The second panel of the conference, titled 'Long-term Play: Sports Infrastructure Between Excellence and Viability', focused on the theme of 'sports infrastructure, tourism, and business'. The central question of the debate was how to transform sports facilities from mere public investments into sustainable business and development projects. Participants analysed the key challenges related to the maintenance, everyday use, and long-term funding of sports facilities in the current climate.
The debate covered best practice examples and highlighted the role of sports infrastructure within the broader context of the development of sport, tourism, and tourist destinations. The aim was to demonstrate how well-equipped facilities can become drivers of the local economy and attract international events. Experts emphasised the need for synergy between the sporting needs and the regional tourism potential.
The panel discussion included the mayor of Poreč, Loris Peršurić, who brought the perspective of local government. Alongside him, the panel consisted of Boris Mašinić, director of sales at Uniline, and Mirjana Čagalj, advisor to the president of the Croatian Olympic Committee. Their contributions covered the business and institutional aspects of managing sports centres.
A special contribution was made by Felix Lukas, founder and director of Time Tennis International, and director of the WTA tournaments in Makarska and Dubrovnik, as well as Renco Posinković, a gold medallist, water polo coach, and long-time manager of the Spaladium Arena. His experience in organising major competitions and managing arenas was key to understanding the operational challenges.
The panel was preceded by an introductory address by Siniša Topalović, managing director of Horvath HTL Croatia and global director of Turist. His lecture laid the foundations for the subsequent discussion on the economic viability and strategic planning of the sports infrastructure sector.
