Nationwide Celebrations Mark Olympic Day in Croatia

13 | 6 | 2016

The Croatian Olympians Club has joined forces with national sporting and Olympic bodies in Croatia to stage a series of 10 separate Olympic Day events in the build up to Olympic Day on June 23. The activities, dedicated to promoting an active lifestyle and spreading the Olympic Spirit, sought to introduce communities to a wide variety of sporting activities.

Taking place around the country, the events were part of a coordinated approach involving the Croatian Olympians Club and its partners the Croatian Olympic Academy, the Croatian Olympic Committee, Croatian School Sports Federation, Croatian Sports Museum, Croatian Society of Olympic Philately and Memorabilia and Croatian Institute for Toxicology and Anti-Doping.

Vice President of the Croatian Olympians club Danira Nakic Bilic, Olympic basketball star and silver medallist at Seoul 1988, has been one of the leading figures in the organisation of this year's celebrations, helping to coordinate efforts and drive forward key messages about Olympic Day.

At the main event in Zagreb on 23 May Danira was joined by fellow Olympians Damir Škaro, who won bronze in the Olympic boxing competition at Seoul 1988, Zoran Primorac, Croatian table tennis star who also competed at Seoul 1988 along with some of Croatia's most inspirational basketball stars including double Olympic silver medallist Franjo Arapovic, Jelena Ivezic, member of the London 2012 Croatian women's basketball team and Beijing 2008 Olympian Nikša Prkacin, former captain of the men's basketball team.

The Olympians led more than 800 primary and high schools students, who were taking part in the country's Universal Sports School programme, in activities promoting fair play, friendship and mutual respect. Participants were encouraged to discover something new about Olympism and the Olympic Movement by speaking to the Olympians present and learning about their personal stories.

Danira Nakic Bilic, Head of the Department for the Promotion of Olympism at the Croatian Olympic Academy and Vice President of the Croatian Olympians Club, said:

“It has been fantastic to have had so many partners working together to make the events such a success and a huge privilege for me to help coordinate the celebrations on behalf of the Croatian Olympians Club, the Croatian Olympic Academy and all the other national organisations.

“The Croatian Olympians Club has been an important partner in the celebration activities from the beginning due to the huge positive impact Olympians, as role models, have on society and in particular on children and young people.  This was certainly true at the event in Zagreb where the Olympians present made a fantastic impression on the children and helped spread the Olympic Values to the next generation.”

Olympic Day is celebrated around the world on June 23 and is a day for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to come together to get active, learn about the Olympic Values and discover new sports. 

The WOA would like to share your inspirational Olympic Day stories, events and pictures on our digital and social platforms so please let us know about any planned Olympic Day activities by contacting: sarah.vanballekom@thewoa.org.