During the 74th Assembly of the Croatian Olympic Committee, held in Zagreb, the President Zlatko Mateša was unanimously re-elected as the Croatian Olympic Committee President for the 2024-2028 period.

The Secretary General, Siniša Krajač, presented to the Assembly members all the significant actions that the Croatian Olympic Committee took over in the last years, emphasizing to the 150% budget increase, the relocation of the organization to its newly acquired premises, and the restructuring of the Sports Television, owned by the Croatian Olympic Committee.

Zlatko Mateša, the only presidential candidate, addressed the members of the Assembly: “I am thankful for the tremendous support, as 74 signatures backing my candidacy represents strong support. We need to support families whose children are involved in sports, easing the burden of buying equipment, travel expenses, membership fees, and ensuring that these children become our pledge for future Olympic Games. Another major issue is our sports clubs, which are struggling. Without strengthening clubs, it’s hard to have strong national teams. We have the Croatian Olympic Committee’s development programs as an example. There is not a single Olympic medalist who has not passed through the Croatian Olympic Committee’s development programs. We will continue to finance not only medal winners from Paris but also all other athletes who competed at the Games.”

Through a unanimous public vote by Assembly members, Mateša was re-elected as the President and his proposal for four vice-presidents was subsequently confirmed: Željko Jerkov (Croatian Olympians Club), Barbara Matić (the Croatian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission), Marijan Kustić (Croatian Football Federation), and Sanda Čorak (Croatian Judo Federation). The newly elected president also proposed, and the Assembly accepted, 16 members of the Croatian Olympic Committee Council (a total of 23 members): the president, four vice-presidents, International Olympic Committee member Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, Ivan Veštić (athletics), Tomislav Grahovac (handball), Valentina Bifflin (volleyball), Perica Bukić (water polo), Anto Nobilo (taekwondo), Miho Glavić (skiing), Srećko Ferenčak (squash), Zlatko Taritaš (sailing), Željko Kisić (rowing), Mario Meštrović (Sports Community of Vukovar-Srijem County), Nikola Rukavina (basketball), Zoran Primorac (table tennis), Marijo Možnik (gymnastics), Zdravko Marić (tennis), Damir Knjaz (golf), and Snježana Jurinić (Sports Community of Zadar County). At the next session, Dragutin Kamenski (rugby) is expected to be involved in the Council.

The ICMG President Davide Tizzano and the Secretary General Iakovos Filippousis on behalf of the Mediterranean sports family sent a congratulatory letter to President Zlatko Mateša.

foto HINA/ Edvard ŠUŠAK/ es

foto HINA/ Edvard ŠUŠAK/ es

foto HINA/ Edvard ŠUŠAK/ es