Croatian Olympic Committee

Zagreb, 10 September 2021 - The Croatian Olympic Committee (COC) marked the 30th anniversary of its founding at the ceremony held at the hotel Sheraton in Zagreb. It was a unique combination of past and future of the Croatian sports.

Zagreb, 8 September 2021 - Minister of Defense Mario Banožić and Head of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj met on Wednesday, 8 September 2021, at the Ministry of Defense with top athletes - contractual reservists of the Croatian Army who won medals at the Tokyo Olympics (held from 23 July to 8 August).

Zagreb, 12 April 2021 – Looking towards the Tokyo Olympics (23 July - 8 August 2021), the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) marked with a short ceremony – held in the area next to Zagreb's fountains - one hundred days before their opening.

Zagreb, 7 March 2021 - Sports weekend brought an abundance of Croatian athletes’ successful performances at international competitions. With congratulations to all those who have achieved valuable results on the representative or club level, one must highlight the achievements of potential Olympic male and female candidates - in judo, karate and tennis.

Zagreb, 23 February 2021 – Since, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the competitions in many sports are taking place, the NOC of Croatia (HOO) continues its International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) campaign on prevention of manipulation of sport competitions through its websites and social networks. In the beginning of July 2020, the Croatian Olympic Committee’s Assembly verified the previously adopted decision of the Croatian Olympic Committee’s Council and unanimously accepted the Ordinance on preventing manipulation of sports competitions. All activities will be carried out under the slogan Be true, be you. Believe in sport!

Zagreb, 17 January 2021 - On this day 29 years ago, the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) was admitted to the International Olympic Family. This happened only two days after the international recognition of the Republic of Croatia, when the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally recognized the NOC of Croatia, thus allowing the Croatian athletes, to participate – in the very same year - at the Winter Olympics in Albertville and at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Zagreb, 27 December 2020 - Judoka Barbara Matić and captain of the Croatian national male handball team Domagoj Duvnjak are the best Croatian athletes in individual competition of the 69th Sport News’ (SN) poll, while the female and male handball team are both team and team laureates.

Zagreb, November 17, 2020 - Olympic Solidarity of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) published the second, supplemented edition of the book ManagingOlympicSportOrganizations, abbrev. MOSO. In relation to the first edition from 2013, the book also contains a text on human resources management at the Croatian Olympic Committee (COC), as an example of management in times of crisis. At the request of the International Olympic Committee, the text on COC management practices was written by the Croatian Olympic Committee’s European Union Programs; Funds and EU Program Coordinator Alma Papić.

Zagreb, 5 October 2020 - By an unanimous decision of the members of the Assembly at the electoral (57th) session held in Zagreb's hotel Westin, Zlatko Mateša will lead the Croatian Olympic Committee (COC) in the next four-year period (2020-2024). Since the postponement of the Olympic Games in Tokyo from 2020 to 2021 disrupted the four-year summer Olympic cycle, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) let the National Olympic Committees decide on holding the electoral assemblies this or the next year.

Zagreb, 23 September 2020 - Organized by the newly established Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the sixth European Week of Sport (from 23 to 30 September) was officially launched in the area along the small Jarun lake in Zagreb. Before the Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković opened the one-week event, Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac emphasized the importance of involvement in sports and recreation because they enable us a healthier and better life, but also emphasized the concern about the percentage of Croatian population that practices it every day.

Lausanne, 3 September 2020 - The Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee of Lithuania (LNOC) on August 13 approved the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions.

Zagreb, 31 July 2020 - On Friday, the Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac met with the leaders of the umbrella sports associations and on that occasion announced that merger of tourism and sports into one ministry would further strengthen the sports sector. The meeting with Minister Brnjac was attended by: President of the Croatian Olympic Committee (COC) Zlatko Mateša, President and Secretary of the Croatian Paralympic Committee (HPO) Ratko Kovačić and Ticijan Komparić, President of the Croatian Academic Sports Association Zrinko Čustonja, President and Secretary of the Croatian School Sports Federation Nikica Perković and Ivan Dujić and President and Honorary President of the Croatian Deaf Sports Association Oliver and Mario Lušić.

Zagreb, 30 July 2020 – The newly elected International Olympic Committee’s member Kolinda Grabar Kitarović visited the COC headquarters at the invitation of the Croatian Olympic Committee’s President Zlatko Mateša. The Assistants of the COC’s Secretary General for certain “offices” – Biserka Vrbek  (Legal Department), Robert Gojević (National Sports Associations), Damir Šegota (Olympic program) and Ranko Četković (Marketing) presented to the former Croatian President and now a senior Olympic official the way of functioning of the COC and its relations with the International Olympic Committee .

