Opatija, September 17, 2024 – For the eleventh year in a row, the Sports Association of the City of Opatija, with the help of the R. K. Jeretov Primary School, the Gorovo Sports Recreation Club, and the Naša Djeca (Our Children) Association, organized the Opatija Sports Day.
The event also marked Croatian Olympic Day, which was aimed at educating and informing the public about the benefits of sports and recreation, as well as introducing the local sports community to the public. It also provides insight into other associations that offer free-time activities for children and young people. The event is held at the start of the school year to help parents and children make informed decisions when enrolling in sports and other extracurricular activities.
After introductory speeches by Mayor Fernando Kirigin, who is also the visionary and initiator of the Opatija Sports Day, President of the Sports Association Dragutin Galina, Child Mayor Lana Golubović, and Principal Milana Međimorec, young successful athlete Petar Pobar, alongside Paralympian and world table tennis champion Vjekoslav Gregorović, raised the Olympic flag. The program was hosted by Borna Šmer, with support from the President of the Opatija City Council Dušan Kotur, and Deputy Mayor Kristina Đukić.
The venue was decorated with improvised sports fields and stands, where around thirty associations from the City of Opatija showcased Olympic and other sports, work with children, and efforts to promote healthy lifestyles. They encouraged visitors to engage in sports through various sports games and an educational entertainment program. The children enjoyed a performance by the majorettes, explored a tent and equipment of the mountaineers, fishing equipment, air rifles from the Opatija DVD Shooting Club, and tried out tennis, volleyball, table tennis, handball, basketball, judo, kickboxing, karate, football, and chess. They were also introduced to water polo, sailing, paddleboarding, and motorsports. Firefighters held a demonstration with their search dog Sparky, the City Red Cross Society demonstrated resuscitation procedures, and the Žmergo Association and Naša Djeca organized fun games. The Association for People with Disabilities and the Ad liberos Association also presented their work.
All participants and visitors joined in a group warm-up and exercise session with music from DJ Vedran, under the program “Let’s Exercise Together,” led by popular trainer Mario Mlinarić (MM Training). Alongside Mlinarić, boxing representatives Nikolina Ćaćić and Patrik Plantić also led the exercises.
Seventh and eighth-grade students participated in a recreational walk along the Lungomare and Carmen Sylva paths, accompanied by professional guides from KŠR Gorovo. The celebration of Opatija Sports Day concluded with a sweet snack for all students.
The Opatija Sports Association presented a special brochure, “Say YES to Sports in Opatija,” which provides information about Opatija’s sports clubs with the aim of introducing sports to young people and establishing quality connections between children, parents, and sports. The brochure also includes tips for parents of young athletes and highlights Opatija’s most successful athletes, who were honored in March at the Gervais Center. The brochure was distributed free of charge to all students and visitors.
PARTICIPANTS OF THE 11th OPATIJA SPORTS DAY: Opatija Motorsport Automobile Club, Opatija Gymnastics Club, Liburnija Judo Club, Opatija Sailing Club, Opatija Karate Club, Opatija Beach Volleyball Club, Opatija Basketball Club, Gorovo Sports Recreation Club, Opatija Football Club, Opatija Mountaineering Society, Opatija Volleyball Club, Opatija Volley Volleyball Club, Opatija Fight Club Kickboxing Club, Liburnija Opatija Handball Club, Opatija 08 Table Tennis Club, Opatija DVD Shooting Club, Volosko Chess Club, Jadran Sports Fishing Club, Ičići Sports Fishing Club, Opatija Tennis Club, Opatija LRH Water Polo Club, Croatia Yacht Club, Opatija Riviera Majorettes, City Red Cross Society, Opatija Association for People with Disabilities, Ad liberos Association, Opatija Sports Recreation Association, Opatija DVD, Žmergo Association, Naša Djeca Opatija Association, Opatija Kindergarten, and Vop sup Team.
