984. He started
playing tennis very early and
many predicted a great career for
him. He won the European U14 title, played in
the junior Australian Open final at age 15 and
ranked no.1 on the ITF Junior Boys list in 2001.
Everything indicated a brilliant career in the
men’s category. Like his predecessors Nikola
Pilić, Željko Franulović and Goran Ivanišević,
he was brought up in the Split Tennis Club in
the part of Split called Firule.
Together with Ivan Ljubičić, Ivo Karlović
and Goran Ivanišević, he was on the Davis
Cup team, who defeated Slovakia in the final
in Bratislava in 2005 and brought the world’s
oldest tennis trophy to Croatia. He had the
best ATP ranking in 2006, when he was no.7.
He won three ATP titles in his career, in
‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, in 2005
and 2006 and in St Petersburg in 2006.
Unfortunately, due to recurring injuries,
and then also mononucleosis, Mario withdrew
from tennis in 2007. He attempted to come
back at the end of 2010, but decided to
permanently retire from professional tennis in
February 2011. In the meantime, he had turned
to his studies and graduated from the Law
School in Split.
The Croatian Olympic Committee named
Ančić Croatia’s most promising athlete in 1998.
In 2005, it awarded the Croatian Davis Cup
team, which Mario was on, as Croatia’s most
successful male team. Since 2010, he has been
the Jury Chairman for the highest Croatian
Olympic Committee award – the Matija
Ljubek Award.
For outstanding contribution to tennis and
Croatian sport in general Ančić received the
2004 Franjo Bučar Croatian Sports Award and
the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
165
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM ATHENS
CROATIAN FLAG BEARER
Dubravko Šimenc
Dubravko Šimenc is one of the world’s best water polo
players of all time. He won almost all titles in this
sport. He participated in four Olympic Games - Seoul
1988, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 –
and received two Olympic medals.
T
he first one was a gold medal in Seoul 1988, and the second in
Atlanta 1996, when, according to public opinion, he was one of
those who deserved the most credit for Croatia’s silver medal. In
Athens, he had the honour of carrying the Croatian flag at the
Opening Ceremony.
He played 200 games on the Yugoslav national team from 1985 to 1991
and 150 games on the Croatian national team from 1992 to 2004 and won
the World gold medal in Madrid in 1986 and Perth in 1991 and European
gold medal in Sofia in 1985, Bonn in 1989, Florence in 1999 and Kranj in
2003.
Dubravko Šimenc, who holds a degree in Kinesiology, was born in
Zagreb on 2 November 1966, where he also started playing water polo.
In his successful 33-year long career as a player, he played for as many
as 13 clubs from Croatia, Italy, Malta and the USA. He started his career
in Mladost (1975 - 1992), and then played for Jadran Split (1991 - 1992),
Volturno, Italy (1992 - 1993), Pescara, Italy (1993 - 1994), Como, Italy (1994 1995), St. Julian, Malta (1995), Pescara (1995 - 1996), POŠK
Split (1996 - 1998), Mladost (1998 - 2000), Savona, Italy (2000 - 2002),
Mladost (2002 - 2003), Los Angeles, USA (2003), Chiavari, Italy (2003
-2004), Cremona, Italy (2004 - 2005), Bogliasco, Italy (2005 - 2006),
Neptunes, Malta (2006) and Medveščak (2006 - 2007). He was European
Champion with Mladost in 1989 and 1990 and with Jadran in 1992, and
he won the European Cup Winners Cup title with Pescara in 1994 and
Mladost in 1999. He won the LEN Cup with Pescara in 1996, and European
Super Cup with Mladost in 1989. It was with Mladost that he won the
Yugoslav title in 1989 and 1990 and the Croatian title in 1999 and 2002. He
was Maltese Champion with St. Julian in 1995 and with Neptunes in 2006.
With Mladost, he won the Mediterranean Cup title in 1988 and 1991. He
won the Italian Cup with Volturno in 1993 and with Como in 1995.
After the end of his career as a player, he started coaching: he was the
assistant coach of the men’s team and head coach of the junior men’s at
the Medveščak Club from 2006 to 2008. The junior men’s team won the
Croatian title in 2007, as did the women’s team of the Mladost Club in
2008, when he was coaching them. Since 2009, he has been coaching the
junior men’s team of the Mladost Club.
For outstanding contribution to Croatian sport Dubravko Šimenc
received the highest national sports award, the Franjo Bučar Croatian
Sports Award, twice: as a member of the national water polo team in
1996 and the individual award in 2002. He received the Order of Croatian
Morning Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
167
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Torino 2006
Olympic Winter Games
(10 - 24 February 2006)
- THE XX OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES, HELD IN TORINO FROM 10 TO 24 FEBRUARY 2006, INCLUDED 2,508 ATHLETES FROM 80 NOCs
(960 WOMEN AND 1,548 MEN). They competed in 84 events in 14 sports. The Croatian Olympic delegation included 23
athletes, of whom seven were women. They competed in alpine and nordic skiing, biathlon, skeleton, bobsleigh and
figure skating.
- ITALIAN PRESIDENT CARLO AZEGLIO CIAMPI OPENED THE GAMES AND CROSS-COUNTRY SKIER STEFANIA BELMONDO LIT THE
OLYMPIC FLAME. Alpine skier Giorgio Rocca took the Olympic Oath on behalf of the athletes and member of the
International Skating Union Technical Committee Fabio Bianchetti on behalf of all officials.
Croatia’s First Men’s Winter
Olympic Medal
T
hanks to Ivica Kostelić, Croatia earned the first men’s Winter Olympic medal in
Torino. He won it in the men’s combined, in which he finished the downhill and
two slalom races in Sestriere in 3:09.88 minutes, which was 0.53 seconds behind
the gold medallist Ted Ligety of the USA.
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Janica Kostelić
At the Closing Ceremony:
Ivan Šola
Janica Kostelić won her fourth gold Olympic medal in the women’s combined, remaining
undefeated in that event for four consecutive years. Janica also won the silver medal in
the super giant slalom, rounding off her impressive Olympic career with six medals – four
gold and two silver – thus becoming the most successful woman alpine skier in the history
of the Olympic Winter Games. These medals made her the most prolific medallist among
Croatian athletes and one of the best athletes in the history of the Olympic Winter Games.
Croatian Olympic Delegation to Torino 2006
Medals:
GOLD
Janica Kostelić
Alpine skiing
(women’s combined)
SILVER
Janica Kostelić
Alpine skiing
(super giant slalom)
Ivica Kostelić
Alpine skiing
(men’s combined)
Chef de Mission: Damir Šegota
Mission Members: Višnja Peran, Zoran Štefec, Lucian Vukelić
ATHLETES:
Alpine skiing: Janica Kostelić, Ivica Kostelić, Nika Fleiss, Ana Jelušić, Matea Ferk, Tin
Široki, Danko Marinelli, Dalibor Šamšal, Natko Zrnčić Dim, Ivan Ratkić, Ivan Olivari,
Yvonne Schnock
Biathlon: Petra Starčević
Bobsleigh: Ivan Šola, Slaven Krajačić, Dejan Vojnović, Jurica Grabušić, Alen Osmanović
Cross-country skiing: Maja Kezele, Alen Abramović, Damir Jurčević, Denis Klobučar
Figure skating: Idora Hegel
Skeleton: Nikola Nimac
TEAM LEADERS: Vedran Pavlek (alpine skiing), Alen Ćupo (bobsleigh), Zlatko Malec
(cross-country skiing)
COACHES: Ante Kostelić, Vincencij Jovan, Marko Bošnjak, Seny Sever (alpine skiing),
Georgi Petrov Fartunov, Željko Galjanić (biathlon), Alexander Szelig, Matej Juhart
(bobsleigh), Zoran Skender (cross-country skiing), Aleksandar Rožin (figure skating)
MEDICAL TEAM: Nataša Desnica, Danko Butala, Matija Kukor, Dejan Lež, Marijan Turkalj
OTHERS: Mladen Bezjak, Matej Čuješ, Ivan Franjko, Jurij Hafner, Igor Jakopovič, Slaven
Petrović, Ozren Müller (press, alpine skiing), Igor Boraska, Paulo Cicarreli (bobsleigh),
Nenad Šmehil (cross-country skiing), Damir Novoselec (skeleton)
168
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
169
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM TORINO
OLYMPIC GOLD AND SILVER MEDALLIST
Janica Kostelić (page 136)
OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST
Ivica Kostelić
Ivica Kostelić, Olympian who won
three Olympic silver medals in
alpine skiing, is one of the best
Croatian athletes of all time. He
participated in three Olympic
Games – in Salt Lake City 2002,
Torino 2006, where he won
Croatia’s first men’s Olympic
medal ever, and in Vancouver
2010, where he delivered a
brilliant performance to win two
more silver medals.
H
e finished an excellent 9th in the
giant slalom at his first Olympic
appearance in Salt Lake City
in 2002. In Torino, he won the
silver medal in the combined. It was Croatia’s
first men’s Winter Olympic medal ever. He
finished 6th in the slalom. Besides the silver
medal in the super combined at Vancouver
2010, he also won silver in the slalom,
his strongest event. He finished 7th in the
giant slalom, and 16th in the super-G. With
silver from Vancouver, he is a potential top
candidate for the 2014 Games in Sochi.
important races in Slovenia, Italy and France.
He drew attention of the international ski
community in 1997, when he, aged 17, won
bronze in the combined at the World Junior
Championships in Schladming among 20year old competitors from countries with a
hundred-year long skiing tradition. But then
he suffered frequent injuries, due to which
he also had to give up on the 1998 Olympic
Winter Games in Nagano.
Training under his father and coach Ante
Kostelić, a versatile athlete and exceptional
skiing expert, Ivica Kostelić has been a
tremendous asset to Croatian sport. The
Croatian Olympic Committee presented him
with the 2003 and 2010 Most Successful
Athlete Award. For outstanding contribution
to Croatian sport, he also received the highest
state sports recognition, the Franjo Bučar
National Sports Award, in 2002.
He received the Order of Croatian Morning
Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
He has won 18 World Cup races so far – 11
in the slalom, five in the combined, and one
each in the super-G and parallel slalom. He
also won gold in the slalom at the 2003 World
Championships in St. Moritz and bronze at
the 2011 World Championships in GarmischPartenkirchen. He proved to be the most
versatile skier today by winning the large
crystal globe in the season of 2010/2011.
Ivica Kostelić was born in Zagreb on 23
November 1979. He showed talent very early,
winning at children’s competitions from
1992 on, after which he started winning all
171
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Almeria 2005
Mediterranean Games
(24 June – 3 July 2005)
T
he XV Mediterranean Games in Almeria, Spain, held from 24 June to
3 July 2005, included 3,500 athletes from 21 Mediterranean countries.
They competed in 25 sports. The Croatian Mediterranean delegation led
by Chef de Mission Damir Šegota consisted of 201 athletes, of whom 83
were women.
Croatia won 26 medals – 5 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze – and placed 11th in the
medal count.
GOLD MEDALS: athletics: Edis Elkasević (shot put), kayak/canoe: Stjepan Janić
(K1 1000 m), Stjepan and Mićo Janić (K2 500m), table tennis: Tamara Boroš and
rowing: Mirna Rajle Brođanac.
Gordan Kožulj
Mirna Rajle Brođanac
SILVER MEDALS: athletics: Željko Vincek (400 m), women’s basketball team:
Marta Čakić, Božana Erceg, Jelena Ivezić, Anđa Jelavić, Dea Klein-Šumanovac,
Sandra Pešić, Emilija Podrug, Sandra Popović, Ana Roca, Iva Serdar, karate: Petra
Naranđa (-60 kg), swimming: Sanja Jovanović (50 m butterfly), Dajana Zoretić (50
m breaststroke), Gordan Kožulj (200 m backstroke), men’s handball team: Damir
Bičanić, Nikola Blažičko, Denis Buntić, Josip Čale, Ivan Čupić, Zlatko Horvat,
Tomislav Huljina, Krešimir Ivanković, Marin Knez, Branimir Koloper, Mario
Obad, Vladimir Ostarčević, Ivan Pongračić, Vjenceslav Somić, Ljubo Vukić, Drago
Vuković, table tennis: Roko Tošić, shooting: Suzana Cimbal Špirelja (50 m rifle)
and women’s tennis doubles: Matea Mezak and Ana Vrljić.
BRONZE MEDALS: athletics: Josip Šoprek (200 m), Jurica Grabušić (110 m
hurdles), Vera Begić (discus throw), boxing: Borna Katalinić (-69 kg), Marijo
Šivolija-Jelica (-81 kg), Vedran Đipalo (-91 kg), swimming: Alexei Puninski (50 m
butterfly), Sanja Jovanović (100 m backstroke), women’s handball team: Maida
Arslanagić, Maja Čop, Dijana Golubić, Jelena Grubišić, Lidija Horvat, Ivana Jelčić,
Sanela Knezović, Maja Kožnjak, Svitlana Pasichnik, Andrea Penzić, Antonela
Pensa, Nikica Pušić, Sandra Stojković, Tihana Šarić, Miranda Tatari, Maja Zebić
and table tennis: Maja Mezak (singles).
The Janić brothers
Silver medal winning men’s handball team
Paralympic athletes Nataša Sobočan (in the
wheel chair), Mihovil Španja and Ana Sršen
172
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Brief
Olympic
Reminder
173
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Who Is Who
from 2004 to 2008
Members of the COC
Council from 2004 to 2006
COC President
Zlatko Mateša
COC Vice-Presidents
Goranko Fižulić, Stojko Vranković, Ivo Goran
Munivrana, Goran Ivanišević (from 17 August
2005 to 27 March 2006), Luciano Sušanj
(from 27 March 2006)
Members
Srećko Ferenčak, Željko Kavran, Marijan
Klanac, Marijan Maras (from 17 August
2005), Duško Mrduljaš (from 17 August 2005),
Morana Paliković Gruden, Danko Radić,
Nada Senčar, Zvjezdana Tuma Pavlov (from
21 December 2005), Vlatko Škiljo (until 17
August 2005), Dragutin Kamenski (from 27
March 2006), Pero Lozica (from 27 March
2006), IOC Member Antun Vrdoljak
COC Supervisory Board
COC Secretary General Josip Čop, EOC Vice-President Alexander Kozlovsky,
EOC President Mario Pescante, COC President Zlatko Mateša and EOC
Secretary General Patrick Hickey
33rd General Assembly
of the European
Olympic Committees
in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik 2004
Chaired by EOC President
Mario Pescante, the 33rd General
Assembly of the European
Olympic Committees was held in
Dubrovnik on 3 and 4 December
2004. The two-day session, held at
the Excelsior Hotel in Dubrovnik,
was attended by the Presidents
and Secretaries General of 48
European NOCs, as well as former
Chairman
Ivan Jelenčić
Members
Zdravko Fain
Zvjezdana Tuma Pavlov
(until December 2005)
Romeo Vrečko
Darko Šimunec
Željko Širić (from June 2006)
COC President and lifelong IOC
Honorary President Juan Antonio
Samaranch, current IOC President
Jacques Rogge and the delegations
of the cities bidding to host the
2012 Summer Olympic Games.
COC President Zlatko Mateša and
Secretary General Josip Čop and
their associates also attended the
session, as did IOC member and
COC Honorary President Antun
Vrdoljak, Minister of Science,
Education and Sport Dragan
Primorac and then Assistant
Minister Romana Caput Jogunica.
The most distinguished guest,
IOC President and former EOC
EOC President Mario Pescante, accompanied by EOC Vice President Alexander
Kozlovsky, presents IOC President Jacques Rogge with the EOC Order of Merit
award
174
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
President Jacques Rogge, who
also met with Croatian President
Stjepan Mesić and Prime
Minister Ivo Sanader, said at
a press conference in Zagreb
after returning from Dubrovnik:
“Croatia can be a role model to
many countries around the world
regarding the organisation of its
sport. My Belgium, which has 11
million inhabitants, and which
only won 3 medals in Athens,
compared to Croatia, which won
five, can also learn from Croatia.”
Development
Programs Benefiting
Athletes and Sports
Results
Zagreb 2005
and 2006
In June 2005, the Croatian
Olympic Committee introduced
a system co-financing the work
of coaches in national sports
associations as a continuation of
the support to expert teams and
top sporting results.
The most important criterion,
evaluated in cooperation with
national sports associations, is
top results at the Olympic Games
in three previous Olympic cycles
and at world and European
championships. The first
contracts were signed with top
experts in a dozen sports:
Dražen Petrović Museum
and Memorial Centre Opened
Zagreb 2006
The Dražen Petrović Museum and Memorial Centre was opened
in the tower next to the Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall on
Dražen Petrović Square in Zagreb, on 7 June 2006, on the 13th
anniversary of the tragic death of one Croatia’s and world’s greatest
basketball players. The Croatian Sports Museum made a substantial
contribution to the Memorial Centre with over 300 exhibits, among
which were all important trophies, recognitions and uniforms of
the clubs, for which the Basketball Mozart had played, and some
common use items.
Joško Vlašić and Ivan Ivančić
(athletics), Pero Tadić and
Drago Mijić (boxing), Željko
Dozan (cue sports), Boško Čavka
(weightlifting), Vlado Lisjak
(wrestling), Edo Smoljanović,
Željko Vojvodić, Tonči Antunović
(sailing), Stjepan Perestegi (kayak/
canoe), Dubravko Kolec (karate),
Saša Rožin (figure skating), Boško
Božić, Vlado Vanjak and Neven
Spahija (basketball), Ivica Jelić
and Andrej Urnaut (volleyball),
Mike Bottom, Dimitar Bobev,
Aleksandar Seleznev, Klara Šiljeg,
Pero Kuterovac (swimming),
Igor Kecerin (parachuting), Lino
Červar, Irfan Smajlagić, Vladimir
175
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Olympic Committee, participated
in the Forum.
The Athletes’ Careers program
was designed to make the athletes’
transition after the end of their
careers as athletes easier; it goes
from assistance in finding a
job while still involved in sport
to preparation for long-term
professional careers.
Ante Kostelić
Lino Červar
Ratko Rudić
Ivan Ivančić
Joško Vlašić
Vlado Lisjak
In July 2006, the Croatian Olympic
Committee introduced a computer
skills certification programme for
athletes with a European licence
(ECDL), which was completed
by around 100 Croatian athletes.
It also started a procedure of
adjusting study programmes at
certain universities in Croatia. To
start with, the first agreement was
signed with the Aspira University
College for Sports Management
in Split; it enables eligible athletes
to obtain higher education with
curricula adjusted to the needs of
top athletes.
Croatian Athletes
Foundation
Established
Zagreb 2006
Boško Čavka
Zlatko Novaković
Irfan Smajlagić
Canjuga (handball), Ante Kostelić,
Ivica Franjko, Slaven Petrović
(skiing), Zlatko Novaković, Neven
Karković (table tennis), Hong Seung
Ki (taekwondo), Ratko Rudić (water
polo), Igor Čulin, Nikola Bralić,
Romano Bajlo (rowing).
In 2011, the Croatian Olympic
Committee had six development
programs, including potential
Olympic candidates, encompassing
over 400 top-level athletes and
around 70 coaches annually.
In February 2006, the COC decided
to expand the program of care for
young and promising athletes by
opening the possibility to cofinance athletes from team and
individual sports.
Athletes’ Careers –
Permanent Care of the
Olympic Movement
Lausanne 2006
The first ones who became eligible
for it were athletes involved in
baseball, field hockey, ice hockey,
basketball, football, handball,
softball, water polo, synchronised
swimming and synchronised figure
skating.
Organised by the IOC, the II Forum
on the Athletes’ Careers program
was held in Lausanne, Switzerland,
on 7 and 8 December 2006. Invited
by the IOC, COC representative
Vesna Peran, Olympic Solidarity
program leader within the Croatian
176
On 21 December 2006, the Croatian
Olympic Committee, the Croatian
Olympians Club and the Sportske
Novosti daily sports newspaper
signed an agreement to establish
the Croatian Athletes Foundation,
which was to provide financial
and other forms of assistance
to top Croatian athletes who
had existential problems despite
successful sporting careers.
The Croatian Olympic Committee,
co-founder of the Foundation,
provided the initial capital stock of
300,000 kunas. The Foundation is
managed by the Management Board
composed of Stojko Vranković,
Gordan Kožulj, Danijela Grgić,
Tamara Boroš (representatives of
the Croatian Olympic Committee),
Goran Sukno, Tomislav
Smoljanović, Igor Boraska and
Vlado Šola (Croatian Olympians
Club) and Goran Ivanišević, Vedran
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Ćorluka and Zvonimir Boban, who
was also appointed the Chairman
of the Board (Sportske Novosti).
Biserka Vrbek, COC Assistant
Secretary General for Legal
Matters, was appointed the acting
Foundation Manager. In 2007, she
was appointed the Foundation
Manager.
The Foundation assisted a number
of Croatian athletes, among whom
were Miro Poljak, Mate Parlov,
Albin Vidović, Goran Gajić, Stanko
Piljak, Sandra Paović, Ante Nakić
Alfirević…
Croatia’s First
Participation
in Island Games
Sicily 2006
The Island Games were founded by
the Regional Olympic and Sports
Committee of the French island of
Corsica, where the 1st Games were
held, in 1977.
The first time that Croatia’s
representatives, a sports delegation
from the island of Korčula,
participated in them was at the 10th
Games, held in Sicily, Italy, from
22 to 28 May 2006. The Croatian
team consisted of 44 athletes, who
competed in handball, tennis,
table tennis and swimming. The
Games also featured competition
in athletics, basketball, gymnastics,
judo, volleyball and sailing.
The Games include athletes up to
15 years of age. Their objective is
more efficient integration of young
people living on islands into the
international sports and Olympic
movement.
17 islands from the Mediterranean
Sea and the Atlantic, Pacific and
Indian Oceans are full members of
the Island Games Committee.
Among them are French, Italian,
Spanish, Portuguese and Greek
islands, Malta, British islands
and Cape Verde. Korčula was an
associate member until 2009, after
which it became a full member.
Croatian Fair Play Committee Founded
Zagreb 2006
The Croatian Olympic Committee, in cooperation with the
Croatian Sports Journalists Association, founded the Croatian Fair
Play Committee in May 2006. Its objectives are to systematically
promote fair play, abiding by the principles of tolerance and mutual
respect in all forms of sport, to contribute to the progress of the
fair play movement worldwide in compliance with the rules of the
International and European Fair Play Movement, co-founded by the
Croatian Olympic Committee, as well.
The first members – Olympians, Croatian sports dignitaries and
journalists - were appointed in September 2007: Stojko Vranković,
Nada Senčar, Gordan Kožulj, Verica Haraminčić, Morana Paliković
Gruden, Romana Caput Jogunica, Goran Jukić, Luciano Sušanj,
Dubravko Ižaković, Jura Ozmec, Biserka Vrbek, Marin Šarec, Romano
Janečić and Ivana Lukačić. The Council appointed Biserka Perman, top
athlete and Committee member, as Chairwoman of the Croatian Fair
Play Committee.
Thanks to the adroitness of Croatia’s representatives on the European
Fair Play Movement (EFPM), Croatia hosted the 17th Fair Play Congress
titled Sport as a Part of Culture and the EFPM General Assembly in
Poreč in 2011.
Recipients of the
special 2010 COC
Fair Play Award:
Labud Sailing Club
from Split, athletes
Nikola Bralić and
Dominik Perković
and coaches Tonči
Antunović and
Vedran Mandić
Pavle Kostov
and Petar
Cupać, Croatia’s
49er sailing team
at the Beijing
Olympic Games,
received a Fair
Play Trophy for
an Act of Fair
Play from the
International
Fair Play
Committee in
Istanbul on 26
January 2009. This prestigious award was presented to them by Miroslav
Cerar, President of the EFPM Awards Jury. The Croatian sailors and their
coach Ivan Bulaja earned this award for fostering the Olympic values by
lending their boat to the Danish team, whose mast had broken just before
the start of the medal race at the Beijing Olympic Games. The Danish
team won the Olympic gold medal in it.
177
XXIX Olympiad
From Beijing to... London
T
he period of the XXIX Olympiad (8 August 2008 – 27 July 2012) is still
not over, and Croatia has already rejoiced over five new Olympic medals
won at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and three more from the
2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Moreover, the medals earned
in Beijing were in the sports, in which Croatian athletes had not yet won them
since Croatia’s declaration of independence. In Vancouver, Ivica Kostelić won two
more silver medals in alpine skiing, whereas Jakov Fak’s bronze was the first one in
biathlon ever. The Beijing and Vancouver Games showed what an endless resource
Croatian athletes are.
This period was also marked by the 13th Olympic congress titled the Olympic
Movement in Society, held in Copenhagen from 3 to 5 September 2009. 1,249
representatives of the global sports community participated in it. The main
themes were: Athletes, The Olympic Games, Structure of the Olympic Movement,
Olympism and Youth and Digital Revolution.
It was the last topic and the conclusions pertaining to it that was the basis of the
Sports Television (SPTV) project, which the Croatian Olympic Committee started
as the first NOC ever. Sports Television, which started broadcasting in April
2011, received support and congratulations by all leading persons of the Olympic
movement.
The first Youth Olympic Games (YOG) held in Singapore in 2010 opened a new
chapter in the history of the Olympic movement. They featured young athletes
aged 14 to 18, who demonstrated a high level of sports competition and provided
the Olympic family with new guidelines of the Olympic growing up and learning.
t
h
g
i
c
i
E p s
m
l
y da
l
O
e
M
178
Successes of Croatian Athletes at
World and European Championships
Men and Women: 346 medals
Juniors and Cadets: 283 medals
WCh 153 - 57 gold, 37 silver, 59 bronze
ECh 193 - 64 gold, 63 silver, 66 bronze
WCh 122 - 37 gold, 39 silver, 46 bronze
ECh 161 - 47 gold, 37 silver, 77 bronze
179
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Beijing 2008
Olympic Games
(8 - 24 August 2008)
- THE GAMES OF THE XXIX OLYMPIAD HELD IN BEIJING FROM 8 TO 24 AUGUST 2008 INCLUDED 10,942 athletes (4,637
WOMEN AND 6,305 MEN) FROM 204 COUNTRIES. The Games, which included 302 events, were covered by 24,562 media
representatives coming from 159 countries, of whom 79 from Croatia. There were 70,000 volunteers.
- PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA HU JINTAO OPENED THE GAMES AND GYMNAST LI NING LIT THE OLYMPIC
FLAME. Table tennis player Zhang Yining took the Olympic Oath on behalf of the athletes and gymnastics referee
Huang Liping on behalf of all officials.
Beijing Excellence
of Croatia’s
Women Athletes
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Ivano Balić
At the Closing Ceremony:
Tamara Boroš
Medals:
SILVER
Blanka Vlašić
Athletics (high jump)
Filip Ude
Gymnastics
(pommel horse)
BRONZE
Snježana Pejčić
Shooting (air rifle)
Martina Zubčić
Taekwondo (-57 kg)
Sandra Šarić
Taekwondo (-67 kg)
180
C
roatia’s best track and field athlete Blanka Vlašić won the high jump
silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games clearing 2.05 m on her
second attempt. Her silver medal is Croatia’s first athletics Olympic
medal and one of the greatest successes of Croatian athletics. Gold
went to Belgium’s Tia Hellebaut, who cleared 2.05 on her first attempt, and
bronze went to Russia’s Anna Chicherova, who cleared 2.03.
Filip Ude, who arrived in Beijing as European Pommel Horse Champion,
earned 15.725 points and the silver medal for his performance. The gold medal
went to three-time World Pommel Horse Champion Xiao Qin of China, who
won 15.875 points. Filip Ude’s silver medal is the greatest success of Croatian
gymnastics, just as Snježana Pejčić’s bronze medal in the air rifle (500.9 points)
is for Croatian shooting sport.
The very first athlete who had a medal presented by IOC President Jacques
Rogge in Beijing was bronze medallist Snježana Pejčić.
Taekwondo brought in two medals, earned by Martina Zubčić and Sandra
Šarić. Croatia’s youngest Olympic medallist, 19-year old Martina Zubčić,
defeated Taiwan’s Sung Yu-Chi on a golden point in the fourth, golden round
of the -57 kg bronze medal bout, after a tied score of 4-4.
Sandra Šarić won her -67 kg medal in the repechage, as she had lost 1-3 to
South Korea’s two-time World Champion Kyung-Sun Hwang in the quarterfinal. As Hwang made the final (and eventually won the gold medal), Sandra
got another chance in the repechage, in which she defeated Sheikha Maitha
Al-Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates 4-0, and then also Puerto Rico’s
Asuncion Ocasio Rodriguez 5-1 in the bronze medal bout.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Croatian Olympic Delegation to Beijing 2008
The Croatian Olympic delegation included 101 athletes (of whom 19
women), who competed in 15 sports: athletics, boxing cycling, sailing, kayak/
canoe, basketball, gymnastics, swimming, handball, shooting, table tennis,
taekwondo, tennis, water polo and rowing.
Chef de Mission: Damir Šegota
Deputy Chef de Mission: Miroslav Zečić
Mission Members: Višnja Peran, Zoran Štefec, Andreja Vadla, Maja Čizmić
Regula, Maja Juričan, Sandra Burić, Gordana Gaćeša (Press Attache)
Olympic Attache: Igor Merlin
Sandra Paović and Andrea Bakula
Stjepan Janić
ATHLETES:
Athletics: Vera Begić, Ivana Brkljačić, Vanja Perišić, Blanka Vlašić, Nikolina
Horvat, Jurica Grabušić, Andras Haklits, Nedžad Mulabegović, Martin Marić,
Sanja Gavrilović
Basketball: Roko-Leni Ukić, Davor Kus, Marko Popović, Marin Rozić, Nikola
Prkačin, Marko Tomas, Zoran Planinić, Sandro Nicević, Marko Banić,
Krešimir Lončar, Stanko Barač, Damjan Rudež
Boxing: Marijo Šivolija-Jelica, Marko Tomasović
Cycling: Matija Kvasina, Vladimir Miholjević, Radoslav Rogina
Gymnastics: Tina Erceg, Filip Ude
Handball: Mirko Alilović, Ivano Balić, Davor Dominiković, Domagoj Duvnjak,
Mirza Džomba, Zlatko Horvat, Blaženko Lacković, Venio Losert, Petar
Metličić, Renato Sulić, Goran Šprem, Tonči Valčić, Igor Vori, Ljubo Vukić,
Drago Vuković Kayak/canoe: Stjepan Janić, Emir Mujčinović
Rowing: Ante Kušurin, Mario Vekić, Nikša Skelin, Siniša Skelin
Sailing: Mateja Petronijević, Petar Cupać, Šime Fantela, Ivan Kljaković Gašpić,
Pavle Kostov, Igor Marenić, Luka Mratović, Marin Lovrović, Siniša Mikuličić,
Luka Radelić
Shooting: Suzana Cimbal-Špirelja, Snježana Pejčić, Josip Glasnović, Petar
Gorša
Swimming: Sanja Jovanović, Monika Babok, Smiljana Marinović, Anja Trišić,
Duje Draganja, Marko Strahija, Mario Todorović, Gordan Kožulj, Alexei
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Jurica Grabušić
Sanja Jovanović
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Puninski, Bruno Barbić, Ante Cvitković, Saša Imprić, Vanja Rogulj, Nikša Roki,
Dominik Straga
Table tennis: Tamara Boroš, Sandra Paović, Andrea Bakula, Zoran Primorac,
Rui Wu Tan, Andrej Gaćina
Taekwondo: Sandra Šarić, Martina Zubčić
Tennis: Marin Čilić
Water polo: Samir Barać, Miho Bošković, Damir Burić, Andro Bušlje, Teo
Đogaš, Igor Hinić, Maro Joković, Aljoša Kunac, Pavo Marković, Josip Pavić,
Mile Smodlaka, Frano Vićan, Zdeslav Vrdoljak
TEAM LEADERS: Siniša Ergotić (athletics), Boris Jakimenko (basketball),
Drago Mijić (boxing), Ivo Rilović (cycling), Ivica Udovičić (handball), Stjepan
Perestegi (kayak/canoe), Ivo Jaić (sailing), Ivan Cvitak (shooting), Tomislav
Karlo (swimming), Dražen Mađarević (taekwondo), Marina Mihelić (tennis),
Perica Bukić, Jurica Prižmić (water polo)
Marijo Šivolija Jelica
COACHES: Joško Vlašić, Bojan Marinović, Šime Sučić, Roland Robert Varga
(athletics), Jasmin Repeša, Dražen Anzulović, Luka Milanović, Tomislav
Mijatović (basketball), Ivan Živković (boxing), Eugen Pleško (cycling), Magda
Ilić, Igor Križimski (gymnastics), Lino Červar, Slavko Goluža (handball), Igor
Čulin, Dragutin Milinković (rowing), Tonči Antunović, Ivan Bulaja, Edo
Fantela, Edo Smoljenović, Marko Mišura, Karlo Krpeljević, Goran Bonačić,
Miomil Zuban (sailing), Anton Glasnović (shooting), Dimitar Bobev, Mike
Bottom, Alexandre Seleznev, Miloš Milošević, Pero Kuterovac (swimming),
Borislav Baniček, Neven Cegnar, Zvonimir Korenić (table tennis), Seung Ki
Hong (taekwondo), Goran Prpić (tennis), Ratko Rudić, Milorad Damjanić,
Zoran Kačić, Dean Kontić (water polo)
MEDICAL TEAM: Miroslav Smerdelj, Dinko Pivalica, Mladen Miškulin,
Nebojša Nikolić, Tomislav Kukin, Dean Mistura, Marko Bartolić (physio),
Marko Mušak, Božo Šinković, Damir Luketić, Božidar Vušković, Tonči
Cvitković
OTHERS: Vladimir Barbić, Mladen Makjanić, Neven Baran, Zrinka Grancarić
(press)
Emir Mujčinović
Petar Metličić
Marin Čilić
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM BEIJING
OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST
Blanka Vlašić
Blanka Vlašić, Olympic silver medallist and two-time
high jump world champion, has already earned her
place in the history of Croatian, but also global sport
as one of the best athletes, which the International
Sports Press Association (AIPS) also confirmed,
honouring her with the 2010 World’s Best Athlete
Award.
