President Milanović Opens 25th State Sports Competition of Homeland War Volunteers and Veterans
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović took part in the opening of the 25th State Competition of Homeland War Volunteers and Veterans “Crikvenica 2021” held in Crikvenica.
In bidding welcome to the contestants, President Milanović noted that the veterans and volunteers in 1991 ventured into the unknown and in the most perilous situations to defend their small and only homeland from an enemy that was much more powerful. “Such things for a community, for a large group are always fought by a small group of people, a small number of good and right people. That was only a few thousand people”, President Milanović stated. He further said that there used to be up to one thousand volunteers and veterans at such competitions, and today there are five hundred of them. “It’s not only five hundred. As long as there are five hundred of you, that is a lot for me. And that is on the trail of the original truth that Croatia was defended by a small number of right people”, the President remarked.
This clean healthy bora wind is here to keep us sober-minded, watchful, to be aware of our history. We will have to talk more and more about it to our sons, daughters and grandchildren because 30 years is a long period. You were here when it was most dangerous and all others were afraid. Croatia had first to be defended, then recognized. The latter is important, but had it not been for the people in 1991 who ventured into danger, this today wouldn’t look like this”, President Milanović noted and, thanking them for everything they have done for Croatia, declared open the 25th state sports competition of Homeland War volunteers and veterans.
The contestants were also greeted by the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković, the Director of the Directorate for Legal and Housing Affairs of the Ministry of Croatian Defenders and envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Croatian Defenders Vladimir Bergman, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Prefect Zlatko Komadina, Mayor of the City of Crikvenica Damir Rukavina, the President of the Association of the Homeland War Volunteers and Veterans Đuro Dečak and the President of the Association of the Homeland War Volunteers and Veterans of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County branch Ivan Bogdanić.
The sports games were organized by the defenders for the first time in Čakovec in 1996 and have been held ever since in a different county. In the past, the competition was held in eight disciplines, but this year, on account of the current epidemiological situation, it was decided to hold the games in five sports disciplines: boccie, bowling, archery, table tennis and chess.
After opening the competition, President Milanović laid a wreath and lit a candle at the Memorial to the Croatian Defenders from the Homeland War in the Park of the Fallen for the Homeland. Alongside President Milanović was the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta