Top athletes on voluntary military service
Top athletes who signed a contract to join the active military service began a voluntary military service today, 10 January 2011, in Pozega Barracks.
Of the 20 top athletes who have signed the contract, 16 of them, including four women, will have to pass the training of voluntary military service, while four candidates have already completed military service. Following athletes have been invited to start with the voluntary military service: Damien Martin (paddle), David Sain (paddle), Igor Marenic (sailing), Sime Fantela (sailing), Tonci Stipanovic (sailing), Lucia Zaninovic (taekwondo), Stipe Jarloni (taekwondo) Filip Hrgovic (boxing), Bojan Djurkovic (shooting), Andreja Djakovic (judo), Ivana Maranic (judo), Filip Grgic (taekwondo), Valent Sinkovic (paddle), Martin Sinkovic (paddle), Tina Mehjelic (sailing) and Marko Premuzic (parachuting).
Voluntary military service normally takes eight weeks, and for conscripts – top athletes this program was organized into a period of two weeks. Upon successful completion of training, starting from March 2011, athletes will be admitted into active military service, in accordance with the Agreement on cooperation, promotion and development of sport in the Republic of Croatia, signed between the Defence Ministry and the Olympic Committee which foreseen the possibility of recruitment of top and categorized athletes in the Defence Ministry and in the Croatian Armed Forces.
In addition to the above athletes, from the beginning of March 2011, Tonimir Sokol (wrestling), Ivan Kljakovic-Gaspic (sailing) Daniel Domjoni (karate) and Natko Zrncic-Dim (skiing), who already completed military service, will be admitted to active military service.