B
lanka has participated in three Olympic Games so far. Her
first Olympic appearance, at age 17, was at the 2000 Games in
Sydney, where she placed 17th. She finished 11th at her second
Olympics, in Athens in 2004, and won silver after a 2.05m
clearance at the 2008 Games in Beijing, which was the first Olympic
athletics medal in the history of Croatian sport. Today, she is an evident
Olympic candidate for the 2012 Games in London.
Blanka Vlašić has improved her personal best and Croatian records
several times during her career, and her 2.08 m clearance at the Zagreb
Meeting in 2009 is the world’s second best result of all time, only one
centimetre short of the world record.
She is a two-time world champion (Osaka 2007 and Berlin 2009)
and two-time world indoor champion (Valencia 2008 and Doha 2010).
Besides the Olympic silver from the Beijing Games, she also won silver
at the 2006 World Indoor Championships in Moscow, and bronze at
the 2004 World Indoor Championships in Budapest. She won two
European gold medals – at the 2003 European U23 Championships in
Bidgoszcz and 2010 European Championships in Barcelona. She also
won the gold medal at the 2001 Mediterranean Games in Tunis.
She has won at 11 Golden League Meetings. In Stockholm in 2007,
she cleared 2.07 m, which was the second best result of all time and
the IAAF named it the greatest achievement in 2007. Her 2.08m at the
Zagreb Grand Prix in 2009 was again the second best result of all time.
She won the Diamond League title in 2010. She received the 2007 and
2010 European Best Female Athlete Award.
Blanka Vlašić was born to a family of athletes in Split on 8 November
1983. She was only 7 years old when she started practising high jump
with her father Joško Vlašić, a decathlon athlete and top coach. From
the beginning of her career, she was included in the Croatian Olympic
Committee’s special care programs for young talented athletes. In
2000, the Croatian Olympic Committee honoured her with the Most
Promising Athlete Award and with the Most Successful Athlete Award
in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
For outstanding contribution to Croatian sport, Blanka Vlašić was
honoured with the 2006 Franjo Bučar Croatian National Sports Award.
She received the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the Image of
Franjo Bučar.
186
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
188
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Olimpijski
odličniciFROM
iz PEKINGA
OYLMPIC MEDALLISTS
BEIJING
OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST
Filip Ude
Filip Ude is Croatia’s first Olympic
gymnastics medallist. His pommel
horse silver medal from the 2008
Olympic Games in Beijing was an
exceptional achievement, which
deserves a special place in Croatian
sports history.
A
t his only Olympic appearance so far, at
Beijing 2008, he qualified in third place
for the pommel horse final with a score
of 15.475 points.
Filip was the last to compete in the final on
17 August, and thanks to a brave performance
of the very demanding element – 1080 degree
Russian wendeswing between pommels – he
earned a score of 15.725. It is a very difficult and
precise element, which nobody else performed
in the final. Britain’s Louis Smith received the
same score of 15.725, but Ude finished second
and won silver due to the better score from the
qualifications round.
Besides the Olympic silver medal, Ude won
another silver medal on the pommel horse at the
2008 European Championships in Lausanne and
on the floor at the 2009 Mediterranean Games in
Pescara.
Filip Ude was born in Čakovec on 3 June 1986.
He started practising gymnastics when he was
6 years old and working with his present coach
Igor Križimski at age 13. He demonstrated
great potential winning the silver medal in
the floor exercise at the 2004 European Junior
Championships. Today, he is a potential
candidate for the 2012 Olympic Games in
London.
Filip is a member of the Marijan Zadravec
Macan Gymnastics Club in Čakovec. He received
the COC Most Successful Male Athlete Award in
2008, as well as the highest sports recognition,
the Franjo Bučar National Sports Award.
189
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM BEIJING
OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLIST
Sandra Šarić
Sandra Šarić, an Olympic taekwondo bronze medallist, participated in two Olympic
Games. The first time, at Athens 2004, she lost out in round one, and the second, at
Beijing 2008, she won the -67 kg bronze medal. Today, she is a potential candidate
for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
A
t the Beijing Games, she defeated Mary
Rivero of the Philippines 4-1 in round one
and lost to two-time world champion
Kyoung-Sun Hwang of South Korea 1-3 in
the quarter-final. As Kyoung-Sun Hwang progressed
to the final, Sandra got a chance to earn a medal
through repechage, and she took it. First she defeated
Sheikha Maitha Al-Maktoum of the United Arab
Emirates 4-0, and then Puerto Rico’s Asuncion Ocasio
Rodriguez 5-1 in the bronze medal bout.
In her rich career, Sandra Šarić has won seven
medals at European and world championships
in various age groups – she won silver medals at
the 2000 World Junior Championships in Ireland
and the 2003 World Championships in Garmisch
Partenkirchen and three bronze medals: at Madrid
2005, Beijing 2007 and Copenhagen 2009. She
won a gold medal at the 2001 European Junior
Championships in Pamplona and another one at the
2008 European Championships in Rome.
Sandra Šarić was born in Senj on 8 May 1984. She
started practising taekwondo in her hometown at age
9. About ten years ago, she joined the Metalac Club
in Zagreb. Today, she is a potential candidate for the
2012 Olympic Games in London.
For outstanding contribution to Croatian sport,
Sandra Šarić received the 2008 Franjo Bučar National
Sports Award.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLIST
Martina Zubčić
Martina Zubčić, now an Olympic taekwondo bronze medallist, made her first Olympic
appearance at the 2008 Games in Beijing. Her medal was the first taekwondo
medal for Croatia. Today, she is a potential Olympic candidate for the 2012 Games in
London.
O
n her path to the -57 kg medal, Martina
defeated Taiwan’s Sung Yu-Chi 5-4 on a
golden point in the fourth, golden round
of bronze medal bout. Before that, she
defeated Israel’s Gatterer 4-3, Brazil’s Nunes 3-2 on a
golden point and lost out to Turkey’s Tanrikulu 5-3 in
the semi-final.
Besides the Olympic bronze medal, Martina won
the European title at the 2005 Championships in Riga
and European silver medal in Rome in 2008.
She won bronze at the 2004 World Junior
Championships in Suncheon, Korea, and at the 2006
European Championships in Bonn and World Cup in
Bangkok. Today, she is a potential candidate for the
2012 Olympic Games in London.
Martina Zubčić was born in Zagreb on 3 June,
where she started practising taekwondo at the
Dubrava Club at age 7.
In 2008, the Croatian Olympic Committee
presented her with the Most Promising Athlete
Award and the Dražen Petrović Award honouring
young and promising athletes. For outstanding
contribution to Croatian sport, she also received the
Franjo Bučar National Sports Award in 2008.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM BEIJING
OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLIST
Snježana Pejčić
Snježana Pejčić, Olympic shooting bronze medallist, is Croatia’s first woman athlete,
who won a Summer Olympic medal since Croatia’s declaration of independence.
All Croatia’s Summer Olympic medallists before her had been men. Today, she is an
Olympic candidate for the 2012 Games in London.
S
nježana was the first of Croatia’s athletes to
qualify for the Beijing Games – already at the
2005 World Cup in Milan. Her event, the 10m
air rifle, was the first event in the schedule of
the Games, so her bronze medal was the first medal
presented at the Games.
Besides the Olympic medal, Snježana also won the
individual gold and team silver medal in the 10m air
rifle at the 2009 European Championships in Prague
and another team silver medal at the 2011 European
Championships in Brescia.
Snježana Pejčić was born in Rijeka on 13 July 1982.
She started practising shooting in the Papirničar
Club in 1995 and changed to Lokomotiva in 2001. Her
immense talent was spotted when she won bronze
at the 2002 European Junior Championships in
Thessaloniki.
She was not yet 15 when she first appeared on the
national team in 1997. To date, she has made over 200
national team appearances. She has won 25 Croatian
titles in different events and categories. Today, she is
an Olympic candidate for the 2012 Games in London.
For outstanding contribution to Croatian sport
Snježana Pejčić received the 2008 Franjo Bučar
National Sports Award.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM BEIJING
CROATIA’S FLAG BEARER
Ivano Balić
Ivano Balić, Olympic Champion from
Athens 2004, was voted the best
player of all time by the International
Handball Federation (IHF) in 2010.
H
e also appeared at the 2008 Olympic
Games in Beijing, where he did not step
on the podium, but he did have the
honour of carrying the Croatian flag at
the Opening Ceremony.
Ivano Balić started his sporting career playing
basketball; some people believe it to be the source
of his unusual and imaginative solutions in the
play, especially in the attack, why they call him the
Handball Jordan, Mozart or Ronaldinho.
He was awarded as the world’s best player in 2003
and 2006. He was voted part of the all star team
and the most valuable player at the 2006 European
Championship in Switzerland.
He has been on the Croatian national team since
2002, with whom he won the gold medal at the 2003
World Championship in Portugal and silver medals
at the World Championships in Tunisia in 2005 and
Croatia in 2009. He also won silver medals at the
European Championships in Norway in 2008 and
Austria in 2010.
Ivano Balić was born in Split on 1 April 1979,
where he started playing basketball in then
Jugoplastika Club. He has played for four handball
clubs in his career – Split (1997 – 2001), Metković
(2001 – 2004), Portland San Antonio (2004 – 2008)
and Croatia osiguranje Zagreb. He won the 2002
Croatian Cup title with Metković and both the Cup
and Championship title with Zagreb in 2009, 2010
and 2011.
Ivano Balić won two Franjo Bučar National Sports
Awards in 2004 – as an individual athlete and
national team member.
He received the Order of Croatian Morning Star
with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
194
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
195
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Vancouver 2010
Olympic Winter Games
(12 - 28 February 2010)
- THE XXI OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES HELD IN VANCOUVER FROM 12 TO 28 FEBRUARY 2010 INCLUDED 2.566 ATHLETES COMING
FROM 82 COUNTRIES. They competed in 86 events in 15 sports. 10,000 media representatives covered the Games.
There were around 25,000 volunteers.
- GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA MICHAËLLE JEAN OPENED THE GAMES AND ICE HOCKEY PLAYER WAYNE GRETZKY LIT THE
OLYMPIC FLAME. Ice hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser took the Olympic Oath on behalf of the athletes and speedskating referee Michel Verreault on behalf of all officials.
First Biathlon Medal and
Two More Silver Medals
in Alpine Skiing
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Jakov Fak
At the Closing Ceremony:
Ivan Šola
Medals:
SILVER
Ivica Kostelić
Alpine skiing
(super combined)
(slalom)
BRONZE
Jakov Fak
Biathlon (10 km)
T
he Vancouver Olympic Winter Games began on a somber note after the
death of 21-year old Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. The Croatian
Olympic delegation also participated in them with 19 competitors, of
whom 7 women. They competed in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing,
biathlon and four-man bobsleigh.
The Vancouver 2010 Games confirmed the endless assets of Croatian sport.
First, 22-year old biathlete Jakov Fak won the bronze medal in the 10 km sprint. He
covered the distance in 24:21.8 minutes and hit all 10 targets. It was Croatia’s eighth
Winter Olympic medal, the first in an event other than alpine skiing.
On Sunday, 21 February, Ivica Kostelić – silver medallist from Torino 2006 – won
the silver medal in the super combined, finishing 0.33 seconds behind the winner,
Bode Miller of the USA. On the same day, Jakov Fak competed in the mass start
event and finished an excellent 9th.
On the day before last, 27 February, Ivica Kostelić won another silver medal – in
the slalom. Excellent Giuliano Razzoli of Italy was 0.16 seconds faster. This was
Ivica’s second medal in Vancouver and third Olympic medal in his career.
Croatia’s four-man bobsleigh team, who finished 20th, included Ivan Šola (this
was his third Olympic appearance), Slaven Krajačić (a track and field athlete, who
had participated in the Sydney Games), Igor Marić and Mate Mezulić (this was their
first Olympic appearance). Andras Haklits, a hammer thrower, who had participated
in three Summer Olympic Games, was also there as a replacement athlete. The
Croatian team completed all four runs without capsizing on the very risky track.
Croatian Olympic Delegation to Vancouver 2010
Chef de Mission: Damir Šegota
Mission Members: Miroslav Zečić, Zoran Štefec, Nataša Desnica (Chief Medical
Officer), Gordana Gaćeša (Press Attache)
196
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Ana Jelušić
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
ATHLETES:
Alpine skiing: Ivica Kostelić, Ana Jelušić, Nika Fleiss, Natko Zrnčić-Dim, Sofija
Novoselić, Dalibor Šamšal, Ivan Ratkić, Tea Palić, Danko Marinelli, Matea Ferk
Biathlon: Jakov Fak, Andrijana Stipaničić Mrvelj
Bobsleigh (four-man): Ivan Šola, Slaven Krajačić, Igor Marić, Mate Mezulić, Andras
Haklits (replacement athlete)
Cross-country skiing: Nina Broznić, Andrej Burić
TEAM LEADERS: Vedran Pavlek (alpine skiing), Žarko Galjanić (biathlon), Damir
Novoselac (bobsleigh), Zlatko Malec (cross-country skiing)
COACHES: Ante Kostelić, Radoslav Đukić, Seny Sever, Slaviša Weiner (alpine
skiing), Dejan Brajdić (biathlon), Bernard Michaele Streckfuss (bobsleigh), Zoran
Skender (cross-country skiing)
MEDICAL TEAM: Igor Borić, Lucian Vukelić, Danko Butalo, Mario NovakStanko, Zoran Pršo
OTHERS: Janica Kostelić, Damir Raos, Slaven Ružić, Danijel Andesilić (alpine
skiing), Nenad Eror (press, alpine skiing), Robert Kontak (biathlon), Vladimir
Dugandžić (bobsleigh), Walter Hubman, Tješimir Peranić, Matej Čuješ, Igor
Jakopović, Dubravko Lalić, Renato Gašpar, Sandi Murovec, Zoran Sobol, Rajko
Šamšal, Davor Lažeta
Nina Broznić
Natko Zrnčić-Dim
198
Nika Fleiss
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
199
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FROM VANCOUVER
DOUBLE SILVER MEDALLIST
Ivica Kostelić
(page 170)
BRONZE MEDALLIST AND FLAG BEARER
Jakov Fak
Jakov Fak is a top-level athlete and
Croatia’s first Olympic biathlon bronze
medallist. He was the first Croatian
athlete to win an Olympic medal in a
Nordic event.
J
akov Fak was born in Rijeka on 1 August 1987. He
started practising cross-country skiing first, but
switched to biathlon later on. He soon showed
talent as a junior, finishing 10th at the 2008 World
Junior Championships in Ruhpolding, Germany, and
indicated extraordinary potential in February 2009,
winning the bronze medal at the World Championships
in Pyeongchang, South Korea. In a very strong field
of 120 athletes, he covered the 20 km long track only
0.17 seconds behind world biathlon legend Ole Einar
Bjørndalen of Norway and 0.05 seconds behind silver
medallist Christoph Stephan of Germany.
After Vancouver, in April 2010, Jakov Fak finished
third in the invitational 10 km sprint in PetropavlovskKamchatsky, in which the world’s best biathletes
participated, among them also overall World Cup
winner and Olympic 10 km Sprint Champion Emil Hegle
Svendsen of Norway.
As Jakov Fak wanted to continue cooperation with
the Slovenian coach, with whom he had been working,
he requested to resign from the Croatian Biathlon
Federation and join the Slovenian biathlon team. His
request was granted in October 2010. Former Croatian
biathlete received permission of the International
Biathlon Union to represent Slovenia already at the first
World Cup race in Sweden’s Oestersund on 2 December.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Singapore 2010
Youth Olympic Games
(14 - 26 August 2010)
T
he first Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore from 14 to 26 August
2010 opened a new chapter in the history of the Olympic movement.
They demonstrated a high level of sports competition, but also a new
level of Olympic education of young athletes with regard to excellence,
friendship, fair play, solidarity and mutual respect.
Flag bearers:
At the Opening Ceremony:
Ivan Horvat
Medals:
GOLD
Ivan Capan
Swimming
(50 m breaststroke)
SILVER
Men’s basketball team
(3 on 3):
Matej Buovac,
Stipe Krstanović,
Marko Ramljak,
Tomislav Grubišić
BRONZE
Barbara Matić
Judo (-63 kg)
Mixed team (Cairo)
The first Youth Olympic Games gathered 3,522 athletes aged 14 to 18 from 205
NOCs. The Croatian delegation was among them with 25 athletes, of whom
9 were women. The program, which only slightly differed from the Summer
Olympic Games program, was very attractive to fans of sport and Olympism.
In agreement with International Federations, the basketball event was a 3 on 3
tournament (also known as street basketball) and judo featured international
teams.
Global sports and Olympic role models Yelena Isinbayeva, Michael Phelps and
Usain Bolt were ambassadors for the I Youth Olympic Games, which are not only
about competition. Together with other eminent Olympic athletes, such as Sergey
Bubka, Alexander Popov and Wilson Kipketer, they associated with the young
athletes and shared experiences on social networks.
At the Closing Ceremony of this historic event for the Olympic movement, IOC
President Jacques Rogge told the first Young Olympians: “And when, years from
now, you reflect on your sports career, you will be able to say: ‘I was in Singapore,
where it all began.’... You, dear athletes, will keep this Singapore Spirit alive in your
countries as true role models.”
