The 20th Croatian Women's Sports Recreation Festival was held in Međimurje, with the Municipality of Sveti Juraj na Bregu acting as host for the first time. The school hall of the Ivan Goran Kovačić Primary School in Pleškovac was the centre of positive energy, socialising and sporting spirit on Friday, 7 November.
The event brought together 266 participants divided into 27 teams from across Croatia – from local Međimurje associations to numerous guests from other parts of the country. The festival was organised by the Croatian Association of Sports Recreation “Sport za sve”, the Međimurje Association of Sports Recreation “Sport za sve” and the Sports Recreation Association “Sport za sve” Sveti Juraj na Bregu, which hosted this year’s edition. Patrons included the President of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Olympic Committee, Međimurje County and the Municipality of Sveti Juraj na Bregu.
The ceremonial opening began with the performance of the national anthem and the anthem of the Međimurje Association of Sports Recreation “Sport za sve”. Mirjana Ferlin Srnec, president of the local Sports Recreation Association “Sport za sve” Sveti Juraj na Bregu, addressed the attendees, highlighting that their association is celebrating its 20th anniversary. “We are overjoyed to be hosting such a major national event for the first time this year. We have gathered around 300 participants from all over our beautiful country. Women have recognised that recreation is health, and this unity and socialising through sport is a great and positive endeavour,” said Ferlin Srnec.
Numerous high-profile guests and officials attended the opening. Alongside the hosts – Mirjana Ferlin Srnec, president of the Sports Recreation Association “Sport za sve” Sveti Juraj na Bregu, and Marijan Vugrinčić, secretary of the Međimurje Association of Sports Recreation “Sport za sve” – were Anđelko Nagrajsalović, mayor of the Municipality of Sveti Juraj na Bregu; Matija Posavec, Međimurje County President; Danica Glad, president of the Međimurje Association of Sports Recreation “Sport za sve”; and Marija Bilman, president of the Croatian Association of Sports Recreation “Sport za sve”. Tomislav Paškvalin, the President of the Republic of Croatia’s commissioner for sport, attended on behalf of the President and officially opened the festival.
Competitors took part in six sports-recreational disciplines: ring toss, darts, hanging bowling, ball throwing into a basket, tunnel and ball control with the foot. Before the competitions began, a joint warm-up was led by aerobics instructor Andreja Korunek, and chief referee Valentin Šipuš briefed the team captains on the rules of the competition. The order of appearance in the disciplines was determined by a previous draw by the Organising Committee.
Refereeing was conducted by referees from the Međimurje Association “Sport za sve” – chief referee Valentin Šipuš and referees Zvonko Lepoglavec, Alan Resman, Josip Božić, Nikolina Košir, Vera Sršan, Lidija Hertarić and Ljubica Dragović. Duty and medical support were provided by Alenka Novak and Renata Šalković from the Čakovec City Red Cross Society. In the cultural and artistic part of the programme, members of the Folklore Group of the I. G. Kovačić Primary School in Sveti Juraj na Bregu performed as guests, and a group photo of all participants and guests immortalised this valuable jubilee.
The Croatian Women's Sports Recreation Festival has been bringing together recreational athletes from across the country for two decades. The event’s programme continues in the evening at the KTC restaurant in Čakovec, where the long-awaited announcement of the most successful teams and individuals in each discipline, the awarding of medals and trophies for overall placement, along with an entertainment and music programme and socialising, will take place after dinner.
