Siniša Krajač Appointed to a New Four-Year Term (2025–2029) as Secretary General of the Croatian Olympic Committee

As the only valid candidate who met all the requirements, his new four-year term was unanimously confirmed by the Council of the Croatian Olympic Committee at its 11th regular session, held on Thursday in Zagreb. His second term will begin upon the conclusion of the current one, on 10 May 2025.

Krajač joined the Croatian Olympic Committee in 2001 from the Sports Department of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia. Four years ago, he assumed the current position after serving as Assistant Secretary General for Local Sport Programs. During his first term as the main operational lead of the Croatian Olympic Committee, he contributed to overcoming the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sports system, significantly supported the revitalization of sports infrastructure and sports activities in the earthquake-affected Banovina region, and played a key role in the relocation of the Croatian Olympic Committee to its own premises in mid-2024.

- I thank the members of the Council for their renewed trust. I deeply believe that over the next four years we will continue our excellent cooperation for the benefit of Croatian athletes and Croatian sport as a whole,” said the reappointed Secretary General of the Croatian Olympic Committee.

Among other decisions of the Croatian Olympic Committee Council at its 11th session, notable ones include amendments and updates to the beneficiaries of development programs for athletes and coaches. As of 1 April, Ivona Gavran and Križan Rajič (weightlifting), and Anamarija Turk (shooting) were included in the pre-Olympic program (RP V). The Croatian Wrestling Federation proposed, and the Council of the Croatian Olympic Committee accepted, the replacement of the youth coach program beneficiary: as of 1 April, long-time national team member Božo Starčević, now a coach at HK Metalac, has taken over from coach Nenad Žugaj, who stepped down due to a new job position.

Financial support was approved for 24 beneficiaries under special programs for encouraging and developing sport at the local level in 2025.

The Council also adopted the rules of procedure for nine Croatian Olympic Committee commissions: the Medical Commission, the Gender Equality in Sport Commission, the Sports Facilities and Environment Commission, the International Relations Commission, the Sport Development Commission, the Digitalisation and Digital Media Commission, the Marketing Commission, the Information and Publishing Commission, and the Dual Career in Sport Commission.

Following a request from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport for an opinion on the interest in granting Croatian citizenship to certain athletes, the Croatian Olympic Committee gave a positive opinion regarding three baseball players: Zach Robert Plesac, Rendall Asher Wojciechowski, and Joseph Thomas Terdoslavich, all proposed by the Croatian Baseball Federation.

The Council of the Croatian Olympic Committee also approved non-material sponsorships for the World Carp Fishing Championship (Đakovo, 17–20 September 2025), the European Cup “Zagreb Open 2025” in kickboxing (Varaždin, 1–4 May 2025), and the “Damir Zrilić” Memorial Boxing Tournament (Zadar, 11 May 2025).

The Croatian Olympic Committee’s Milan Neralić Award Ceremony for outstanding contributions to local sports will be held on 7 May in Knin, while the next Council session is scheduled for 15 May in Zagreb. (hoo/vk)

CURRICULUM VITAE OF SECRETARY GENERAL SINIŠA KRAJAČ: https://www.hoo.hr/page/681