Croatia’s First Successes at First YOG
Croatia’s first medal at the I Youth Olympic Games was the gold medal in the 50
m breaststroke, which swimmer Ivan Capan won in a time of 28.55 s, setting a new
Croatian junior record.
Matej Buovac, Stipe Krstanović, Marko Ramljak and Tomislav Grubišić earned a
silver medal for Croatia in the 3 on 3 basketball tournament and Barbara Matić
won two bronze medals – one in the individual judo competition, and the other
on team Cairo in a competition featuring 12 mixed teams of 8 competitors (four
women and four men). The teams were named after host cities of World Judo
Championships.
Croatian Youth Olympic Delegation
to Singapore 2010
Chef de Mission: Damir Šegota
Mission Members: Petra Nosso, Miroslav Zečić, Nada Senčar, Igor Borić, Stevo
Kuric, Franjo Pavlović, Gordana Gaćeša (Press Attache)
ATHLETES:
Athletics: Ines Ikić, Romana Tea Kirinić, Ivan Horvat
202
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Ivan Capan (centre)
Barbara Matić
Silver medal winning basketball team
Basketball (3 on 3): Matej Buovac, Tomislav Grubišić, Stipe
Krstanović, Marko Ramljak
Gymnastics: Filip Boroša
Judo: Barbara Matić
Kayak/canoe: Matija Buriša
Rowing: Mate Ledenko, Mile Čakarun, Asja Žero
Shooting: Valentina Pereglin, Tanja Perec, Tiziano Šuran
Swimming: Ivan Biondić, Ivan Capan, Ivan Levaj, Mabel Sulić
Table tennis: Mateja Jeger, Luka Fučec
Taekwondo: Rea Budić
Tennis: Mate Pavić
Triathlon: Sara Vilić
COACHES: Josip Gašparac, Predrag Saratlija (athletics), Branimir
Pavić (basketball), Lucijan Krce (gymnastics), Vladimir Preradović
(judo), Goran Čokor (kayak/canoe), Elvis Orbanić, Danijel Bajlo
(rowing), Josip Plečko (shooting), Vlado Petković (swimming),
Branko Pereglin, Borislav Baniček (table tennis), Lidija Katalinić
Špoljarić (taekwondo), Nada Pavić (tennis), Matea Milovan
(triathlon)
203
20 years
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Pescara 2009
Mediterranean Games
(26 June - 5 July 2009)
T
he XVI Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy, held from 26 June
to 5 July 2009, included 4,000 athletes from 23 countries of the
Mediterranean basin. They competed in 27 sports: athletics, basketball,
boccia, boxing, cycling, equestrian, disability sports (athletics and
swimming), fencing, football, golf, gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), handball,
judo, karate, kayak/canoe, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis,
tennis, volleyball (beach and regular, international volleyball), water polo, water
skiing, weightlifting and wrestling.
The 164 Croatian athletes (75 women and 89 men), led by Chef de Mission Damir
Šegota, competed in 24 sports and won 28 medals (5 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze)
in 14 sports.
GOLD MEDALS: Nenad Žugaj (wrestling), Snježana Pejčić (shooting), Mario
Todorović (swimming), Petra Volf (karate), men’s basketball team: Lukša Andrić,
Petar Babić, Marko Car, Jure Lalić, Drago Pašalić, Damir Rančić, Damjan Rudeć,
Krunoslav Simon, Rok Stipčević, Ante Tomić, Jakov Vladović, Luka Ćorić
SILVER MEDALS: Vera Begić (athletics, discus throw), Marko Tomasović,
Filip Palić (boxing), Filip Ude (gymnastics, floor), Stjepan Janić (kayak), Jelena
Kovačević (karate), Roko Tošić, Andrej Gaćina (table tennis, team), Mario Vekić
(rowing), Šime Fantela and Igor Marinić (sailing, 470 class), Tonči Stipanović
(sailing, laser class), Tina Mihelić (sailing, laser radial class)
BRONZE MEDALS: Jurica Grabušić (athletics, 110 m hurdles), Nikolina Horvat
(athletics, 400 m hurdles), Nedžad Mulabegović (athletics, shot put), Ana Šundov,
Gordana Dagelić (boccia, doubles), Stjepan Janić (kayak), Danil Domdjoni
(karate), Neven Žugaj (wrestling), Sanja Jovanović (swimming), Mirna Rajle
Brođanac (rowing), women’s basketball team: Iva Ciglar, Marta Dakić, Luca
Ivanković, Jelena Ivezić, Anđa Jelavić, Neda Lokas, Josipa Bura, Mirna Mazić,
Antonija Mišura, Sena Pavetić, Tina Periša, Iva Slišković, women’s volleyball
team: Jelena Balić, Mirela Delić, Ilijana Dugandžić, Cecilia Dujić, Biljana
Gligorović, Ana Grbac, Mia Jerkov, Marina Miletić, Ivana Miloš, Maja Poljak,
Sanja Popović and Senna Ušić Jogunica
Antonija Mišura
Tina Mihelić
204
Bronze medal winning women’s volleyball team
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Brief
Olympic
Reminder
205
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Thank You
to a Great Friend!
Who Is Who
from 2008 to 2012
J
uan Antonio Samaranch
passed away at age 89 in his
hometown of Barcelona on 21
April 2010. He was a charismatic
President of the International
Olympic Committee from 1980
to 2001, when he was succeeded
by Jacques Rogge.
COC Council
COC President
Zlatko Mateša
COC Vice-Presidents
Nada Senčar
Slavko Goluža
Danko Radić
Luciano Sušanj
A reformer of the global sport, he
was a trusted friend of Croatian
sport, who was there for Croatian
athletes in critical moments
and who advocated Croatia’s
admission to the international
Olympic family. Juan Antonio
Samaranch visited Croatia about
Members
Duško Mrduljaš, Ivan Škoro, Morana Paliković
Gruden, Zvjezdana Tuma-Pavlov,
Miho Glavić, Goran Sukno, Marijan Maras,
Marijan Klanac, Boris Mesarić, Ivo-Goran
Munivrana, Dragutin Kamenski, IOC Member
Antun Vrdoljak
COC Supervisory Board
Chairman
Ivan Jelenčić
Nada Senčar, First
Woman Vice-President
of the COC
Nada Senčar is the first woman
Vice-President of the Croatian
Olympic Committee in its history.
She was appointed in 2008. She has
been a COC Council member for
the terms of 2002 – 2004, 2004 –
2008 and now 2008 – 2012.
Members
Marijan Jurić
Željko Klarić
Duško Krstulović
Željko Širić
She is Chairwoman of the Olympic
Winter Sports Committee of the
COC Assembly, also in charge
of cooperation with Croatian
companies regarding the
preparation of Croatian athletes
for the Olympic Games. She is
a member of the Croatian Fair
Play Committee and the COC
Information and Publishing
Commission.
Nada Senčar was born in Zagreb on
5 November 1950. She has a Masters
degree in Economics and works
as a financial consultant at the
Croatian Chamber of Commerce.
She has been President of the
Croatian Synchronised Swimming
Federation since 1998.
Olympic Athlete
Danira Nakić Bilić
Receives IOC Women
and Sport Trophy
Lausanne 2009
Nada Senčar
206
Danira Nakić Bilić, Olympic
basketball silver medallist from
the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul,
today leader of the Olympism and
Olympic Education Promotion
project of the Croatian Olympic
Academy, received a high
recognition, the IOC Women and
Sport Trophy in 2009. Selected
among European candidates, she is
a dozen times, of which five were
official visits to the Croatian
Olympic Committee.
His first official visit to the COC
was on 26 August 1993, when he
presented an IOC recognition to
the parents of Dražen Petrović,
a splendid basketball player,
who had tragically died, and
whom he had highly valued.
He also laid a wreath at his
grave. The second one was on
15 and 16 February 1994, on his
way from a noble mission of
assistance to the Olympic City
of Sarajevo, when he stayed
in Split and met with COC
leaders. The third official visit
was on 17 January 1995, when he
participated in the celebration of
the 3rd anniversary of Croatia’s
admission to the IOC, and fourth
on 7 August 1999, when he came
to the Opening Ceremony of
the 2nd World Military Games in
Zagreb. Samaranch’s last visit to
Zagreb was on 17 January 2007,
when he participated in the Great
Day of Croatian Sport celebrating
the 15th anniversary of Croatia’s
admission to the IOC.
Before the foundation of the
Croatian Olympic Committee in
1991, he visited Croatia during
the 1979 Mediterranean Games
in Split as an IOC Member
and Vice-President of the
International Mediterranean
Games Committee, and in 1981,
when he attended the Opening
Ceremony of the 15th European
Aquatics Championships in
Split.
In 1985, he visited the
construction sites of the venues
for the Zagreb World University
Games and then came again to
attend their Opening Ceremony
in 1987.
In 1989, he attended the
Opening Ceremony of the
Men’s European Basketball
Championship in Zagreb and
finally, he attended the Opening
Ceremony of the XV European
Athletics Championships in
Split in August 1990, in what
was already a dramatic time for
Croatia.
presence of COC Vice-President
Nada Senčar and Morana PalikovićGruden, COC Council Member
and Chairwoman of the Care for
Women in Sport Commission, who
encouraged the COC to nominate
Danira Nakić Bilić for the award.
First Generation of
ASMC Graduates
Zagreb 2009
Danira Nakić Bilić
the only Croatian woman athlete
who has received this prestigious
award. Two-time world medallist,
Danira Nakić Bilić has been
honoured as Europe’s best female
basketball player three times. She
received the 1991 Croatia’s Best
Woman Athlete Award. Since 2009,
she has been a member of the
Culture and Olympic Education
Commission of the European
Olympic Committees and since
2010, Chairwoman of the National
Sports Council. She has received a
number of awards and recognitions,
among others, the Franjo Bučar
National Sports Award.
The IOC Women and Sport Award
was presented to her by IOC
President Jacques Rogge in the
The Croatian Olympic Committee
in cooperation with the IOC
Olympic Solidarity, trained the
first generation of sports officials in
sports management by implementing
the Advanced Sport Management
Courses (ASMC) from February to
November 2009. It was among the
first in Europe to implement this
important Olympic task.
The ASMC program in Croatia,
led by Director Alma Papić,
was successfully completed by
representatives of 14 national sports
associations:
Alen Gere (Croatian Deaf Sports
Association), Većeslav Holjevac
(Croatian Rugby Union), Goran Jukić
(Croatian Table Tennis Association),
Ivica Urbanc (Croatian Orienteering
Federation), Lidija Petrinović Zekan
(Croatian Badminton Association),
Alen Nađsombat (Croatian Billiard
Association), Miro Jurmanović
(Croatian Judo Federation), Snježana
Šimunović Suknaić (Croatian Bocce
Federation), Slaven Zlatar and Žarko
Babić (Croatian Hockey Federation),
Alojz Mauser and Goran Ahel
(Croatian Archery Federation), Luka
Markić (Croatian Roller-Skating
Federation) and Ante Šalinović
(Croatian Football Federation).
Virtual Olympic
Congress
Copenhagen 2009
The 13th Olympic Congress titled
The Olympic Movement in Society
was held in Copenhagen from 3
to 5 September 2009. It included
discussion about athletes – the
relationship among athletes, clubs,
federations and national Olympic
committees; about the Olympic
Games – how to keep them a premier
event; about the structure of the
Olympic movement – its autonomy,
governance and ethics; about
Olympism and youth – competitions,
moving towards an active society,
and about the digital revolution - the
media and the public and sports
rights. The Congress, chaired by
IOC President Jacques Rogge in the
presence of UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-Moon, was attended by IOC
207
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
COC President
Zlatko Mateša,
Croatian
Prime Minister
Jadranka Kosor
and Defence
Minister Branko
Vukelić with
athletes
First Athletes Employed
by Croatian Armed Forces
Zagreb 2010
The Croatian Olympic Committee and the Croatian Ministry of
Defence signed an agreement on cooperation, improvement and
development of sport in the Republic of Croatia on 3 September 2010.
The first historic document on permanent cooperation between the
two institutions envisages a wide range of cooperation for the benefit
of Croatian sport and athletes, from accommodation in militarysports facilities, through logistic support of the Ministry of Defence in
the organisation of sporting events, joint planning of the construction
and/or conversion and use of sports facilities, to employment of
top-level athletes, which is common practice in the NATO member
countries.
The agreement was signed by COC President Zlatko Mateša and
Croatian Minister of Defence Branko Vukelić in the presence of
Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, numerous prominent
political and sporting figures and Olympians.
It was already on 22 December 2010 that 19 top-level athletes signed
labour agreements with the Croatian Armed Forces: boxer Filip
Hrgović, wrestler Tonimir Sokol, sailors Ivan Kljaković Gašpić, Igor
Marenić, Šime Fantela, Tonči Stipanović, judo athletes Andreja
Đaković and Ivana Maranić, karate athlete Danil Domdjoni, skier
Natko Zrnčić-Dim, taekwondo athletes Lucija Zaninović, Filip Grgić
and Stipe Jarloni, rowers Valent Sinković, Martin Sinković, Damir
Martin, David Šain, and Marko Premužić (parachuting) and Bojan
Đurković (shooting).
208
members, representatives of NOCs
and organisers of the Olympic Games
including the 2016 Games in Rio de
Janeiro, representatives of International
Federations, athletes, coaches, doctors,
judges, referees, technical delegates,
officials, IOC partners and the media
– a total of 1,249 representatives.
Croatian representatives were also
among them: IOC Member Antun
Vrdoljak, COC President Zlatko Mateša
and COC Secretary General Josip Čop.
In accordance with time, this was the
first time in history that the Congress
had a preliminary phase, The Virtual
Olympic Congress, from October 2007
to February 2009, which provided an
extraordinary opportunity for a wide
sports and Olympic community to
participate in creating new guidelines
for the Olympic movement.
The conclusions of the 13th Olympic
Congress were adopted at the 122nd
Session held during the 2010 Olympic
Winter Games in Vancouver.
Each IOC Congress, from the
historic one in 1894 to the 13th one in
Copenhagen, had a central topic in
accordance with the time, at which it
was held.
While the central theme in Paris in
1894 was the revival of the Modern
Olympic Games, sports hygiene
(sport and health) and pedagogy were
discussed in Le Havre in 1897, the
title of the 1905 Congress in Brussels
was sport and physical education; in
Paris in 1906 it was fine arts and sport,
in Lausanne in 1913 - the psychology
and physiology of sports, and in Paris
in 1914, Olympic regulations and
conditions for participation – for the
first time. They were also discussed in
Lausanne in 1921, as well as in Prague
in 1925, together with sports pedagogy,
and in Berlin in 1930. Over 40 years
passed until the following congress
held in Varna in 1973; its theme was
Sport for a World of Peace and it
included the discussion on the Olympic
movement and its future. In Baden
Baden in 1973, there were three central
themes: the future of the Olympic
Games, international cooperation and
the future of the Olympic movement.
The 1994 Congress in Paris, the
one before Copenhagen, was titled
the Centennial Olympic Congress,
Congress of Unity.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Sports Television
Zagreb 2011
S
ports Television (SPTV) started broadcasting at 5
pm sharp on 4 April 2011. It is the first specialised
digital sports channel in Croatia owned 100% by the
Croatian Olympic Committee.
This made the Croatian Olympic Committee the
first NOC with an own television company, which
the international Olympic community welcomed
with congratulations and support. Among the first
who congratulated the COC was IOC President
Jacques Rogge, whose special interview about SPTV
was broadcast on the first day. Croatia’s President
Ivo Josipović also extended his congratulations.
Sports Television, which broadcasts an average of 8
hours a day, provides an opportunity for equal and
fair positioning of sports in the media, increasing
interest in sport as an important social category,
raising the level of sports culture and value of sport
for the development of the society and for the
promotion of sports and improving the organisation
of sport in general.
The program covers 80 national sports federations,
Measures Proposed
by Care for Women in
Sport Commission
Zagreb 2011
The Care for Women in
Sport Commission, led by its
Chairwoman Morana Paliković
national and
regional sports
projects, sports
expert and wide
public – all those,
who participate in
Croatian sport in
any way.
Jura Ozmec, a longtime journalist and editor in the Sports Department
of Croatian National Television, President of the
Croatian Sports Journalists Association, and VicePresident of the European Sports Press Union until
2010, is the Editor-in-Chief of Sports Television.
Petar Čavlović, a telecommunications specialist
and Chairman of the COC Digitalisation and New
Media Commission, is the SPTV General Manager.
Gordana Gaćeša, PR officer of the Croatian Olympic
Committee until 2011, journalist and press attache
at numerous sporting events, in which Croatian
Olympic delegations participated, is also holding
one of the leading positions at SPTV now.
Gruden, a COC Council member,
has been intensively dealing with
the issues of the position of women
in sport since 2005. It proposed
measures as part of the National
Policy for the Promotion of Gender
Equality in the period from 2011 to
2015.
The basic guidelines are increasing
the percentage of women in the
management structures of sports
organisations, improving the model
of monitoring statistical data on
the position of women in sport,
ensuring equal access to sports
infrastructure, education and
training and employment in sport,
and legislation which provides
such sports environment in which
women are safe from any violence.
International seminar titled Woman Athlete: From Results to Sports Career was held in Zagreb in December 2007. It was
organised by the COC Care for Women in Sport Commission in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee
and chaired by the Commission’s Chairwoman Morana Paliković Gruden, COC Council member and President of the
Croatian Ice Skating Federation
209
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Dražen Petrović Monument in the
Olympic Park in Lausanne
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
They Are Still
with Us ...
211
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Belišće, 22 November 1953 – Valpovo, 11 October 2000
I
mmediately after returning from the Sydney
Games, where he was Chef de Mission of the
Croatian Olympic Delegation, Matija Ljubek, one
of Croatia’s most successful Olympians, was killed
at age 47 in Valpovo, on 11 October 2000.
In his rich career, Ljubek won over 300 medals
at major international competitions, among which
also four Olympic medals (two gold, one silver and
one bronze) at the 1976 Games in Montreal and at
Los Angeles 1984, as well as 10 world championships
medals (four gold, three silver and three bronze
medals).
Matija Ljubek was a COC Council member from 1991
to 1995 and a Vice-President of the Croatian Olympic
Committee.
Matija
Ljubek
212
He held the post of the COC Executive Director and
COC Multi-Sport Evens Director, and his last assignment
was the post of Chef de Mission of the Croatian Olympic
Delegation to the 2000 Games in Sydney.
The Croatian Olympic Committee expressed their
gratitude by erecting a monument, work of art by
sculptor Stipe Sikirica, at his grave at the Mirogoj
cemetery. Since 2000, the highest COC sports lifetime
achievement award has been titled the COC Matija
Ljubek Award.
He received numerous awards and recognitions. In
November 2000, he was posthumously awarded the
Franjo Bučar National Sports Lifetime Achievement
Award. He was awarded the Order of Croatian Morning
Star with the Image of Franjo Bučar.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
213
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Šibenik, 22 October 1964 – Denkendorf (Germany), 7 June 1993
D
ražen Petrović, a three-time Olympic
medallist, was Croatia’s best basketball
player, the legendary captain of Croatia’s
Dream Team, who won the historic silver
medal for independent Croatia at the 1992 Olympic
Games in Barcelona.
A year later, on 7 June 1993, he died in a car crash
on the highway near Denkendorf, Germany. He
competed at three Olympic Games – at Los Angeles
1984, where he won bronze, at Seoul 1988, where he
won silver, as he did at Barcelona 1992. He won two
medals at two world championships – bronze at the
1986 World Championship in Spain and gold at the
1990 World Championship in Argentina. He played
at four European championships and he was declared
Europe’s best basketball player four times.
He was born in Šibenik on 22 October 1964. He
started playing basketball there and, already at age 15,
led his team to two Radivoj Korać Cup finals and also
to the Yugoslav Champion title in 1983. A year later,
he joined Cibona, Zagreb, which achieved the greatest
successes after his arrival and became two-time
European Champion in 1985 and 1986. After that, he
joined Real Madrid, with which he won the European
Cup Winners’ Cup in 1989.
Having won everything possible in Europe, Dražen
could only look for new challenges in the world’s
strongest league, the NBA. He went there in 1990
and joined Portland first, and after that New Jersey
Nets, which transformed them into a winning team.
Dražen
Petrović
214
His attitude to basketball delighted the sports world
and opened the door to the NBA for other European
players.
Dražen was not only the captain of the Croatian
national team, but also its true leader. He was and
remains one of the greatest role models to Croatian
basketball players. In 1995, a monument to his honour,
a work of art by Vasko Lipovac, was unveiled in the
Olympic Park in Lausanne. Seven years later, on 27
September 2002, Dražen Petrović was inducted in the
Basketball Hall of Fame.
On the 13th anniversary of Dražen’s tragic death, the
Dražen Petrović Museum and Memorial Centre was
opened near the basketball hall in the square, which
both bear his name. The Croatian Sports Museum
made a substantial contribution to the Memorial
Centre with over 300 exhibits. The Memorial Centre,
which bears witness to one of Croatia’s and world’s
greatest basketball players, is one of the most visited
museums in Zagreb today.
Dražen, an Olympian and member of the Olympic
silver medal-winning team from Barcelona,
received the highest national sports recognition,
the Franjo Bučar Annual National Sports Award and
posthumously the Franjo Bučar Lifetime Achievement
Award.
He was awarded the Order of Duke Branimir with
Ribbon and the Order of Croatian Morning star with
the Image of Franjo Bučar.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
215
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Zagreb, 26 November 1948 – Baltimore (USA), 25 May 1995
K
rešimir Ćosić, Olympic gold (Moscow 1980)
and two-time Olympic silver medallist
(Ciudad de Mexico 1968 and Montreal 1976),
is the best European basketball player of all
time, one of the greats and a sports role model. He died
at age 47 on 25 May 1995.
player in the NBA draft, but he decided to return to
Europe instead.
He coached Jugoplastika (Split), Dietor (Italy) and
AEK (Greece) and also the Yugoslav national team who
won the silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in
Seoul.
He started his career at the Zadar basketball club in
1965 and played for Cibona Zagreb, as well as Slovenian
and Italian clubs later on. He won the Yugoslav
Champion title six times and the Cup title four times.
He won the Cup Winners’ Cup with Cibona in 1982. He
played 303 games on the Yugoslav national team and
won the World Champion title in 1970 and 1978 and
the world silver medal in 1967 and 1974.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in
Springfield (USA) in May 1996. The induction of this
famous basketball virtuoso, intellectual and friend of
American basketball and culture was a great honour for
Croatian basketball, sport in general and the Croatian
Olympic movement.
He was the European Champion in 1973, 1975 and
1977, silver medallist in 1969, 1971 and 1981, and bronze
medallist in 1979.
He played for Team Europe six times and was
declared the most valuable player at the European
Championships in 1971 and 1975. He played for the
Brigham Young University, Utah, USA, for four years,
from 1969 to 1973 and was the first non-American
Krešimir
Ćosić
216
Krešimir Ćosić held the post of the Minister’s Adviser
at the Croatian Embassy to the USA. The Croatian
Basketball Cup has been named after him since 1998.
The square, in which the Croatian Olympic Committee
has had its head offices since 2001, also bears his name.
He was posthumously awarded the Franjo Bučar
National Sports Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was awarded the Order of Duke Branimir with
Ribbon.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
217
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Split, 16 November 1948 – Pula, 29 July 2008
M
ate Parlov, Olympic Light Heavyweight
Champion from the 1972 Olympic
Games in Munich, was one of Croatia’s
boxing greats and the most decorated
Croatian boxer of all time.
He also participated in the 1968 Olympic Games
in Ciudad de Mexico, where he reached the
middleweight quarter-final. His third Olympic Games
were the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, but he was there
as the coach of the Yugoslav boxing team who won
one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
He was defeated in only 13 of his 310 bouts as
amateur. He won the World Amateur Champion
title at the 1st World Championships held in Havana,
Cuba, in 1974. He was also the two-time European
Champion (Madrid 1971 and Belgrade 1973), eighttime Yugoslav Light Heavyweight Champion (1967
Mate
Parlov
218
– 1974) and five-time Balkan Champion (1971 - 1974).
In his professional career, he was the European Light
Heavyweight Champion in 1976 and also the WBC
World Champion in 1987. Of his 29 professional
bouts, he won 24, lost three bouts and two ended in
a tie.
After the end of his active career as a boxer, he lived
in Fažana near the city of Pula, away from sport. He
was an occasional guest commentator for the bouts of
Croatia’s top boxers Željko Mavrović and Stipe Drviš
on Croatian National Television.
The Sportske Novosti daily sports newspaper poll
voted him Yugoslavia’s best athlete three times, in
1971, 1972 and 1974, and Croatian National Television
poll voted him Croatia’s athlete of the century in
2000.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
219
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Danilo (near the town of Šibenik), 10 February 1946 – Zagreb, 12 August 2010
V
elimir Kljaić, a top-level handball club and national team coach
and handball player, will go down in Croatian sports history as the
coach of the Croatian national team, which won The First Olympic
Gold Medal for Croatia since its declaration of independence at the
1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
An exceptionally talented handball expert, he brought up numerous
generations of handball players and made a special contribution to the
development of Croatian and world’s handball. He shared almost 15 years
of his coaching expertise with players in German clubs. He achieved the
greatest success with Nürnberg, which he led from a second-league club to a
successful first-league club in only four years. He was awarded as Germany’s
best handball coach in 1992. He coached the national teams of Egypt and
Kuwait. At the beginning of his career, he played for Medveščak Zagreb and
Klagenfurt, Austria.
While he was coaching Zagreb Badel 1862, they won two Croatian
Champion titles and two Croatian Cup titles and he was also the 2004
Croatian Champion with the women’s team of Lokomotiva.
Velimir Kljaić, an excellent handball expert, was always gladly heard as
an expert co-commentator on television, the last time during the 2010
European Championship in Austria.
He was posthumously awarded the Franjo Bučar National Sports Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Velimir
Kljaić
220
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Gospić, 10 July 1915 – Zagreb, 26 April 2010
Žarko
Susić
Ž
arko Susić,
a nestor of
Croatian sports
journalism,
publisher and coach,
was one of the world’s
oldest active sports
journalists. He regularly
reported from a record
number of 16 Olympic
Games, from the 7th
Olympic Winter Games
in Cortina d’Ampezzo
to the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. Besides the
Olympic Games, he also covered numerous major
Croatian and international sporting events in many
sports. He received a special prize of the International
Sports Press Association (AIPS) for his exceptionally
successful career as a sports journalist.
From 1951 to 1975, he was a journalist and editor of
the sports section of the Vjesnik daily newspaper. He
continued to write even when he retired. Generations
of journalists will remember him as a mentor, who was
always willing to help.
Žarko Susić collaborated on the Sports
Encyclopaedia, edited many sports publications and
published numerous feuilletons on the Olympic
Games and other sporting events. The Book about
Sport is still a rare example of sports publishing about
the beginnings and development of sport.
As an athletics coach in the Mladost Club from
Zagreb, he created many former Yugoslav champions.
As a track and field athlete and journalist, he himself
participated in and witnessed various international
athletics events for 70 years. He also received an
award from the International Association of Athletics
Federations for his long-time successful work in global
athletics.
In 2004, Susić received the IOC Sport and
Media Trophy – a special recognition from the
International Olympic Committee for contribution
to sports journalism in the world. Among numerous
Croatian awards, he also received the highest sports
recognition: the Franjo Bučar National Sports Lifetime
Kaštel Novi, 5 February 1920 – Zagreb, 7 January 2008
Zvone
Mornar
Z
vone Mornar
was one of
Croatia’s most
prominent
sports journalists and
long-time Editor-inChief and Director of
the Sportske Novosti
daily sports newspaper.
He reported from six
Summer Olympic Games
(Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964,
Ciudad de Mexico 1968,
Munich 1972, Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980), from
world championships in football (1954, 1966, 1974
and 1982), gymnastics and table tennis and European
swimming and water polo championships.
At Sportske Novosti, a specialised Croatian daily
sports newspaper, he was a reporter first, and then the
editor of the football section, Deputy Editor-in-Chief,
Editor-in-Chief and eventually Director. He covered
many sports, reported from all sides of the world,
and numerous readers remember him as an excellent
chronicler, analyst and commentator of football
events. After he retired, he continued to write as a
columnist for the Slobodna Dalmacija daily newspaper.
As one of the most prominent and esteemed
sports journalists in the region, he was President of
the Croatian Sports Journalists Section for as long
as 21 years, from 1950 to 1971. From 1971 to 1974,
he was President of the Yugoslav Sports Journalists
Association and he represented his national
association at AIPS congresses six times between 1965
and 1974.
Besides numerous awards, recognitions and
honours, among which also the Lifetime Achievement
Award by the Croatian Sports Journalists Association
in 1994 and the Croatian Sports Journalists Association
Trophy in 1999, Zvone Mornar received the Fair Play
Diploma of Honour from the International Fair Play
Committee in 1995 and is the only Croat who has
received it to date.
221
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Karlovac, 31 October 1939 – Zagreb, 13 March 2009
Boris
Mutić
B
oris Mutić,
sports journalist,
television
commentator
and editor, worked with
the sports department
of Croatian Radio and
Television for 45 years. He
reported from as many
as 13 Olympic Games,
six Summer and seven
Winter Games. He covered
seven world football cups,
from Germany 1974 to the USA 1994, nine gymnastics
championships, nine ski world championships and
further twenty championships in various sports. The last
of his assignments at major sporting events was the 2006
Olympic Winter Games in Torino and he also participated
in the coverage of the 2009 World Cup slalom races in
Zagreb.
He wrote down his journalistic impressions of the
appearances of Croatian skiers at the Olympic Winter
Games in the book titled Croatia’s Athletes at Olympic
Winter Games, published in 2006.
He started working as a journalist in 1964, while he
was in his final year of studies at the High School for
Physical Culture, today School of Kinesiology, University
of Zagreb. He was one of the first generation of students
there. Two years later, he became a professional
journalist, and from 1976 to 1986, he was also an editor at
the sports department of Croatian National Television.
Boris Mutić was also an athlete. He played basketball
for Industromontaža Zagreb and practised high jump and
triple jump at the Dinamo Athletics Club.
Among numerous recognitions for his work, he also
received the Milan Milanović Annual Award and the
Golden Pen Award from the Croatian Journalists Society
(1997) for his commentating on the Atlanta Olympic
Games. The Croatian Sports Journalists Association
honoured him with the Best TV Journalism Award in
1996.
The Croatian Olympic Committee awarded him the
Special Recognition for Journalistic Contribution to
Promotion of Sports Values in 2004.
222
Zagreb, 4 July 1946 – Zagreb, 30 June 2011
Zdenko
Jajčević
Z
denko Jajčević, a
sports historian,
publisher,
museologist and
Manager of the Croatian
Sports Museum, is the
most notable historian of
Croatian sport. He is the
author and editor of about
a dozen monographs,
he collaborated on
publications by the
Miroslav Krleža
Lexicographic Institute and produced a number of
documentaries on the development of sport and
Olympism.
He managed over a hundred acquisitions and
donations of legacies and collections of Croatia’s top
athletes. He collaborated on the History of Sport
magazine from 1980 and was a member of its editorial
staff from 1983 to 1999. He was Secretary of the Sports
History Commission of the Croatian Physical Culture
Association from 1984 to 1990 and Secretary of the
Croatian Sports History Society founded in 1991. He
designed the concept of the exhibition and museum
collection of the Dražen Petrović Memorial Centre. From
1999, he was an editor and collaborator in the Croatian
Sports History section of Olimp Magazine.
In 1984, he became a curator of the Croatian Physical
Culture Museum at the School of Physical Culture,
University of Zagreb, where he was also a senior lecturer.
When the Croatian Sports Museum was founded in 2003,
Zdenko Jajčević became its Manager.
He became involved in sport at the Zagreb Rugby
Club in 1965. He played on the national team of former
Yugoslavia eleven times, and was its coach from 1975 to
1976, in 1980 and 1988. He was the first Croatian national
team coach after Croatia became an independent
country, from 1990 to 1993. He also founded the first
women’s rugby club, Viktorija, and he also coached the
women’s national rugby team from 2003 to 2005.
Among numerous recognitions, he also received the
Franjo Bučar National Annual Sports Award. He was
awarded the Order of Croatian Morning Star with the
Image of Franjo Bučar.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
COC and IOC
Awards and
Recognitions
223
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Awards and Recognitions
Awards and recognitions to individuals or associations are a token of respect
and gratitude of the narrower or general public for their contribution to the
development or international reputation of sport. Since its foundation, the
Croatian Olympic Committee has closely monitored and bestowed various
awards and recognitions, as has the International Olympic Committee,
which has been presenting the annual IOC Trophy to NOCs and their
members.
THE COC MATIJA LJUBEK AWARD IS THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION BY THE CROATIAN
OLYMPIC COMMITTEE presented for a lifetime achievement especially to
individuals for their scientific, expert or pedagogical work in sport, as well as
to associations which have contributed to the development of certain areas
of sport, from physical and health culture of children and youth, sports and
recreation activities to the development of a particular sport or sports in
general.
THE IOC TROPHY is an annual award presented by the IOC to individuals from
national Olympic committees for their contribution in various areas of
Olympism and sport.
THE COC DRAŽEN PETROVIĆ AWARD was established in 2006. It is presented to
young talented athletes and teams for outstanding sporting results, also as an
encouragement for further work
THE SPECIAL COC RECOGNITION, established in 2004, has been awarded to
excellent individuals from the areas of sport, media, culture etc., whose actions
demonstrate true commitment for the benefit of sport and the Olympic spirit.
AWARDS FOR THE MOST SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS SELECTED BY THE
CROATIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE – athletes and (national) teams, promising
athletes, the most successful coaches and the most successful promoters of
Croatia in the world
COC MATIJA LJUBEK AWARD
The award, which was called the COC Trophy until 2000, consists of
a bronze statue of Matija Ljubek, a work of art by Stipe Sikirica, and a
diploma. The award is usually presented at the Great Day of Croatian Sport
award ceremony.
