Ana Šimić won bronze medal for Croatia at the European Athletic Championship in Zurich, with her personal best result of 199 cm. Earliear in 2014 she was the winner of the prestigious Diamond League in high jumping for women, organized in Shanghai. Ana is an excellent follower of great Blanka Vlašić. She was born in Gradačac in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1990.
Author: Nenad N. Bach and Darko Žubrinić
Martin Markovic junior world champion in discus throwin for 2014 at Hayward Field in Eugene USA
Martin Markovic became the second Croatian male athlete to win a world junior title and the first one in 12 years with a world-junior-leading 66.94m in the discus final at Hayward Field. It was his first global medal after four appearances in World Youth and World Junior Championships finals. Markovic’s gold was Croatia’s second medal in Eugene after Sara Kolak took the silver in the javelin.
Sandra Perkovic Croatian gold medal winner in discus throw at European Championships in Zurich in 2014
Sandra Perković won the title of European champion in discus throwing in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2014. It is her THIRD consecutive title, and this fact is unique for this sport. Her winning throw was more than 71 meters. Three of her other attempts at the competition would also suffice for the gold medal. The winner of the silver medal representing France had more than 5m weaker result, which shows the dominance of Sandra Perković in this sport. This is one of the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian sports. Sandra is also the current Olympic Champion nad World Champion in discus throwing.
Ivan Saric of Croatia winning at World Chess Olympiad against Magnus Carlsen the current world champion
In the 10th round of the Chess Olympiad in Tromsoe, World Champion Magnus Carlsen lost to Croatia’s Ivan Šarić, and Norway’s team A lost to Croatia 0.5-3.5. It is interesting that it the 2014 World Chess Olympiad is world’s 4th largest sporting event, and Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg opened proceedings and made the first move for Norway’s world chess champion Magnus Carlsen, which he then lost with Ivan Šarić. Ivan Šarić is a former Junior World Chess Champion and Junior European Chess Champion.
Royals by Lorde and the global echo of the most popular song for 2013
Lorde is a very young singer from New Zealand, who won the Grammy Award as the best singer for 2013. Her connection with Croatia is her mother, who is Croatian, while her father is Irish. Her most popular song, Royals, has acquired amazing reception throughout the world. It suffices to see and listen to dozens of other singers and numerous choirs, who sing it and bring to it something new. We provide just a small overview of numerous very witty and entertaining interpretations.
Otto Piene 1928-2014 in light of poetry and gesture described by Ante Glibota Croatian historian of art
Otto Piene is distinguished German artist, a leading figure of European post-war avant-garde. In 1974, he was appointed as director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Advanced Visual Studies, USA, and stayed on this position during 25 years. Croatian historian of Art and Architecture Mr. Ante Glibota is the author of two extensive monographs about Otto Piene. We provide the text of his Introduction to joint monograph with Otto Piene and Fernando Abral. Mr. Glibota had an exception honor to open, jointly with Mr. Otto Piene, two grand exhibitions in Berlin, one in Neue National Galerie and another one in Deutsche Bank Kunsthalle, in 16th July 2014.
Yin Yang fantastic Chinese painter exhibited in 2014 in Croatia due to indefatigable Ante Glibota
Due to the efforts of indefatigable Mr. Ante Glibota, Croatian artistic critic and director of galleries in Paris in Shanghai, Croatia had a rare opportunity to be acquainted with some of the finest contemporary Chinese artists. Two exhibitions were organized in 2014, one in the city of Pula, and another one in the city of Rijeka. Here we concentrate on works of art Yin Yang, with his artistic (as well as social and philosophical) theme of coal miners. It is in a sense autobiographica exhibition, since Yin Yang worked as a coal miner during about two decades. After Croatia, the exhibition will be shown in Belgium and France. Mr Ante Glibota is a leading international authority for contemporary Chinese art.
Operation "Storm" 1995 prevented new genocide in BiH and liberated occupied parts of Croatia
Congratulations on the occasion of Victory Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders on 5th August to citizens of Croatia and all Croatians in the world. The old Fortress of Croatian King Zvonimir (from 11th century) under the Croatian flag, in liberated town of Knin, just a few days after the start of the operation “Storm” in 1995, has been visited by dr. Franjo Tuđman, the then president of the Republic of Croatia, together with Gojko Šušak, Minister of Defense (both on the photo), general Ante Gotovina and others. The town of Knin has been liberated after five years of occupation.
Malka Marom from Israel and Joso Spralja from Croatia singing sensation from 1960s
In 1963, Malka Marom and Joso Špralja formed the singing duo Malka & Joso. For the next four and half years, they sang folk songs of many lands in fourteen languages – well above ground: in Yorkville’s coffee houses, college campuses, supper clubs, radio and TV and Capitol recordings. In their repertoire they had Israeli and and Croatian songs as well. Malka & Joso have recorded four albums. Malka & Joso Forever, a CD retrospective of their songs was released by EMI in 2001 to rave reviews.
Croatian choirs Kastavke and Jane won gold medals at the World Choir Games in Riga Latvia 2014
Croatia successfully participated at the 8th World Choir Games in Riga, winning two gold medals (Kastavke on the photo, Jane, Mir) in various categories: two silver medals and one bronze (Earobna frula), as well as two gold diplomas (Mir). This competition is the largest choir competition in the world, organized in 29 categories, in which 460 choirs participated with about 27000 singers from 73 countries representing all five continents.
Participants of the Croatian World Games in the Zagreb Cathedral and at Jelacic Square 2014
About 750 young Croatians from 25 countries, accompanied by their relatives and friends, attended the solemn Holy Mass at the Zagreb Cathedral, delivered by Bishop Mijo Gorski. It was an unusual and exceptionally pleasant scenery, with so many enthusiastic young people in their colorful costumes, decorated with various insignia representing Croatia and the countries of their residence. After Mass a cultural program ensued with the official opening of the Third Croatian World Games. The aim of these Games is to connect Croatian people by means of sports. The event was started by the Croatian World Congress and is supported by Croatian institutions.
Adriatica Croatian Village in Mckinney, Texas USA, founded by Jeffory D. Blackard
Not a big chest-pounder, Mr. Jeff Blackard is largely under the radar locally. He’s probably best known for developing Adriatica in McKinney, whose centerpiece is the bell tower. The $350 million, 45-acre mixed-use project on Virginia Parkway and Stonebridge Drive is modeled after Supetar, a small fishing village on the island of Brae off the coast of Croatia. Looking out from Blackard’s perch at Adriatica, with its cobblestone streets, island chapel, and Old World architecture, it’s easy to imagine that you’re in another place and time.
Croatia winner of the European Senior Taekwondo Championships 2014 held in Baku in Azerbaijan
Croatia, with the astonishing performance of twins Lucija (on the photo) and Ana Zaninović, became Champion of the European Senior Taekwondo Championships, obtaining six medals (3 Golds, 2 Silvers, and 1 Bronze). The first place has been won among 46 participating countries at the European Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. Another great international succes: young Matea Jelić and Ivana Babić won gold medals at the 2014 Junior World Taekwondo Championships in Taiwan.
TARARA singing and dance connecting Maori people in New Zealand with Croatians
We invite you to enjoy the magnificent Samoan capella performances and indigenous chants combined with Croatian harmony blockbusters: Vilo moja (My Fairy), Ju te san se zajubio (I Fell In Love With You), Samo moru virujen (I Believe To The See Only), and other. Breathless feeling goes further with Maori who are, within their customs, songs and dances presentation surprising everyone with Maori version of the song “Vilo moja.” Maori and Croatian all get on very well. They have a similar way of looking at life and relationships. Tarara is a mixture of Maori people and Croatians in New Zelaland.
Croatian World Games Zagreb 21-26 July 2014
About 750 Croats from 25 countries on 5 continents will participate in the Croatian World Games, 21-26 July, 2014 in Croaia’s Zagreb. These are the third Croatian World Games. The previous ones took place in 2006 and 2010 in the city of Zadar and more than 800 competitors participated from 40 countries around the world. In addition to participants from outside the fatherland, participants from Croatia and from Bosnia and Herzegovina will also participate in the Games. The organizer of this important project is the Croatian World Congress and Games are held under the auspices of the President of Croatia. The event starts on 21st July, 19:30, in the Zagreb Cathedral.
International Folklore Festival in Zagreb 2014 dedicated to the region of Medjimurje in Croatian north
The 48th International Folklore Festival in Zagreb, 16-20 July 2014, is dedicated to the folklore and heritage of Međimurje, the northernmost part of Croatia. Participants of the Festival also include folklore groups from other parts of Croatia, as well as groups coming from distant foreign countries. Stage performances will be complemented by exhibitions, dance and music workshops, as well as traditional church music and world music concerts.
Mark Begich US senator presented with the Croatian American Bar Association’s 2013 Vinodol Code Award
At the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 2014, the Croatian American Bar Association presented the 2013 Vinodol Code Award to U.S. Senator Mark Begich, in recognition of his distinguished public service career and vigilant attention to international matters affecting the worldwide Croatian community, as specifically exemplified by his insight on matters affecting economic and political progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and for his introduction of Senate Resolution 131 on May 8, 2013 in the Senate.
Canada Day celebration in Zagreb features Emmanuel Vukovich a distinguished violinist with Croatian roots
Emmanuel Vukovich, distinguished Candian violinist of younger generation, has Croatian roots: one of his grandfathers is from the town of Brinje in the region of Lika. Mr. Vukovich and his colleague pianist Hyun-Ho Choi had the honor to have a concert at the Hrvatski Glazbeni Zavod in Zagreb, on the occasion of the Canada Day, in the presence of Her Excellency Mrs. Louise LaRocque, Canadian ambassador to Croatia, and about 300 invited persons. He is the recipient of McGill University’s first Schulich Golden Violin Award, The Canada Council for the Arts Orford String Quartet Scholarship, etc.
Ana Lenard of Croatia is European karate champion for 2014 in Finland
Ana Lenard is the gold medalist at the 49th European Karate Championships, in the category under 61kg. The competition was organized in Finland in Tampere. Ana Lenard is from the town of Samobor near Zagreb, a well known and very beautiful resort, in the area which is a paradise for mountaineering recreation. Another Croatian representative, Ivona Tubić, has been decorated at the same competition in Finland by the bronze medal in the category under 68 kg. This is a big success of Croatian sports.
West Village Chorale from New York City's Greenwich Village touring Croatia 4-10th July 2014
Since 1971, the West Village Chorale, based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, has performed an eclectic repertoire that celebrates the classics and gives voice to new directions in choral music. In a wireless age of downloads, playlists and podcasts, they bring chorus and audience together in the spirit of community to experience the joy of live choral music. This tour allows the chorus to explore the beauty and culture of Croatia and its people, joining forces with Croatian musicians and transcending language barriers to create beautiful music together. Concerts: on 4th July 2014 in Dubrovnik, on 7th July in Split and on 10th July in Pula.