Exactly 49 years after he created the official emblem of the Mediterranean Movement, followed by the emblem for the 1979 Mediterranean Games in Split, the distinguished Croatian designer received recognition for his exceptional creative achievements, which have remained relevant to this day.


While presenting him with the ICMG Order of Honour, the President of the Mediterranean sports association, Davide Tizzano, highlighted:


“The reason we are here is to resolve a very important matter. As you know, our logo was created by Mr Boris Ljubičić in 1976, and since we wish to retain the rights to use his work in the future, we decided to regulate this through an agreement and honour him with this award. We are very grateful to him, and of course, to Croatia. We are happy to celebrate our official emblem at this ceremony – the three interconnected circles symbolising unity. I believe this will be for the future of the Mediterranean. I also believe we have a bright future, and that everyone should remain united within the Mediterranean basin, which is a force for sport, especially in a time that is difficult for many due to war. We are a flag of unity, a flag of sport, and a flag of peace.”


President Zlatko Mateša emphasised Ljubičić’s contributions to many other recognisable Croatian symbols and noted the global rarity of Split, a city with 101 Olympic medals. He gave special greetings to the Split Olympians present: Željko Jerkov, Milivoj Bebić, and Josip Reić. Mateša then presented Boris Ljubičić with the Croatian Olympic Committee’s gift: replicas of the three medals awarded to the best athletes at the 1979 Mediterranean Games in Split.


ICMG Secretary General Iakovos Filippousis also spoke about Ljubičić with words of deep gratitude, and the ceremony was attended by numerous delegations from ICMG member states, including members of the association’s Executive Committee. Among the distinguished Croatian guests were the Prefect of Split-Dalmatia County, Blaženko Boban, the current Mayor of Split, Tomislav Šuta, and former Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara.


In an impressive presentation, Boris Ljubičić summarised the entire conceptual and creative journey that led to the creation of the Mediterranean Movement’s official emblem and the iconic Mediterranean Monk Seal mascot for the 1979 Games. Regarding the recognition itself, he stated:


“Until now, I have received recognition from the fields of design and culture, but this one comes from sport. I have always believed that sport is very important for design because it has a wide distribution – people follow sport, and if you design for sport, everyone will see it. Back then, this symbol was as popular as Mišo Kovač’s songs, even though there was some reservation from the profession because, according to a Bauhaus definition, design is what can be drawn, while this symbol was a combination of regular and irregular forms. I created it for the Mediterranean Games in Split, but as with all my projects, I wanted to create something absolute, a perfect hit, because I am from Sinj, and we love to hit the bullseye…”


The ceremony at Villa Dalmacija was moderated by Frano Ridjan, with a performance by The Four Tenors (Đani Stipaničev, Marko Pecotić, Filip Hozjak, and Vladimir Garić).


ADDENDUM: Agreement on the Transfer of Rights Relating to the ICMG Official Emblem

It is hereby confirmed that Mr Boris Ljubičić, creator of the emblem of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG), esteemed designer, and visionary, hereby unconditionally transfers all moral and copyright rights to the aforementioned emblem to the ICMG. This gesture, made in the spirit of unity, heritage, and Mediterranean excellence, honours the artist’s enduring contribution and the timeless values woven into the emblem. From the date of signing this statement, the ICMG acquires exclusive and unlimited rights for the non-commercial use, adaptation, and preservation of this symbol as a lasting tribute to the creative spirit that shaped it and the Games it proudly represents. May this document serve as a ceremonial testament to the trust, gratitude, and shared purpose between the designer and the institution.


Biography of Boris Ljubičić

Boris Ljubičić was born on 8 November 1945 in Sinj, Croatia. He is a distinguished Croatian graphic designer and painter renowned for his significant contributions to visual communications. He graduated in painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 1968 and further advanced his professional expertise through training in countries including Finland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Israel, and Japan.


One of Ljubičić’s most notable achievements is the design of the visual identity for the VIII Mediterranean Games held in Split in 1979. His emblem – three white circles symbolising the unity of Mediterranean countries across three continents, set against a deep blue background representing the sea – captured the essence of the region’s shared geography and cultural connection. This powerful symbol was later adopted as the permanent emblem of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, becoming the visual foundation for all subsequent editions of the Games.


Essentially, the emblem visually embodies the ICMG’s official motto: “The sea unites us all,” giving the logo meaning through words and amplifying Ljubičić’s ability to translate identity and values into timeless design. Beyond this, Ljubičić played a pivotal role in shaping Croatia’s national visual identity, particularly through his innovative use of the red-and-white checkerboard pattern – reinterpreted from the historical coat of arms – as a unifying visual code. This iconic pattern has since become synonymous with Croatian heritage, adorning the sports kits of national teams and branding Croatia as a modern nation through its distinctive, cohesive design.


In design terms, Ljubičić effectively branded Croatia as a nation, establishing visual consistency across sport, institutions, and public identity. His New Look Croatia project applied the checkerboard motif across logos, jerseys, print materials, television, and more, embedding it in every aspect of national representation. As a result, wherever the Croatian pattern appears, it signifies unity, history, and national pride.


Ljubičić has also designed logos for key Croatian institutions, including Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Ministry of Culture, the Croatian Ski Association, the Zagreb Fair, and many others, ensuring that the checkerboard design permeates not only sport but also culture, media, and tourism. Throughout his career, Ljubičić has received numerous international accolades and has been a central figure in promoting the importance of design in Croatia. He played a key role in establishing the Design Studio at the University of Zagreb and has been an active member of the Croatian Designers Association.