Zagreb, July 17, 2020 - In my work, I will strive to promote Olympic values and commitment to the Olympic movement - said Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, thanking for the trust shown after becoming the fourth person and the first woman from Croatia to be elected a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Until recently the Croatian President, Ms, Kitarović earned this prestigious status with convincing electoral majority (86 votes in favor and 3 against) at the 136th session of the IOC, held in a form of video conference.

Zagreb, 2 July 2020 – On the second day of July we mark the World Day of Sports Journalists. This year, that date is particularly intriguing because months before its celebration, the profession of sports journalist went through an unusual period of crisis. Due to the lack of sports events, postponed and canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the representatives of the "seventh force" around the world were largely deprived of topics on everyday media content. In such circumstances, many have been declared redundant, others have experienced drastically reduced wages and fees, the crisis is still current and uncertain...

Zagreb, May 11, 2020 – 15th Session of the COC’s Medical Commission was held in the premises of the Croatian Olympic Committee, whose main agenda were report on the measures taken to protect male and female athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic and guidelines for work in the circumstances of the return of sports competitions. The Session was led by Commission President Miran Martinac MD, and, in addition to permanent members, the guests - Director of the Croatian Institute for Public Health - CIPH (HZJZ) Krunoslav Capak MD and Director of the Croatian Institute for Health and Safety at Work (HZZZSR) Marija Bubaš MD - participated in its work.

Zagreb, April 15, 2020 - By converting the funds of the Central State Office for Sports (SDUŠ) for preserving the workplaces in sports collectives, the Croatian Government provided, at its session held on Thursday, 40 million kuna as support to sports clubs that cannot act during the coronavirus pandemic.

Zagreb, April 15, 2020 – Nine years ago (April 4, 2011), Sports Television (SPTV) – the most watched sports channel in Croatia, wholly-owned by the Croatian Olympic Committee – began broadcasting by launching the news show. Besides the France's National Sports Channel, SPTV is the only specialized sports TV media in the world owned by a National Olympic Committee.

Rome, February 14th 2020 - The formation of the European Olympic Committee's(EOCs) forming of the working group for strengthening the relations with the European Union (EU) has been confirmed at the headquarters of the European Olympic Committees (EOCs) in Rome. The three-member working body consistsof EOCs Vice President Niels Nygaard and members of the EOCs Executive Board Spyros Capralos and Zlatko Mateša. The President of the COC Mateša was also appointed the Head of the group.

Zagreb, December 19, 2019 - At the traditional ceremony of the Great Day of Croatian Sports held at the Crystal Hall of the Westin hotel in Zagreb, the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) recalled the greatest successes of our female and male athletes in the year soon to end. For the 25th time the Croatian Olympic Committee has selected the athlete (s) of the year, and it all started in January 1995 by rewarding the most successful athletes in the previous year. The festive atmosphere in Westin was adorned by numerous prominent figures, including representatives of governmental authority’s highest officials, as well as the City of Zagreb and two ambassadors - Her Excellency Misako Kaji of Japan and Her Excellency Xu Erwen of China.

Slunj, August 6. 2019 - At the solemn session of the City Council of Slunj, on the occasion of the Day of the City of Slunj on August 6, 2019, deserving individuals and associations – including the Croatian Olympic Committee’s Office for Local Sports Programs - have traditionally been awarded public annual recognitions. In the hall of the Pučko otvoreno (Open University) Slunj, the acknowledgement – presented by the Slunj Mayor Jure Katić and President of the City Council of Slunj Ivan Bogović - was received by Croatian Olympic Committee’s Assistant Secretary-General for Sports Programs on the Local Level Siniša Krajač.

Split, July 31, 2019 - Ivo Lipanović, the oldest Croatian Olympian and the last Croatian athlete who participated at the 1948 Olympics, passed away at the age of 91 on Tuesday (July 30th) in Split. Ivo Lipanović was born in Orebić at the Pelješac peninsula on August 18, 1928. He was a participant of the first Olympic Games held after the World War II, in London in 1948. For the HVK monograph (Croatian rowing club) Gusar, by the author Herca Ganza Čaljukušić, Lipanović spoke about his beginnings in Gusar.

Zagreb, July 31, 2019 - The Japanese Ambassador to Croatia, Her Excellency Misako Kaji presented on Monday to the Croatian diplomat, doctor and writer Drago Štambuk, the State Medal of her homeland. In the premises of the Japanese Embassy at Zagreb’s Zrinjevac, the former Croatian Ambassador to Japan and South Korea was presented the Medal of the Rising Sun with a golden and silver star, the gift of the Japanese government. The reason is very simple - for exceptional merits in strengthening bilateral intergovernmental ties in the field of economy, culture, sports...

