GREAT DAY FOR CROATIAN SPORT 27. 12. 2007.

The best of the best athletes in 2007

Great day for Croatian sport – the ceremonial upon taking Croatian Olympic Commitee in the international olympic family /17th of January 1992/ has been marked festively on Thursday, 27th of December 2007 in Zagreb Concert Hall „Vatroslav Lisinski“. In presence of the President of Croatia, Mr Stipe Mesic, the President of the Parliament Mr Vladimir Seks, the Minister of education, science and sport Mr Dragan Primorac, mayor of Zagreb Mr Milan Bandic and numerous Croatian political, economic and other prominent persons, the best and most successful athletes have been pronounced, for the extremely successful sports year 2007. In addressing the honorable guests, the hosts of the ceremonial – president and the secretary of the Croatian Olympic Commitee Mr Zlatko Matesa and Mr Josip Cop have congratulated all members of the great Croatian sports community, and they also thanked the athletes for raising the good reputation of Croatia and Croatian sport at the global level.

The rewards to the most successful have been handed out by the members of the Commitee and the representatives of the respected Croatian companies, who have sponsored the rewards with financial contributions.

In competition of seven female athletes for the year 2007, the best female athlete was Branka Vlasic (athletics), the world champion in high jump. Among eight chosen and nominated male athletes, the best male athletes were Ivano Balic (handball) and Filip Grgic (taekwondo), the world champion in the category up to 62 kilograms. According to the decision of the Commitee, the best female sports team is the team of European champions – Sanja Komar, Tihana Odlesic and Branka Pereglin (shooting, crossbow).

The most perspective athlete among five female athletes was Danijela Grgić (athletics), who won gold medal in the European Junior Championship in 400 meters discipline. Among six male athletes, as the most perspective athlete was Marin Premeru (athletics) who won silver medal in the World Junior Championship in disk and bowl discipline. In a very strong competition of ten nominated coaches, Ratko Rudic, coach of world waterpolo champions 2002 was pronounced as the most successful.

Croatian Football team took the title of the most successful promotor of Croatia in the world, for the fifth time. In the category of the disabled athletes, out of seven nominated, the most successful was Marija Ivekovic, world champion in skip and jump.

adriatica.net Group, the official partner and agent of the Croatian Olympic Commitee in Beijing 2008, presented the programs of travels to China.