1992 - Vladislav Bakšaj, Krešimir Drvodelić, Darko Dujmović, Ivan Hegedüs,
Fredi Kramer, Leo Lang, Josip Perković, Croatian Football Federation,
Zagreb Handball Club, Rijeka Ski Club (from the city of Rijeka)
1993 - Viktor Fiolić, Drago Horvat, Ante Mladinić, Marijan Tubić, Iktus Rowing Club (from the city of Osijek)
1994 - Zdravko Ceraj, Hrvoje Kačić, Danko Pavešić, Krešimir Pavlin,
Croatian Shooting Federation
224
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
1995 - Vladimir Aubrecht, Dragutin Krnoul, Frane Matošić, Mihovil Radja, Jadran Rowing Club (from the city of Zadar)
1996 - Dražan Jerković, Velimir Neferović, Ivo Zlatar, Junak Football Club (from the town of Sinj), Karlovac Tennis Club (from the city of Karlovac)
1997 - Vladimir Findak, Stjepan Korbar, Milan Tumara, Metković Handball Club (from the town of Metković), Jadran Rowing Club (from the city of Rijeka)
1998 - Milan Antolković, Veljko Bakašun, Mihovil Dorčić, Joško Murat, Sloga Cycling Association (from the city of Varaždin)
Giuseppe Gjergja
Mirko Novosel
Ozren Bonačić
Emil Hofman
Herman Vukušić
Stjepan Korbar
Ante Kostelić
Lino Červar
1999 - Duje Bonačić, Ante Liović, Olga Šinkovec-Luncer, Gavrilović Wrestling Club (from the town of Petrinja), Croatian Table Tennis Association
2000 - Giuseppe Gjergja, Igor Koprivnikar, Štefica Krištof, Herman Vukušić, Split Sailing Club (from the city of Split)
2001 - Ante Žaja, Zlatko Pasarić, Franjo Vidaković, Ante Kostelić, Zagreb Football Association
2002 - Radovan Kirin, Vlatko Marković, Edo Pezzi, Andrija Vekić, Boris Volčanšek
2003 - Franko Blagonić, Tomislav Ivić, Ivo Ratej, Petar Skansi, Split Tennis Club (from the city of Split)
2004 - Ozren Bonačić, Minski Fabris, Emil Hofman, Ivica Horvat, Uskok Sailing Club (from the city of Zadar)
2005 - Vladimir Janković, Damir Kovačić, Mirko Novosel, Dalmacijacement
Shooting Association (from the town of Solin)
2006 - Zdenko Jajčević, Zdenko Matešić, Slavko Podgorelec, Ratomir Tvrdić, Pula Boxing Club (from the city of Pula)
2007 - Katica Ileš, Zlatko Lukić, Marko Prenđa, Krešimir Srhoj, Kvarner Autotrans Athletics Club (from the city of Rijeka)
2008 - Marijan Kraljević, Dragan Milanović, Zorislav Srebrić, Tomislav Šepec, Primorje ‘08 Sports Association (from the city of Rijeka)
2009 - Lujo Györy, Stanko Hautz, Boris Sinković, School of Kinesiology of the University of Zagreb, Borovo Boxing Club (from the town of Vukovar)
2010 - Lino Červar, Janko Goleš, Duško Krstulović, Ive Mustać, Miroslav Poljak
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
IOC TROPHY
The IOC Trophy is the highest annual recognition by the International
Olympic Committee awarded to individuals from national Olympic
committees for their outstanding contribution in various areas of Olympism
and sport.
1993 – Sport and Environment Trophy - Željko Poljak, hiker and publisher
1994 – Centennial Trophy - Antun Vrdoljak, the first COC President
Antun Vrdoljak
Slavko Podgorelec
1995 – Olympic Movement Unity Trophy - Slavko Podgorelec, the first Secretary
General of the Croatian Olympic Committee
1996 - Centennial Olympic Games Trophy - Matija Ljubek, Olympian and Croatia’s
most successful athlete
1997 – Sport for All Trophy - Mirko Relac, sports recreation promoter
1998 – Sport Ethics Trophy – Fabjan Čukelj, sports physician and humanitarian
1999 – Sport and Education Trophy - Vladimir Findak, doctor of Kinesiology
2000 – Sport and Universality Trophy - Zdravko Hebel, University professor and former water polo player
Jacques Rogge and Tomislav Šepec
2000 – Door to the Year 2000 Trophy - Ivica Račan, politician
2003 – Sporting Excellence Trophy - Vinko Šoljan, promoter of long-distance
swimming in Croatia
2004 – Sport and Media Trophy - Žarko Susić, journalist, who educated generations of sports journalists
2005 – Sport and Fair Play Trophy - Deni Žmak, tennis player
2006 – Sport and Community Trophy – Zagreb Sports Association, member of the
Croatian Olympic Committee
Žarko Susić
Ivano Balić
2007 – Sport and Promotion of Olympism Trophy - Slavko Goluža, Olympian and coach of the men’s national handball team
2009 – Sport and Fight against Doping Trophy - Božidar Fučkar, physician
and pioneer of the fight against doping in Croatia
2010 - Sport – Inspiring Young People Trophy – Ivano Balić, Olympian and world’s best handball player
Antun Vrdoljak and Božidar Fučkar
226
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
SPECIAL COC RECOGNITIONS
Since 2004, the Croatian Olympic Committee has been awarding special
recognitions to excellent individuals from the areas of sport, media, culture
etc., whose actions demonstrate true commitment for the benefit of sport and
the Olympic spirit.
2004 - Boris Mutić – for journalistic contribution to the promotion
of sports values
2005 - Radiša Mladenović – for photographic contribution to the promotion of art production in sport and the Olympic idea
Veljko Rogošić –for sporting undertaking in 2005
Radiša Mladenović and Veljko Rogošić
2006 - Edo Pezzi – for the promotion of sport and Olympism
Obrtnička Škola – Brod (Trades and Crafts School – Brod) Table Tennis Club from the town of Slavonski Brod – the 2006 Fair Play Award
2007 - Stipe Božić – the 2007 Fair Play Award
Šime Stipaničev – for sporting undertaking in 2007
The Cho Oyu Croatian women’s mountaineering expedition
- for sporting undertaking in 2007
(expedition leader Ana Marija Bojko, deputy expedition leader Jana Mijailović, Tihana Boban, Darija Bostjančić, Iris Bostjančić, Anita Carević, Jelena Dabić, Irena Gayatri Horvat, Pavla Kovač, Josipa Levar, Marija Maćešić, Iris Prebeg, Renata Randić, Vedrana Simičević, Milena Šijan, Karolina Vranješ, Ena Vrbek, Dubravka Županić, physician
Dubravko Marković and expedition adviser and base camp leader Darko Berljak)
Women’s mountaineering expedition
2008 - Petar Cupać, Pavle Kostov (Olympic 49er sailing team) and Ivan Bulaja
(coach) – the 2008 Fair Play Award
2009 - Marko Rašo – the 2009 Fair Play Award
Slavko Rasberger – for the promotion of sport
The 2009 Mt. Everest Croatian women’s mountaineering expedition
- for sporting undertaking in 2009
Darija Bostjančić, Iris Bostjančić, Tea Đurek, Sanja Đurin, Lana Đonlagić, Sunčica Hrašćanec, Josipa Levar, Jana Mijailović, Vedrana Simičević, Milena Šijan, Ena Vrbek and expedition leader Darko Berljak
Slavko Rasberger
2010 – Velimir Kljaić posthumously – for outstanding achievements in handball
Labud Sailing Club from the city of Split – the 2009 Fair Play Award
athletes Nikola Bralić and Dominik Perković and coaches Tonči Antunović and Vedran Mandić
Stipe Božić
227
Velimir Kljaić
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
DRAŽEN PETROVIĆ AWARD
The COC Dražen Petrović Award, established in 2006, is presented to young
talented athletes and teams for outstanding sporting results and as an
encouragement for further sports development.
2007 – 400m runner Danijela Grgić and taekwondo athlete Filip Grgić
Danijela Grgić
Junior women’s volleyball team: Ana Grbac, Danijela Anđelić, Ivana Kalebić, Paola Došen, Jelena Alajbeg, Danica Uljević, Ines Medved, Simona Ušić, Tara Vekić, Marina Ljubičić, Magda Petković and Matea Ikić
Junior men’s handball team: Ivan Pešić, Ante Granić, Mario Gagulić, Stipe Borovac, Domagoj Duvnjak, Manuel Štrlek, Marko Tarabochia, Igor Karačić, Marko Matić, Ivan Sever, Josip Crnić, Goran Bogunović, Hrvoje Tojčić, Josip Ilić, Ivan Škegro, Dinko Vuleta and Luka Raković
2008 – Taekwondo athlete Martina Zubčić and discus thrower Marin Premeru
Junior women’s karate team: Ema Aničić, Azra Saleš, Maša Martinović and Ivana Goricaj
Junior men’s basketball team: Ivan Batur, Mario Delaš, Goran Fodor, Toni Prostran, Leon Radošević, Ivan Ramljak, Robert Rikić, Sven Smajlagić, Tomislav Zubčić, Josip Bilinovac, Darko Planinić and Nikola Došen
2009 – Discus thrower Sandra Perković and boxer Dino Mansour
Sandra Perković and Dino Mansour
Junior women’s bowling team: Nika Cvitković, Jasmina Dubić, Maja Nanić, Saša Pavlović, Matea Skupnjak and Tihana Čavlović
Junior men’s handball team: Josip Pivac, Alen Grd, Ante Vukas, Damir Vučko, Lovro Šprem, Krešimir Ladinski, Luka Sokolić, Ivan Belfinger, Luka Stepančić, Nikola Špelić, Slaven Brdar, Dario Černeka, Krešimir Kozina, Vedran Hud, Robert Markotić, Marino Marić and Ivan Slišković
2010 – Judo athlete Barbara Matić, boxer Filip Hrgović
Filip Hrgović
Domagoj Duvnjak
228
Cadet women’s basketball team: Ana-Marija Begić, Lana Pačkovski, Inja
Butina, Ivana Tikvić, Ružica Džankić, Antonija Chiabov, Iva Cigić, Andrijana Cvitković, Anja Majstorović, Dana Šarić, Lucija Martinović, Karmen Čičić
Cadet men’s basketball team: Mislav Brzoja, Martin Junaković, Karlo Lebo, Ivan Jukić, Dino Šamanić, Dario Šarić, Dominik Mavra, Antonio Črnjević,
Tomislav Radoš, Nikola Urli, Daniel Zovko, Filip Bundović
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Awards for
Most Successful
Individuals
and Teams
Awards for the most successful athletes were first presented at the first Great Day of
Croatian Sport award ceremony held at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb on 17
January 1995. It was the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of the admission to the
international Olympic family. IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, an honorary
member of the Croatian Olympic Committee from 1993, was a special guest.
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
1994
Marijeta Željković - taekwondo
Zoran Primorac - table tennis
Podravka Handball Club: Snježana Petika, Ljerka
Krajnović, Renata Pavlačić, Željana
Štević, Dijana Ivandija, Samira Hasagić, Irina
Maljko, Mariane Tirca, Božica Gregurić, Vlatka
Mihoci, Valentina Cozma and Andreja Hrg
Women’s Team
Men’s Team
Athletes
National bowling team: Biserka Perman, Marija
Mađarević, Vesna Žunek, Sanja Mikac, Elda
Sinovčić, Štefica Krištof, Ružica Neralić and
Velinka First
Zoran Primorac
Men’s Team
National rowing team - coxed pair: Igor Boraska,
Tihomir Franković and Milan Ražov
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Most Promising Athletes
Mirjana Lučić -tennis
Tomislav Hohnjec – kayak/canoe
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
1995
Velimir Kljaić- handball
Irina Kirilova - volleyball
Patrik Ćavar - handball
Women’s Team
National volleyball team: Nataša Osmokrović,
Snježana Mijić, Slavica Kuzmanić, Barbara Jelić,
Vanesa Sršen, Irina Kirilova, Gordana Jurcan,
Tajana Andrić, Željka Jovičić, Marijana Ribičić,
Elena Chebukina and Dušica Kalaba
Men’s Team
National handball team: Goran Perkovac, Irfan
Smajlagić, Alvaro Načinović, Iztok Puc, Zlatko
Saračević, Patrik Čavar, Ratko Tomljanović, Vlado
Šola, Valter Matošević, Zvonimir Bilić, Slavko
Goluža, Božidar Jović, Venio Losert, Boris Jarak,
Tomislav Farkaš, Mirza Šarić
Stojko Vranković
National handball team: Goran Perkovac, Irfan
Smajlagić, Alvaro Načinović, Bruno Gudelj, Nenad
Kljaić, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Patrik Ćavar,
Vladimir Jelčić, Valter Matošević, Slavko Goluža,
Valner Franković, Božidar Jović, Venio Losert,
Vladimir Šujster and Zoran Mikulić
Goran Ivanišević - tennis
Athletes
Barbara Jelić
Women’s Team
1997
Athletes
Iva Majoli - tennis
Zoran Primorac - table tennis
Women’s Team
National volleyball team: Marija Anzulović,
Snježana Mijić, Slavica Kuzmanić, Barbara Jelić,
Vanesa Sršen, Marijana Ribičić, Elena Chebukina,
Sonja Percan, Biljana Gligorović, Ana Kaštelan,
Irina Kirilova and Tatjana Sidorenko
Men’s Team
National boccia team: Dinko Beaković, Valter
Ivančić, Bojan Novak and Jure Maglić
Most Promising Athletes
Most Promising Athletes
Kristina Perica - athletics
Nikica Ljubek – kayak/canoe
(category introduced in 1995)
Tamara Boroš - table tennis
Hrvoje Stević - chess
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Toni Kukoč - basketball
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Stojko Vranković - basketball
1996.