Baku, July 27, 2019 – On the last day of the XV European Youth Summer Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Baku, the Croatian handball cadets won a gold medal by beating in the final match their peers from Germany with 29-28. It was a game with a lot of turns, especially dramatic in the second half. The Germans turned Croatian 12-9 to 17-21 in the middle of the second part, and then followed a new turn of our team to 23-22. Two minutes before the end, Croatia achieved a hard-to-reach 29-26, which the rival team only managed to mitigate to one hit behind. The bronze medal went to the Danish team, better in the fight for third place than the French with 28-21.

Gwangju/Zagreb, July 27, 2019 -Croatian water polo players continued their trophy series at large competitions. By beating Hungary with 10-7 in the battle for bronze medal battle at the World Championships in the South Korean city of Gwangju, the Croatian national team participated – for the seventh time in a row – in the winning ceremony at world meetings. This great tradition that lasts since 2007 and gold medal at the World Championships in Melbourne, followed by three bronze medals-in Rome 2009, Shanghai 2011 and Barcelona 2013, then by silver in Kazan in 2015 and gold in Budapest in 2017. Although one of the desired goals-placement in the finals and securing the Olympic visa for Tokyo-is not accomplished, our water polo players deserve congratulations for their performance and a new medal.

Baku, July 24, 2019 -Croatian judoka, cadet Ana Viktorija Puljiz won a gold medal in the category -48 kg at the XV European Youth Summer Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Baku, confirming the status of one of the best young athletes in our beautiful homeland. In the round of 8, the fantastic Solin native used ippon and wazari to beat Georgia 's Gagoshidze-Filkina, and in the quarterfinals she used ippon to beat the British Bostock. In the semifinals’ duel with Belgium 's Dierickx ippon was also sufficient to secure at least a silver medal. In the finals with Portuguese Raquel Brito, Puljiz successfully preserve the advantage of wazari, earned after 13 seconds of fighting, for the third Croatian gold medal at EYOF.

Baku, July 22, 2019 – On the second day of contesting at the XV European Youth Summer Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Azerbaijani city of Baku, the young Croatian swimmer Franko Grgić won a gold medal in the discipline of 400 meters Freestyle. Already in the qualifications, this brilliant Split native won in his group, and then he swam his personal and state junior and younger junior  record (3:52.10), only 12 hundredths of a second slower than the EYOF record. The total of 33 swimmers  participated in competition , and Grgić triumphed in front of Germany's Silas Beth (3:52.63) and Greek Alexandros Kachris (3:53.53) in the finals.

Mraclin, July 9, 2019 - A celebration on the occasion of 20th anniversary of publication of the Olimp magazine – whose founder and publisher is the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) was held in the picturesque Mraclin, a settlement belonging to Velika Gorica. The celebration – whose host was the Mraclin Football club - was attended by numerous former and current associates of Olimp, representatives of the Velika Gorica City Council, Mraclin Local Committee and local associations, as well as the HOO staff, led by its Heads Zlatko Mateša and Josip Čop and Assistant Secretary General for sports programs at the local level Siniša Krajač.

Rijeka, July 3, 2019 - Croatian Olympic Academy (HOA) and the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Sports Association (ZSPGŽ) opened on Korzo in Rijeka the retrospective exhibition "Odlučujući trenutak 2009-2019", marking ten years of holding the international exhibition of the same name with more than 3500 collected photographs. On the occasion of this exhibition, the HOA and the ZSPGŽ printed a monograph that features the photos of photo-contest participants over the last decade. Among them there are 100 of the award-winning photo authors.

Zagreb, June 13, 2019 - After an exceptionally successful Dubrovnik promotion of VK Jug monograph, titled Pet do 100 (5 to 100), Zagreb presentation of the impressive work of Željko Konsuo and his associates also attracted great attention of the local (sports) public. Besides the female and male water polo players, coaches, officials and friends of sports, the promotion at the Concert Hall Vatroslav Lisinski was made truly special by attendance of numerous dignitaries from political life, led by the Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

The Croatian Olympic Committee’s Award Milan Neralić was founded in March 2019 for an outstanding contribution to the development of sports at the local level in the field of scientific, professional and/or pedagogical work, and promotion of the physical and health culture of children and youth or sports and recreational activities of local residents. The Award is a sculpture bearing a symbolic link with the first Croatian winner of the Olympic medal Milan Neralić (bronze in Fencing at the Paris Olympics 1900), and its integral part is a written charter. Each year, on the International Day of Sport up to five awards will be presented, of which at least one will be presented to an association or other legal sports entity at the local level.

Zagreb, June 7, 2019 – At the Croatian Olympic Committee’s headquarters, the President of the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) Zlatko Mateša, accompanied by of the Head of the Croatian NOC’s International Cooperation Department Ljiljana Ujlaki Šubić, received the Sri Lanka NOC’s Vice President Asanga Seneviratne. His mission in Croatia is connected with the possibilities of establishing cooperation in the field of sports, especially handball. The CNCO President recalled that we are bound to this by the Sports Cooperation Agreement signed between the two national Olympic Committees in Colombo in 2010 and renewed in November last year.

