20 years of the Croatian Olympic Committee
(1991 - 2011)
Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (14 - 26 August 2010)
T
he first Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010 opened a new chapter in the history of the Olympic movement. They demonstrated a high level of sports competition, but also a new level of Olympic education of young athletes with regard to excellence, friendship, fair play, solidarity and mutual respect.
Flag bearers: At the Opening Ceremony: Ivan Horvat
Medals: GOLD Ivan Capan Swimming (50 m breaststroke) SILVER Men’s basketball team (3 on 3): Matej Buovac, Stipe Krstanović, Marko Ramljak, Tomislav Grubišić BRONZE Barbara Matić Judo (-63 kg) Mixed team (Cairo)
The first Youth Olympic Games gathered 3,522 athletes aged 14 to 18 from 205 NOCs. The Croatian delegation was among them with 25 athletes, of whom 9 were women. The program, which only slightly differed from the Summer Olympic Games program, was very attractive to fans of sport and Olympism. In agreement with International Federations, the basketball event was a 3 on 3 tournament (also known as street basketball) and judo featured international teams. Global sports and Olympic role models Yelena Isinbayeva, Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt were ambassadors for the I Youth Olympic Games, which are not only about competition. Together with other eminent Olympic athletes, such as Sergey Bubka, Alexander Popov and Wilson Kipketer, they associated with the young athletes and shared experiences on social networks. At the Closing Ceremony of this historic event for the Olympic movement, IOC President Jacques Rogge told the first Young Olympians: “And when, years from now, you reflect on your sports career, you will be able to say: ‘I was in Singapore, where it all began.’... You, dear athletes, will keep this Singapore Spirit alive in your countries as true role models.”
Croatia’s First Successes at First YOG
Croatia’s first medal at the I Youth Olympic Games was the gold medal in the 50 m breaststroke, which swimmer Ivan Capan won in a time of 28.55 s, setting a new Croatian junior record. Matej Buovac, Stipe Krstanović, Marko Ramljak and Tomislav Grubišić earned a silver medal for Croatia in the 3 on 3 basketball tournament and Barbara Matić won two bronze medals – one in the individual judo competition, and the other on team Cairo in a competition featuring 12 mixed teams of 8 competitors (four women and four men). The teams were named after host cities of World Judo Championships.
Croatian Youth Olympic Delegation to Singapore 2010 Chef de Mission: Damir Šegota Mission Members: Petra Nosso, Miroslav Zečić, Nada Senčar, Igor Borić, Stevo Kuric, Franjo Pavlović, Gordana Gaćeša (Press Attache) ATHLETES: Athletics: Ines Ikić, Romana Tea Kirinić, Ivan Horvat
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