Croatia’s Minister of Tourism and Sport, Tonči Glavina, has signed two key decisions ensuring almost €5 million in funding for sports programs in 2026. The funds will be distributed across 320 sports programs, continuing the Ministry’s investment in local-level sport. The aim of these measures is to create conditions for the greatest possible number of citizens, particularly children and young people, to participate in organised sports activities.
According to the decision on subsidising sports programs for local sport and sports competitions, €4.3 million is allocated to 275 programs. These funds are intended to promote amateur sport, health-oriented physical exercise, and the organisation of various sports competitions. The Ministry is thereby seeking to ensure that sport is accessible to all citizens, regardless of where they live.
€609,461.08 has been allocated for 45 programs for the “Croatian Swimming” (Hrvatska pliva) non-swimmer training initiative. The funds are designated for the implementation of training that develops basic life skills and encourages participation in sport. The “Croatian Swimming” program has proven to be highly effective, with nearly 60,000 participants having completed the non-swimmer training, of which more than 43,000 were children and young people.
Minister Glavina stated that these investments are laying the foundation for a sports system that enables children, young people, and all citizens to participate in organised sport. The Ministry of Tourism and Sport is continuously increasing investment in programs that promote access to sport, highlighting the importance of health-oriented physical exercise for the wider population.
Cumulative data since 2016 shows significant progress in this area. To date, almost €25 million has been secured for programs supporting local sport, sports competitions, and the “Croatian Swimming” initiative. These funds are directed to more than 1,700 associations, enabling sport participation for over 720,000 users across Croatia.