Lucerne, June 2, 2019 - At the European Rowing Championships (senior level) in Lucerne, the Golden Croatian Olympians in Double Sculls in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Martin and Valent Sinković, won a gold medal in Men’s  Coxless Pairs (M2-), while Luka Radonić (Lightweight Single Sculls) and Damir Martin (Classic Men’s Single Sculls) participated in the A finals but not fast enough to step onto the winning pedestal. In a rarely seen dominance and demonstration of rowing quality, the brothers Sinković had the race under control from the beginning to the end and triumphed with 6:22.460 minutes, ahead of Rumania with 6.24.530 and Spaniards with 6:26.310 minutes. Luka Radonić took the fourth place in Lightweight Single Sculls finals with a time of 7:06.490 minutes, which is more than four seconds behind for third-placed Italian Goretti.

Zagreb, May 26, 2019 – The elections for President, members of the FIBA Europe Board and Treasurer were held on Sunday at the headquarters of the European basketball umbrella organization in Munich and the President of the Croatian Basketball Federation (HKS) Stojko Vranković was elected a member of the FIBA Europe Board. On the eve of the Munich elections, the Croatian Basketball Federation emphasized the candidacy of its Head for membership in FIBA Europe Board and the candidacy was accepted by majority of the Assembly's votes. Turkey’s Turgay Demirel was elected the President of FIBA Europe.

Zagreb, May 23, 2019 - A five-member delegation from South Korea visited the Croatian Olympic Committee for the purpose of promoting taekwondo, as well as strengthening the cooperation with the fans of this sport in Croatia. The delegation was led by Shin Kinam, Special Envoy of the Korean Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sports. Guests from Korea were received by the President of the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) Zlatko Mateša, accompanied by the leader of the Korean-Croatian Business Club Zoran Horvat and former taekwondoka, coach and prominent taekwondo officer Tamara Pradegan. The Croatian ambassador to South Korea Damir Kušen assisted in the realization of this meeting and the main motive of the meeting is the wish of the World Taekwondo Federation (World Taekwondo) from Seoul for sports presentation in Rijeka – next year’s European Capital of Culture. Namely, since a cooperation agreement between World Taekwondo and the University of Rijeka was signed three years ago, the Korean government wants to use this prestigious status of the Croatian city in 2020 for a stronger promotion of taekwondo at the European level. The President of the Croatian Olympic Committee Mateša supported this Korean initiative and promised to help them in fulfilling another great wish – hosting Dalić's electees in the near future. Shin Kinam announced that this is a logical sequence given the popularity of Croatian football players in South Korea.   Of course, in addition to sports, Croatia is interested in cooperation in many other areas in South Korea. This is also confirmed by the composition of the delegation visiting our beautiful homeland. Shin Kinama was accompanied by the film producer Baek Hak Gi, professor of music at Na Jungyoon, official translator Redden Soonyoung and UPI reporter Lee Sang Bong. (cnoc/vk)

Zagreb, May 19, 2019 – The Croatian National Taekwondo Team brings from the World Championships in Manchester (UK) a record number of medals won at world events. After Doris Pole (+73 kg) and Kristina Tomić (49 kg) won bronze in the past couple of days, on the last day of competing at the World Championships 20-year-old Bruna Vuletić (62 kg) and 19-year-old Ivan Šapina (87 kg) won two more bronze medals. On the way to the finals and the brighter medal Vuletić and Šapina were defeated by Brazilian representatives Caroline Santos and Miguel Martins Soares.

Zagreb, May 18, 2019 - Our representatives in wildwater kayaking and canoeing once again confirmed Croatia's world power status in the non-Olympic discipline of sprint. At the newly completed ECA Wildwater Canoeing European Championships on the river Soča, between Kobarid and Bovec in the neighboring Slovenia, we have won three medals – Singles’ gold and two team bronze medals. The beginning was marked by Emil Milihram, a golden canoeist in  Single (C1), who triumphed for its sixth European Champion title.

Plovdiv, May 12, 2019 - The best Croatian rowers have proven to be very competitive at the premiere this season’s competition of the world rowing elite. At the first World Cup regatta in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, the Single Scull rower Damir Martin got back into the winning groove, the brothers Martin and Valent Sinković took second place in Coxless Pair, while the Lightweight Single Scull rower Luka Radonić was the first to step on the winning pedestal – in Saturday's program he won a bronze medal. Olympic Vice-Champion from Rio de Janeiro, Damir Martin, convincingly won the first place by being six and a half seconds better than the runner-up Belarusian Pilip Pavoukou, while the third was the Finnish Robert Ven.