President Milanović Receives Bronze Medallist at the 6th Summer Luge World Championships, Patricija Urbanc
The President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović today received Patricija Urbanc, bronze medallist at the 6th Summer Luge World Championships, along with her father and coach Ivica Urbanc, and the mayor of the town of Delnice, Igor Pleše. The bronze medal won at the 6th Summer Luge World Championships marks the first medal overall — and the first individual achievement of this level — for Patricija Urbanc, her club, the Croatian Luge Federation, and the Republic of Croatia.
Patricija Urbanc is a member of the Prepnek Luge Club from Delnice. Although the medal was won in a non-Olympic discipline of an Olympic sport, its significance for Croatian sport and for the country is considerable, especially given the fact that Croatia does not have a dedicated luge track for training and competitions, it was noted during the meeting.
Although luge is a traditional sport in the Gorski Kotar region, Patricija Urbanc expressed regret that Croatia lacks the infrastructure needed for training on winter tracks. As a result, she must travel abroad for training, with the nearest track located in Winterleiten, Austria, a four-hour drive from Delnice. Patricija’s father and coach emphasized that all expenses, from equipment to travel costs, are covered using their own funds.
President Milanović was accompanied at the meeting by the Commissioner of the President of the Republic for Sports Tomislav Paškvalin.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta