CAF Olympians received Olympic badges of the Croatian Armed Forces

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Croatian Olympic Committee Zlatko Mateša, Deputy Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Slavko Barić, and other officials of the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, and Croatian Olympic Committee.

On this occasion, Minister Kotromanović congratulated and thanked all the athletes who participated in the Games, especially those who won the medals. “By your performance you have promoted the Republic of Croatia and Ministry of Defence”, the Minister said, adding that by their successes athletes in particular contribute to the promotion of the Croatian Armed Forces. “At the sports fields you are fighting as your fellow soldiers, veterans, fought during the Homeland War, honourably and heroically, and thus continue their path. I hope that in the future some of you would become excellent officers and NCOs of the Croatian Armed Forces”, the Minister said in his address.

President of the Croatian Olympic Committee Mateša in his speech said that this was one of the most successful projects Croatian Olympic Committee conducted with the Government and particularly thanked the Ministry of Defence, the Minister and the Armed Forces for the support that was given to athletes, and the Croatian Olympic Committee. Congratulating all present Olympians on the achieved results, Mateša expressed his belief that in the future this excellent cooperation among the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces and the Croatian Olympic Committee would continue and result in an even greater number of medals of our best athletes, on the pleasure, pride and well-being of all Croatian citizens .

The same was shared by the Deputy Chief of General Staff General Barić, who congratulating the “Olympians-soldiers”, said that this project was beneficial not only for the sport in Croatia, but also as an incentive for the future development of the Armed Forces. “By your example as top athletes I’m sure that you can show other soldiers that only with the persistence, hard work and dedication one can achieve the best results. In the same way, your fellow soldiers around the world in peacekeeping missions promote in the best possible way Croatia and our Armed Forces”, General Barić said.

On behalf of the Olympians the present were addressed by the “bronze” Lucja Zaninović who also thanked the Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Olympic Committee on this project and great collaboration which gives athletes the absolute support and help in achieving top results. Zaninović also said that Croatia follows the path of many developed countries in the world, which have similar programs to help athletes, and concluded that she hoped that all the athletes would justify the trust given to them.

14 athletes, CAF members, participated at the Olympic Games in London in 9 disciplines, and the CAF Olympic badges were received by: David Šain, Damir Martin, Martin Sinković, Valent Sinković, Lucija Zaninović, Tonći Stipanović, Snježana Pejčić, Bojan Đurković, Ivan Kljaković Gašpić, Šime Fantela, Igor Marenić, Neven and Nenad Žugaj and Tina Mihelić.

The results achieved at the Olympic Games in London:

 

• Martin Sinković, Valent Sinković, Damir Martin, David Šain-Quadruple Sculls Rowing – 2^nd place – silver medal
• Lucija Zaninović – Taekwondo, 49 kg – 3^rd place – bronze medal
• Tonći Stipanović – Sailing, Laser – 4^th place
• Ivan Kljaković Gašpić Bambi – Sailing, Finn – 5^th place
• Bojan Đurković – Shooting, small-bore rifle 50 m prone position – 5^th place
• Snježana Pejčić – Shooting, small-bore rifle 50 m – 5^th place
• Šime Fantela-Igor Marenić – Sailing, 470 – 6^th place
• Neven Žugaj – Wrestling, Greco-Roman Style, 74 kg – 10^th place
• Nenad Žugaj-Wrestling, Greco-Roman Style, 84 kg – 14^th place
• Tina Mihelić – Sailing, Laser Radial – 17^th place

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