Athletes
Iva Majoli - tennis
Goran Ivanišević - tennis
Iva Majoli
230
1998
Athletes
Barbara Jelić - volleyball
Miloš Milošević - swimming
Women’s Team
Dubrovnik Volleyball Club: Snježana Mijić, Slavica
Kuzmanić, Keti Romeac, Elena Chebukina, Biljana
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Gligorović, Tatjana Sidorenko, Mirela Delić,
Dijana Urlić, Elena Godina, Tatiana Labzina,
Elizaveta Tichtchenko and Elena Vasilevskaya
Men’s Team
National football team: Aljoša Asanović, Slaven
Bilić, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Jarni, Dražen Ladić,
Marjan Mrmić, Robert Prosinečki, Zvonimir Soldo,
Mario Stanić, Dario Šimić, Igor Štimac, Davor
Šuker, Goran Vlaović, Petar Krpan, Igor Tudor,
Vladimir Vasilj, Ante Šerić, Goran Jurić, Silvio
Marić, Ardian Kozniku, Zoran Mamić and
Krunoslav Jurčić
Most Successful Promoters of
Croatia in the World
National football team
Most Promising Athletes
Janica Kostelić – alpine skiing
Mario Ančić - tennis
1999
Athletes
Barbara Jelić - volleyball
Miloš Milošević - swimming
Women’s Team
National volleyball team: Slavica Kuzmanić,
Barbara Jelić, Marijana Ribičić, Beti Romeac,
Ingrid Sischovich, Tihana Stipanović, Ivana Troha,
Ana Kaštelan, Mija Jerkov, Maja Poljak, Maria
Likhtenchtein and Nataša Leto
Men’s Team
National rowing team – coxless pair: Ninoslav
Saraga and Oliver Martinov
Most Promising Athletes
Ivana Brkljačić - athletics
Duje Draganja - swimming
Most Successful Disabled Athletes
Jelena Vuković - athletics
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Women’s Team
National table tennis team: Tamara Boroš,
Eldijana Aganović, Andrea Bakula and Sandra
Paović
Men’s Team
National rowing team – eight: Igor Boraska,
Tihomir Franković, Branimir Vujević, Krešimir
Čuljak, Igor Francetić, Tomislav Smoljanović,
Nikša Skelin, Siniša Skelin and Silvijo Petriško
Most Promising Athletes
Blanka Vlašić -athletics
Šime Fantela - sailing
(category introduced in 2000)
National men’s deaf handball team: Milan
Gvozdić, Angel Naumovski, Mario Lušić, Davor
Stanišić, Dejan Šagovac, Darko Švec, Damir
Lončarić, Davor Mažuran, Nedjeljko Feljan, Raul
Gojanović, Boris Gramnjak, Ivan Katuša, Edin
Havić, Davor Barišić and Ivan Pajić
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Gordan Kožulj - swimming
2001
Janica Kostelić – alpine skiing
Goran Ivanišević - tennis
Women’s Team
Rijeka Bowling Club: Elvira Ban, Nena Bartolović,
Velinka First, Sonja Mikac, Biserka Perman, Ljerka
Radojčić, Željka Solomun, Danica Sopić and Vivien
Trubić
Men’s Team
National rowing team - men’s eight: Branimir
Vujević, Igor Boraska, Krešimir Čuljak, Siniša
Skelin, Nikša Skelin, Tomislav Smoljanović, Damir
Vučičić, Oliver Martinov and Silvijo Petriško
Jelena Vuković
Most Promising Athletes
Sanja Jovanović – swimming
Zoran Prodanović – bowling
2000
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Janica Kostelić – alpine skiing
Nikolay Pechalov – weightlifting
Šime Fantela
Athletes
Janica Kostelić – alpine skiing
Athletes
Gordan Kožulj
Most Successful Disabled Athletes
National football team: Stipe Pletikosa, Robert
Kovač, Robert Jarni, Zvonimir Soldo, Igor Štimac,
Dario Šimić, Davor Vugrinec, Krunoslav Jurčić,
Davor Šuker, Niko Kovač, Boško Balaban, Željko
Pavlović, Boris Živković, Stjepan Tomas, Igor
Davor Šuker
231
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Tudor, Igor Bišćan, Mario Cvitanović, Jurica
Vranješ, Danijel Šarić, Robert Prosinečki, Alen
Bokšić, Mario Stanić, Nenad Bjelica, Milan
Rapaić, Goran Vlaović, Tomislav Butina, Jasmin
Agić and Jurica Vučko
Most Promising Athletes
Valentina Srša – athletics – hammer throw
Marin Mišura – sailing
Most Successful Disabled Athletes
Marija Iveković - athletics
Most Successful Coach
Lino Červar
(category introduced in 2001)
Veselin Đuho – water polo
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
2002
Most Successful Coach
Janica Kostelić – alpine skiing
Gordan Kožulj – swimming
2004
Women’s Team
Athletes
National crossbow team (field): Nikolina
Krivanek, Sanja Komar and Branka Pereglin
Blanka Vlašić – athletics
Duje Draganja – swimming
Men’s Team
Women’s Team
National rowing team - coxless pair: Nikša Skelin
and Siniša Skelin
National crossbow team (field): Sanja Komar,
Nikolina Krivanek and Branka Pereglin
Most Promising Athletes
Men’s Team
Most Successful Disabled Athletes
Mihovil Španja – swimming
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Janica Kostelić - alpine skiing
Most Successful Coach
Ante Kostelić - alpine skiing
2003
Blaženko Lacković
Lino Červar – handball
Athletes
Lara Stock – chess
Edis Elkasević – athletics
Mihovil Španja
National men’s handball team
National handball team: Ivano Balić, Davor
Dominiković, Mirza Džomba, Slavko Goluža,
Nikša Kaleb, Blaženko Lacković, Venio Losert,
Valter Matošević, Petar Metličić, Vlado Šola, Denis
Špoljarić, Goran Šprem, Igor Vori, Drago Vuković
and Vedran Zrnić
Most Promising Athletes
Jelena Kovačević - karate
Goran Percan - boccia
Most Successful Disabled Athletes
Mihovil Španja – swimming
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Athletes
National men’s handball team
Janica Kostelić - alpine skiing
Ivica Kostelić - alpine skiing
Most Successful Coach
Lino Červar – handball
Women’s Team
Tamara Boroš
National table tennis team: Tamara Boroš,
Andreja Bakula, Sandra Paović and Cornelia
Vaida
2005
Men’s Team
Janica Kostelić – alpine skiing
Ivan Ljubičić – tennis
National handball team: Ivano Balić, Davor
Dominiković, Mirza Džomba, Slavko Goluža,
Božidar Jović, Nikša Kaleb, Mario Kelentrić,
Blaženko Lacković, Valter Matošević, Petar
Metličić, Renato Sulić, Vlado Šola, Denis Špoljarić,
Goran Šprem, Tonči Valčić, Igor Vori and Vedran
Zrnić
232
Athletes
Women’s Team
National table tennis team: Andrea Bakula,
Tamara Boroš, Sandra Paović and Cornelia
Vaida
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Men’s Team
National tennis team: Mario Ančić, Goran
Ivanišević, Ivo Karlović and Ivan Ljubičić
Most Promising Athletes
Danijela Grgić - athletics
Petra Naranđa - karate
Marin Čilić - tennis
National 470 class sailing crew:
Šime Fantela and Igor Marenić
Most Successful Disabled Athletes
National men’s deaf handball team: Davor Barešić,
Mario Bašić, Goran Čehić, Boris Gramnjak, Edin
Havić, Pero Jukić, Sabahudin Jusić, Toni Kerum,
Damir Lončarić, Mario Lušić, Oliver Lušić, Davor
Maćuran, Angel Numovski, Ivan Pajić, Dejan
Šagovac and Darko Švec
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
National football team: Tomislav Butina, Joseph
Anthony Didulica, Stipe Pletikosa, Josip Šimunić,
Dario Šimić, Robert Kovač, Niko Kovač, Stjepan
Tomas, Darijo Srna, Igor Tudor, Marko Babić,
Niko Kranjčar, Dado Pršo, Ivica Olić, Boško
Balaban, Jurica Vranješ, Ivan Bošnjak, Mario
Tokić, Ivan Leko, Jerko Leko, Eduardo da Silva,
Anthony Šerić, Ivan Klasnić
Most Successful Coach
Nikola Pilić - tennis
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
National football team: Marko Babić, Boško
Balaban, Ivan Bošnjak, Tomislav Butina, Joe
Didulica, Ivan Klasnić, Niko Kovač, Robert Kovač,
Niko Kranjčar, Ivan Leko, Jerko Leko, Luka Modrić,
Ivica Olić, Stipe Pletikosa, Dado Pršo, Dario Šimić,
Josip Šimunić, Darijo Srna, Anthony Šerić, Stjepan
Tomas, Mario Tokić, Igor Tudor, Jurica Vranješ
Most Successful Coach
Ante Kostelić – alpine skiing
2007
Darijo Srna
Athletes
Ivano Balić - handball
Filip Grgić - taekwondo
Blanka Vlašić - athletics
Women’s Team
National crossbow team: Sanja Komar, Tihana
Odlešić and Branka Pereglin
Men’s Team
National water polo team: Samir Barač, Miho
Bošković, Damir Burić, Andro Bušlje, Teo Đogaš,
Igor Hinić, Maro Joković, Aljoša Kunac, Pavo
Marković, Josip Pavić, Mile Smodlaka, Frano
Vićan, Zdeslav Vrdoljak
Nikola Pilić
Most Promising Athletes
2006
Danijela Grgić - athletics
Marin Premeru - athletics
Athletes
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Duje Draganja – swimming
Janica Kostelić – alpine skiing
Women’s Team
National junior women’s volleyball team: Jelena
Alajbeg, Danijela Anđelić, Paola Došen, Ana Grbac,
Matea Ikić, Ivana Kalebić, Marina Ljubičić, Ines
Medved, Magda Petković, Danica Ujević, Simona
Ušić, Tara Vekić
Men’s Team
National handball team: Marko Bagarić, Ivano
Balić, Damir Bičanić, Davor Dominiković, Mirza
Džomba, Dragan Jerković, Blaženko Lacković,
Venio Losert, Petar Metličić, Renato Sulić, Denis
Špoljarić, Goran Šprem, Igor Vori, Ivan Vukas,
Ljubo Vukić, Drago Vuković, Vedran Zrnić
Most Promising Athletes
Danijela Grgić - athletics
National U18 handball team
Petar Gorša – shooting
National football team (mostly composed of):
Stipe Pletikosa, Dario Šimić, Robert Kovač, Josip
Šimunić, Vedran Ćorluka, Darijo Srna, Niko
Kranjčar, Luka Modrić, Niko Kovač, Eduardo da
Silva, Mladen Petrić, Ivica Olić Duje Draganja
Most Successful Coach
Ratko Rudić – water polo
2008
Athletes
Filip Ude - gymnastics
Blanka Vlašić - athletics
Women’s Team
National table tennis team:
Tamara Boroš, Sandra Paović,
Andrea Bakula, Cornelia Vaida
Frano Vićan
233
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Men’s Team
National handball team: Petar Metličić, Vjenceslav
Somić, Mirko Alilović, Dragan Jerković, Nikša
Kaleb, Renato Sulić, Ivano Balić, Domagoj Duvnjak,
Blaženko Lacković, Igor Vori, Davor Dominiković,
Zlatko Horvat, Drago Vuković, Denis Špoljarić,
Josip Valčić, Tonči Valčić, Ivan Čupić, Ljubo Vukić
Most Promising Athletes
Martina Zubčić - taekwondo
Marin Premeru - athletics
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Blanka Vlašić - athletics – high jump
Blanka Vlašić
and Ivica Kostelić
Most Successful Coach
Joško Vlašić/Bojan Marinović - athletics
2009
Athletes
Ivan Kljaković Gašpić – sailing
Blanka Vlašić - athletics
Women’s Team
National crossbow team
National table tennis team: Andrea Bakula,
Tamara Boroš, Mirela Đurak, Cornelia Vaida
Men’s Team
National handball team: Mirko Alilović, Dalibor
Anušić, Ivano Balić, Denis Buntić, Ivan Čupić,
Domagoj Duvnjak, Jakov Gojun, Zlatko Horvat,
Mateo Hrvatin, Marko Kopljar, Blaženko Lacković,
Venio Losert, Petar Metličić, Ivan Ninčević, Ivan
Pešić, Denis Špoljarić, Goran Šprem, Tonči Valčić,
Josip Valčić, Igor Vori, Vedran Zrnić
Most Promising Athletes
Athletes
Ivica Kostelić – alpine skiing
Blanka Vlašić - athletics
Women’s Team
National crossbow team: Nikolina Krivanek,
Tihana Odlešić, Branka Pereglin
Men’s Team
National water polo team: Samir Barać, Miho
Bošković, Ivan Buljubašić, Damir Burić, Andro
Bušlje, Nikša Dobud, Igor Hinić, Maro Joković,
Frano Karač, Petar Muslim, Paulo Obradović, Josip
Pavić, Sandro Sukno
Most Promising Athletes
Barbara Matić - judo
Ivan Capan - swimming Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Blanka Vlašić - athletics
Sandra Perković - athletics
Dino Mansour - boxing Most Successful Coach
Most Successful Promoters of Croatia
in the World
Most Successful Sports Pair, Doubles, Relay
Team or Crew
Blanka Vlašić - athletics – high jump
(category introduced in 2010)
National rowing crew – men’s quadruple scull:
Damir Martin, Valent Sinković, Martin Sinković,
David Šain
Most Successful Coach
Sandra Perković
2010
Joško Vlašić/Bojan Marinović - athletics
Ante Kostelić - alpsko skijanje
Deputy Parliament Speaker Vladimir Šeks, Parliament Speaker Luka Bebić, Blanka Vlašić,
Ante Kostelić
234Croatian President Ivo Josipović, Ivica Kostelić and IOC Member Antun Vrdoljak
Croatian
Medallists
since 1900
235
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS SINCE 1900
Gold medals (total) = 94
Silver medals (total) = 128
Bronze medals (total) = 48
g – gold medal
s – silver medal b – bronze medal
Medallists by Type and
Number of Medals
13 Milivoj Bebić / water polo / 2 medals
1 Janica Kostelić / alpine skiing / 6 medals
4g: Salt Lake City 2002 (3), Torino 2006 (1)
2s: Salt Lake City 2002, Torino 2006
1g: Moscow 1980
1s: Los Angeles 1984
14 Ozren Bonačić / water polo / 2 medals
1g: Tokyo 1964
1s: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
2 Matija Ljubek / kayak/canoe / 4 medals
2g: Montreal 1976, Los Angeles 1984
1s: Los Angeles 1984
1b: Montreal 1976
15 Zoran Janković / water polo / 2 medals
3 Perica Bukić / water polo / 3 medals
16 Željko Jerkov / basketball / 2 medals
2g: Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988
1s: Atlanta 1996
4 Veselin Đuho / water polo / 2 medals
2g: Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988
1g: Tokyo 1964
1s: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
1g: Montreal 1976
1s: Moscow 1980
17 Mirjana Ognjenović / handball / 2 medals
5 Slavko Goluža / handball / 2 medals
1g: Moscow 1980
1s: Los Angeles 1984
2g: Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004
18 Zoran Roje / water polo / 2 medals
6 Venio Losert / handball / 2 medals
1g: Moscow 1980
1s: Los Angeles 1984
2g: Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004
19 Ratko Rudić / water polo / 2 medals
2g: Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988
1g: Munich 1972
1s: Moscow 1980
8 Valter Matošević / handball / 2 medals
20 Karlo Stipanić / water polo / 2 medals
7 Deni Lušić / water polo / 2 medals
2g: Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004
9 Tomislav Paškvalin / water polo / 2 medals
1g: Tokyo 1964
1s: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
2g: Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988
21 Dubravko Šimenc / water polo / 2 medals
10 Krešimir Ćosić / basketball / 3 medals
1g: Seoul 1988
1s: Atlanta 1996
1g: Moscow 1980
2s: Ciudad de Mexico 1968,Montreal 1976
22 Ivo Trumbić / water polo / 2 medals
1g: Tokyo 1964
1s: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
11 Andro Knego / basketball / 3 medals
23 Biserka Višnjić / handball / 2 medals
1g: Moscow 1980
1s: Montreal 1976
1b: Los Angeles 1984
1g: Moscow 1980
1s: Los Angeles 1984
12 Đurđica Bjedov / swimming / 2 medals
24 Mirko Bašić / handball / 2 medals
1g: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
1s: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
236
1g: Los Angeles 1984
1b: Seoul 1988
25 Alvaro Načinović / handball / 2 medals
39 Mirza Džomba / handball / 1 medal
1g: Atlanta 1996
1b: Seoul 1988
1g: Athens 2004
40 Valner Franković / handball / 1 medal
26 Mihovil Nakić – Vojnović / basketball / 2 medals
1g: Atlanta 1996
1g: Moscow 1980
1b: Los Angeles 1984
41 Bruno Gudelj / handball / 1 medal
1g: Atlanta 1996
27 Nikolay Pechalov / weightlifting / 2 medals
1g: Sydney 2000
1b: Athens 2004
42 Zdravko Hebel / water polo / 1 medal
28 Goran Perkovac / handball / 2 medals
43 Hrvoje Horvat / handball / 1 medal
1g: Atlanta 1996
1b: Seoul 1988
1g: Munich 1972
29 Zlatko Saračević / handball / 2 medals
1g: Atlanta 1996
1b: Seoul 1988
30 Irfan Smajlagić / handball / 2 medals
1g: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
44 Vladimir Jelčić / handball / 1 medal
1g: Atlanta 1996
45 Božidar Jović / handball / 1 medal
1g: Atlanta 1996
1g: Atlanta 1996
1b: Seoul 1988
46 Pavle Jurina / handball / 1 medal
31 Jasna Šekarić / shooting / 2 medals
47 Nikša Kaleb / handball / 1 medal
1g: Seoul 1988
1b: Seoul 1988
1g: Los Angeles 1984
1g: Athens 2004
48 Nenad Kljaić / handball / 1 medal
1g: Atlanta 1996
32 Andrija Anković / football / 1 medal
49 Tomislav Knez / football / 1 medal
1g: Rome 1960
1g: Rome 1960
33 Ivano Balić / handball / 1 medal
50 Aleksandar Kozlina / football / 1 medal
1g: Athens 2004
1g: Rome 1960
34 Zvonko Bego / football / 1 medal
51 Duje Krstulović / basketball / 1 medal
1g: Rome 1960
1g: Moscow 1980
35 Mislav Bezmalinović / water polo / 1 medal
52 Blaženko Lacković / handball / 1 medal
1g: Seoul 1988
1g: Athens 2004
36 Duje Bonačić / rowing / 1 medal
53 Vlado Lisjak / wrestling / 1 medal
1g: Helsinki 1952
1g: Los Angeles 1984
37 Patrik Ćavar / handball / 1 medal
54 Ronald Lopatny / water polo / 1 medal
1g: Atlanta 1996
1g: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
38 Davor Dominiković / handball / 1 medal
55 Željko Matuš / football / 1 medal
1g: Athens 2004
1g: Rome 1960
237
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS SINCE 1900
56 Petar Metličić / handball / 1 medal
76 Albin Vidović / handball / 1 medal
1g: Athens 2004
1g: Munich 1972
57 Zoran Mikulić / handball / 1 medal
77 Igor Vori / handball / 1 medal
1g: Atlanta 1996
58 Zdravko Miljak / handball / 1 medal
1g: Munich 1972 1g: Athens 2004
78 Drago Vuković / handball / 1 medal
1g: Athens 2004
59 Mate Parlov / boxing / 1 medal
1g: Munich 1972 79 Božo Vuletić / water polo / 1 medal
1g: Los Angeles 1984
60 Željko Perušić / water polo / 1 medal
1g: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
61 Miroslav Poljak / water polo / 1 medal
1g: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
62 Renco Posinković / water polo / 1 medal
1g: Seoul 1988
80 Zdenko Zorko / handball / 1 medal
1g: Munich 1972 81 Zdravko Zovko / handball / 1 medal
1g: Los Angeles 1984
82 Vedran Zrnić / handball / 1 medal
1g: Athens 2004
63 Miroslav Pribanić / handball / 1 medal
1g: Munich 1972 64 Jasna Ptujec / handball / 1 medal
1g: Los Angeles 1984 65 Iztok Puc / handball / 1 medal
1g: Atlanta 1996
66 Dobrivoj Selec / handball / 1 medal
1g: Munich 1972
83 Ante Žanetić / football / 1 medal
1g: Rome 1960
84 Ivica Kostelić / alpine skiing / 3 medals
3s: Torino 2006 (1), Vancouver 2010 (2)
85 Dražen Petrović / basketball / 3 medals
2s: Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992
1b: Los Angeles 1984
67 Branko Skroče / basketball / 1 medal
1g: Moscow 1980
68 Goran Sukno / water polo / 1 medal
1g: Los Angeles 1984
69 Petar Šegvić / rowing / 1 medal
86 Juraj Amšel / water polo / 2 medals
2s: Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956
87 Franjo Arapović / basketball / 2 medals
1g: Helsinki 1952
2s: Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992
70 Vlado Šola / handball / 1 medal
88 Stjepan Bobek / football / 2 medals
1g: Athens 2004
2s: London 1948, Helsinki 1952
71 Denis Špoljarić / handball / 1 medal
89 Danko Cvjetićanin / basketball / 2 medals
1g: Athens 2004
2s: Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992
72 Goran Šprem / handball / 1 medal
90 Zlatko Čajkovski / football / 2 medals
1g: Athens 2004
2s: London 1948, Helsinki 1952
73 Vladimir Šujster / handball / 1 medal
91 Vlado Ivković / water polo / 2 medals 1g: Atlanta 1996
2s: Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956
74 Mate Trojanović / rowing / 1 medal
92 Zdravko Ježić / water polo / 2 medals 1g: Helsinki 1952
2s: Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956
75 Velimir Valenta / rowing / 1odličje
93 Zdravko Kovačić / water polo / 2 medals
1g: Helsinki 1952
238
2s: Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
94 Toni Kukoč / basketball / 2 medals
112 Ivo Cipci / water polo / 1 medal
2s: Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992
1s: Melbourne 1956
95 Lovro Radonjić / water polo / 2 medals
113 Tomislav Crnković / football / 1 medal
2s: Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956
1s: Helsinki 1952
96 Dino Rađa / basketball / 2 medals
114 Željko Čajkovski / football / 1 medal
2s: Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992
1s: London 1948
97 Damir Šolman / basketball / 2 medals
115 Vladimir Čonč / football / 1 medal
2s: Ciudad de Mexico 1968, Montreal 1976
1s: Helsinki 1952
98 Ivo Štakula / water polo / 2 medals
116 Josip Čorak / wrestling / 1 medal
2s: Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956
99 Stojko Vranković / basketball / 2 medals
2s: Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992
100 Bernard Vukas / football / 2 medals
2s: London 1948, Helsinki 1952
101 Boško Vuksanović / water polo / 2 medals 2s: Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956
1s: Munich 1972
117 Zoran Čutura / basketball / 1 medal
1s: Seoul 1988
118 Duje Draganja / swimming / 1 medal
1s: Athens 2004
119 Vladimir Firm / football / 1 medal
1s: Helsinki 1952
120 Tomislav Franjković / water polo / 1 medal
102 Nikša Skelin / rowing / 2 medals
1s: Melbourne 1956
1s: Athens 2004
1b: Sydney 2000
121 Damir Glavan / water polo / 1 medal
103 Siniša Skelin / rowing / 2 medals
122 Alan Gregorov / basketball / 1 medal
1s: Athens 2004
1b: Sydney 2000
1s: Atlanta 1996
1s: Barcelona 1992
123 Ivan Gubijan / athletics / 1 medal
1s: London 1948
104 Vladan Alanović / basketball / 1medals
1s: Barcelona 1992
105 Maro Balić / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Atlanta 1996
106 Veljko Bakašun / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Helsinki 1952
107 Vladimir Beara / football / 1 medal
1s: Helsinki 1952
108 Marko Brainović / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Helsinki 1952
109 Miroslav Brozović / football / 1 medal
1s: London 1948
110 Božo Broketa / football / 1 medal
1s: London 1948
124 Ivan - Oskar Jazbinšek / football / 1 medal
1s: London 1948
125 Vinko Jelovac / basketball / 1 medal
1s: Montreal 1976
126 Igor Hinić / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Atlanta 1996
127 Ivica Horvat / football / 1 medal
1s: Helsinki 1952
128 Katica Ileš / handball / 1 medal
1s: Moscow 1980
129 Milan Janić / kayak/canoe / 1 medal
1s: Los Angeles 1984
130 Ratko Kacijan / football / 1 medal
1s: London 1948
111 Zvonko Cimermančić / football / 1 medal
131 Hrvoje Kačić / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Helsinki 1952
1s: Melbourne 1956
239
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS SINCE 1900
132 Vjekoslav Kobešćak / water polo / 1 medal
152 Damir Polić / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Atlanta 1996
1s: Moscow 1980
133 Arijan Komazec / basketball / 1 medal
153. Zoran Primorac / table tennis / 1 medal
1s: Barcelona 1992
134 Mladen Koščak / football / 1 medal
1s: Melbourne 1956
135 Joško Kreković / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Atlanta 1996
1s: Seoul 1988
154 Nikola Radović / football / 1 medal
1s: Melbourne 1956
155 Vinko Rosić / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Tokyo 1964
136 Ognjen Kržić / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Atlanta 1996
156 Petar Skansi / basketball / 1 medal
1s: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
137 Kornelija Kvesić / basketball / 1 medal
158 Ivan Šantek / football / 1 medal
1s: Seoul 1988
1s: Melbourne 1956
138 Ivica Kurtini / water polo / 1 medal
158 Zlatko Šimenc / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Helsinki 1952
1s: Tokyo 1964
139 Žana Lelas / basketball / 1 medal
1s: Seoul 1988
159 Franjo Šoštarić / football / 1 medal
1s: London 1948
140 Luka Lipošinović / football / 1 medal
1s: Melbourne 1956
141 Boško Lozica / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Seoul 1988
160 Ratko Štritof / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Atlanta 1996
161 Siniša Školneković / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Atlanta 1996
142 Slavko Luštica/ football / 1 medal
1s: Helsinki 1952
162 Žan Tabak / basketball / 1 medal
1s: Barcelona 1992
143 Frane Matošić / football / 1 medal
1s: London 1948
163 Ana Titlić / handball / 1 medal
1s: Moscow 1980
144 Franjo Mihalić / athletics / 1 medal
1s: Melbourne 1956
145 Aramis Naglić / basketball / 1 medal
1s: Barcelona 1992
146 Danira Nakić / basketball / 1 medal
1s: Seoul 1988
147 Anton Nardeli / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Tokyo 1964
148 Frane Nonković / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Tokyo 1964
164 Filip Ude / gymnastics / 1 medal
1s: Beijing 2008
165 Tino Vegar / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Atlanta 1996
166 Joško Vidošević / football / 1 medal
1s: Melbourne 1956
167 Blanka Vlašić / athletics / 1 medal
1s: Beijing 2008
168 Renato Vrbičić / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Atlanta 1996
149 Zlatko Papec / football / 1 medal
1s: Melbourne 1956
150 Nikola Plećaš / basketball / 1 medal
1s: Ciudad de Mexico 1968
151 Velimir Perasović / basketball / 1 medal
1s: Barcelona 1992
240
169 Luka Vezilić / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Moscow 1980
170 Zdeslav Vrdoljak / water polo / 1 medal
1s: Atlanta 1996
171 Franjo Wölfl / football / 1 medal
1s: London 1948
20 years of the
Croatian
Olympic
Committee
(1991 - 2011)
172 Branko Zebec / football / 1 medal
191 Duško Mrduljaš / rowing / 1 medal 1s: Helsinki 1952
1b: Moscow 1980
173 Marijan Žuželj / water polo / 1 medal
192 Milan Nenadić / wrestling / 1 medal 1s: Melbourne 1956
1b: Munich 1972
193 Milan Neralić / fencing / 1 medal
1b: Pariz 1900
174 Goran Ivanišević / tennis / 2 medals
2b: Barcelona 1992
194 Sanja Ožegović / basketball / 1 medal
1b: Moscow 1980
175 Mario Ančić / tennis / 1 medal 195 Snježana Pejčić / shooting / 1 medal
1b: Beijing 2008
1b: Athens 2004
176 Mira Bjedov / basketball / 1 medal
1b: Moscow 1980
177 Igor Boraska / rowing / 1 medal
1b: Sydney 2000
178 Zlatko Celent / rowing / 1 medal
1b: Moscow 1980
179 Boro Cvetković / football / 1 medal
1b: Los Angeles 1984
180 Krešimir Čuljak / rowing / 1 medal
1b: Sydney 2000
181 Stjepan Deverić / football / 1 medal 1b: Los Angeles 1984
182 Jakov Fak / biathlon / 1 medal 1b: Vancouver 2010
183 Jasna Fazlić / table tennis / 1 medal
1b: Seoul 1988
184 Igor Francetić / rowing / 1 medal 1b: Sydney 2000
185 Tihomir Franković / rowing / 1 medal 1b: Sydney 2000
186 Nenad Gračan / football / 1 medal 1b: Los Angeles 1984
187 Tomislav Ivković / football / 1 medal 1b: Los Angeles 1984
196 Silvijo Petriško / rowing / 1 medal
1b: Sydney 2000
197 Aleksandar Petrović / basketball / 1 medal
1b: Los Angeles 1984
198 Goran Prpić / tennis / 1 medal 1b: Barcelona 1992
199 Ivan Pudar / football / 1 medal
1b: Los Angeles 1984
200 Josip Reić / rowing / 1 medal 1b: Moscow 1980
201 Tomislav Smoljanović / rowing / 1 medal
1b: Sydney 2000
202 Ivan Sunara / basketball / 1 medal
1b: Los Angeles 1984
203 Sandra Šarić / taekwondo / 1 medal
1b: Beijing 2008
204 Damir Škaro / boxing / 1 medal
1b: Seoul 1988
205 Branimir Vujević / rowing / 1 medal
1b: Sydney 2000
206 Branko Vukičević / basketball / 1 medal
1b: Los Angeles 1984
207 Martina Zubčić / taekwondo / 1 medal
1b: Beijing 2008
188 Boris Jarak / handball / 1 medal 1b: Seoul 1988
189 Ivan Ljubičić / tennis / 1 medal 1b: Athens 2004
190 Branko Miljuš / football / 1 medal 1b: Los Angeles 1984
241
Bibliography:
The Croatian Sports Association Official Gazette (1991 and 1992). 1, 2-3, 4, 5-6.
Zagreb: Croatian Sports Association.
Sabolić K. (ed.) (1992-2010). The Croatian Sports Almanac. Zagreb: Ars Media.
Težak V. (ed.) (1996). Atlanta ’96. Zagreb: Croatian Olympic Committee.
The Croatian Olympic Committee Official Gazette (1994-2006). 1-9.
Zagreb: Croatian Olympic Committee.
Olympism in Europe: The State and Sport (1996). Zagreb: Croatian Olympic Committee.
History of Sport (1991, 1992, 1994). 91, 95,102. Zagreb: Croatian Sports Association.
Olimp Magazine (1999-2010). 1-38. Zagreb: Croatian Olympic Committee.
Flander, M. (ed.) et al. (1975 and 1997). Encyclopaedia of Physical Culture (Vol. 1&2). Zagreb:
Yugoslav Institute of Lexicography.
Šamija, K. (ed.) (2010). Franjo Bučar National Sports Award. Zagreb: Ministry of Science,
Education and Sport.
Croatian Biographical Lexicon (1989) (Vol. 2). Zagreb: Yugoslav Lexicographical Institute.
Olympic Movement Directory (2004). Lausanne: International Olympic Committee.
Olympic Games Guidebooks: Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004,
Beijing 2008 (1992-2008). Zagreb: Croatian Olympic Committee.
Olympic Review (2006). No 59. Lausanne: International Olympic Committee.
Croatian Olympic Committee: www.hoo.hr
Olympic Winter Games Guidebooks: Lillehammer 1994, Nagano 1998, Salt Lake City 2002,
Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010 (1994-2010). Zagreb: Croatian Olympic Committee.
The Singapore 2010 First Youth Olympic Games Guidebook (2010). Zagreb: Croatian Olympic
Committee.
International Olympic Committee: www.olympic.org
European Olympic Committees: www.eurolympic.org
Government of the Republic of Croatia: www.vlada.hr.
Beraković, D. Croatian Sport and the Olympic Movement (1991). Zagreb: Croatian Olympic
Committee.
Susić, Ž. (1992). Croatian Sport and Olympism. In The 1992 Barcelona - Albertville
Monograph. Munich: Olympische Sportbibliothek.
Croatian Parliament: www.sabor.hr
World Anti-Doping Agency: www.wada-ama.org
Amateur Athletic Foundation: www.aafla.com
Susić, Ž., Marović, D., Drpić, A. (1996). Sports in Croatia. Zagreb: Croatian Olympic
Committee.
Croatian Olympians Club: www.olimpijci.hr
Sušec, B. (1992) Croatia’s First Independent Appearances at the 1992 Albertville and
Barcelona Games. In The 1992 Barcelona - Albertville Monograph. Munich: Olympische
Sportbibliothek.
Croatian Sports Journalists Association: www.hzsn.hr
Podgorelec, S., Drpić, A., Marović, D. (1995). Olympism in Croats. Zagreb: Croatian Olympic
Committee.
Hina - Croatian News Agency: www.hina.hr
Comité International Pierre de Coubertin: www.coubertin.ch
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://hr.wikipedia.org
Jajčević, Z. (2007). Olympism in Croatia. Zagreb: Libera Editio.
A Century of Croatian Water Polo (2010). Zagreb: Croatian Water Polo Federation.
COC data bases, managed by the program offices of national sports federations, the
Olympic Program Office and Olympic Solidarity Office.
Monograph Authors:
Radica Jurkin Lugović, a sports journalist, has been Head of the
Information and Publishing Department of the Croatian Olympic
Committee since 2007 and a member of the COC Information and
Publishing Commission since 2005.
Ante Drpić was born in Pučišća on the island of Brač on 14 October
1955. He graduated medical secondary school and earned a degree
from the School of Political Sciences, University of Zagreb.
She is the editor of the COC web portal, which was launched for the
1996 Games in Atlanta. In 2002, the portal was ranked among top 10
on the national Web Top 100 list by Vidi IT Magazine. She has been
on the editorial staff of the Olimp magazine of the Croatian Olympic
Committee and the author of the Olimp to Olimp column.
From 1975 to 1991, he was the Zagreb sports correspondent of a daily
newspaper from Split. From 1981, he worked for the Tanjug Yugoslav
News Agency, for which he had previously written articles on sports,
but also on culture and politics, for almost 2 years. Since 1991, he has
been working as a sports department editor for Hina – Croatian News
Agency.
Together with Ante Drpić and Zdenko Jajčević, she is one of the
authors of the first COC monograph titled: On the Olympic Path: the
Croatian Olympic Committee from 1991 to 2006. Since 2002, she has
written most COC publications regarding the appearance of Croatia’s
sports and Olympic delegations at international competitions.
He reported from the 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo and
the Summer Games in Los Angeles, as well as from the 1996 Games
in Atlanta. He was the Press Attache of the Croatian Mission at the
2000 Games in Sydney, the 1997 Mediterranean Games in Bari and
the 1998 Youth World Games in Moscow.
She wrote the first Croatian children’s picture books with sports topics
titled Športići (Little Athletes) and the first interactive CD on sport
and Olympism with the same title published in 2007. She is the coauthor of the theatre play Športice i športići (Girls and Boys Athletes)
produced in the Dubrava Children’s Theatre in Zagreb and performed
over 200 times, also at the 2002 International Children’s Festival in
Šibenik.
From the beginning of 1993 to 1999, he was Secretary General of
the Croatian Sports Journalists Association. He was a member of
the COC Council from 1995 to 2000 and Chairman of the COC
Publishing Committee. Since 2005, he has been a member of the COC
Information and Publishing Commission.
Radica Jurkin was born in Šibenik on 6 December 1954. She earned a
degree in Sports Journalism from the then School of Physical Culture,
today School of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb.
She worked as a sports journalist at the Vjesnik daily newspaper,
after that she was the Secretary of the Medveščak Physical Culture
Association and a coordinator at the Zagreb Sports Association. She
has been working at the Croatian Olympic Committee since 1995.
For her contribution to the promotion of Olympism among children
and young people, Radica Jurkin has received the highest sports
award, the Franjo Bučar Annual National Sports Award.
He was the editor of the Olympic News, a weekly selection of the
most interesting news regarding the Croatian and International
Olympic Committees. As an editor or member of the editorial staff, he
collaborated on all important publications of the Croatian Olympic
Committee, from Olympism in Croats (1995) to the 15 Years on the
Olympic Path (2006).
In September 1999, he was one of the founders of Olimp, a new
magazine of the Croatian Olympic Committee, created in the
tradition of the History of Croatian Sport magazine. He has been the
Editor-in-Chief of all of its 40 issues to date.
He received the 1999 Croatian Sports Journalists Association Trophy
and the COC Recognition in 2001.

Z agreb Z agreb

Seget Donji

1st Croatian Head and Neck Course on Cranial Base Surgery

Croatia Country Report, WP4 Objectives:

CROTOX 2012 4th Croatian Congress of Toxicology First

KONCEPT 4 - Hrvatsko društvo željezničkih inženjera

PDF version of Agenda. - Interdisciplinary Management Research

internationalinternat ional fis masters cup race