Academician Stanko Bilinski 1909-1998, was distinguished Croatian mathematician, an expert in the field of Geometry. In 1960, he discovered the rhombic dodecahedron. A consequence of results from his PhD dissertation defended in 1944 (published in 1948, both at the University of Zagreb) is that there are precisely 14 semiregular (Archemidian) polyhedra. His results are cited and discussed by distinguished geometers like Coxeter, Grünbaum, Miyazaki, Tekada, and others. In May 2016, Matt Parker from the University of London (Queen Mary) created a very interesting and entertaining video in Dubrovnik, dealing with this nice geometric object.
FORUM G2-2 synergy initiative between Croatian diaspora and homeland
Josip Hrgetić and his wife Mara Vitols are the founders of the FORM Centre in Zagreb, which organized an important very successful G2-2 Meeting between Croatian diaspora and homeland in October 2016. Among distinguished guests were Mark Begich, representative of Alaska at the US Senat, Ivan Hrvoić, Croatian scientist and enterpreneur in Canada, and many other. The Meeting discussed various possibilities of improving economic cooperation between Croatian enterpreneurs throughout the world with similar organizations and institutions in Croatia. On the photo senator Mark Begich with Josip and Mara Vitols Hrgetić, during the G2-2 Meeting in Zagreb.
Dr. Peter Frankopan Interview About: The Silk Roads – A New History of the World
Dr. Peter Frankopan (left) is Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research at the University of Oxford. His new book, The Silk Roads: New History of the World has become a best-seller and it’s being hailed all over the world as a literary masterpiece. It has already won history book of the year by several media and journalistic outlets. William Dalrymple of the Guardian writes that this book, “is history on a grand scale with a sweep and ambition that is rare” and “a remarkable book on many levels.”
Robert Schenk founder and director of the Accord Case company in the city of Pula in Croatia
The best music instrument cases in the world: for Sting, Rostropovich, Yo-Yo Ma, Eddie Van Halen, …
Nenad Bach singing at the Parkinson Day Concert at the Maksimir Park in Zagreb Oct 1 2016
Nenad Bach supports the Parkinson Day at the Maksimir Park in Zagreb. Besides Nenad, some other Croatian musicians and bands are participating at the event on Saturday, Oct 1 2016, from 10-15. See You at the Maksimir Park with your friends and families! Presentations of physical therapy and possible surprise guests are predicted, organized by the “Parkinson i mi” society in Zagreb.
Mario Hezonja young and very successful Croatian basketball player in the NBA
Mario Hezonja is a Croatian professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association. He also represents the Croatian national team internationally. When a player like Mario Hezonja is taken in the top five of the NBA Draft, there will be big expectations for them. NBA organizations must hit on high draft picks and have confidence in the prospects that they choose. Especially if they are international players. Mario has 203 cm, 99 kg and has a great future as an NBA player.
Mikela Ristoski is Paraolympic champion in triple long jump in Rio 2016
Mikela Ristoski is a multiple world champion in both long jump (2011) and in triple long jump (2015). It is therefore not such a big surprise that she won her gold medal in triple long jump at the 2016 Paraolympic Games in Rio. However, a big surprise is continuity of her excellent results, since in this category Croatia has practicaly no tradition at all. Mikela lives in the city of Pula in Istrian peninsula, on the western part of Croatian coast.
Training with Andrej Gacina at Westchester Table Tennis Center, September 24-25, 2016
This weekend the Westchester Table Tennis Club in Westchester, New York is proud to welcome one of the top table tennis players in the world, Croatia’s Andrej Gacina. Gacina is world-ranked #20 by the ITTF. He is five-time national champion of Croatia, a medalist at two European championships, and a three-time Olympian. He’ll play in the open event on Sunday, starting at 2 pm — competing for the grand prize of $1,500. For more information keep reading.
Croatia in the finals of the 2016 Davis Cup after the victory against France in the city of Zadar
We have witnessed a big success of Croatian tennis team, winning France in the city of Zadar 3 : 2. Especially important was the role of Marin Čilić, who brought Croatia to vicotry. Croatia was the winner of the Davis Cup Tournament in 2005. The first known traces of tennis playing in Croatia date from 1878 (in Zagreb and Samobor). The first Davis Cup match in Croatia was played in Zagreb in 1927. In the finals of the 1939 Davis Cup match for the European zone, held in Zagreb, the Croatian team defeated the representation of Germany.
Sandra Paovic of Croatia winning gold medal in table tennis at the 2016 Paraolympic Games in Rio
Paovic’s career in the able-bodied side was cut short on 30 January 2009, by a life threatening car accident en route to the airport in Paris following a match. She suffered a severe cervical spinal injury leaving her with limited use of her legs. “What motivated me to come back to table tennis is the love that I have for table tennis and sport in general,” she said. “Many people were there for me on my way to success, but most important was that I believed in myself and that I never gave up.” Sandra was born in the city of Vukovar.
Katja Markotic Croatian mezzo-soprano interpreting chants by Mexican composer Manuel M. Ponce
Katja Markotić is distinguished Croatian mezzo-soprano singer and since 1996 the artistic director of the Rovinj Summer Festival in her native city of Rovinj. Except in Croatia, she is a frequent guest on concert podiums in Austria, Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom and Mexico. She has achieved remarkable success during the evening recitals at the International Festival “Cervantino” in Mexico, with a final performance at the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City), in 1991 and in 2002. She lives and works as a freelance artist in Croatia’s capital Zagreb.
Kreso Mikulic bigmustache Croatian carpenter, engineer, Olympic gymnast, alpine skier and winemaker
What do devotion to the Blessed Mother, the fuel pump in the B-1 bomber, and a popular Colerain Township winery have in common? The answer is Kreso Mikulic, age 79, native of the Medjugorje region of Bosnia, patent holder of the B-1 fuel pump and owner and master vintner at Vinoklet Winery. Mikulic, an ethnic Croatian, has imported white and red wines made by Podrumi Andrej in Medjugorje and labeled with a portrait of the Blessed Mother, whom local tradition holds appears there annually since 1981.
Amira Medunjanin Tour October-November 2016
In recent years, singer Amira Medunjanin (left), an outstanding successor of the Bosnian traditional music Sevdah, has become one of the most important voices of the Central Europe. Her dignified voice is as smooth as silk yet at the same time as solid as rock, and is able to interpret the strength of fearless emotions. In the form of a trio, Amira Medunjanin will be accompanied by: Ante Gelo (guitar) and Zvonimir Sestak (Upright bass). She will be touring North America for the first time from October 28 to November 20th. Read on to see the complete list of cities and dates.
Stipe Miocic successfully defending his UFC heavy weight world title vs A. Overeem in Sep 2016 in Cleveland
Stipe Miočić, USA, born in 1982 to Croatian immigrants, is an American mixed martial artist competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) where he is the current UFC World Heavyweight Champion. In Sep 2016 he successfully defended his title in Cleveland in the match with Alistair Overeem, a well known Dutch martial artist and kickboxer who was Strikeforce, Dream and K-1 champion. Preparing for this match, Stipe spent a part of the summer 2016 in Croatia with Mirko Filipović – Crocop. Stipe Miočić is married with Ryan Marie Carney.
Goran Filipec young and charismatic Croatian pianist of pronounced virtuosity
As laureate of several international piano competitions such as Concorso Franz Liszt – Premio Mario Zanfi, Concurso de Parnassos and José Iturbi International Music Competition, Goran performed in Europe, United States, South America and Japan. His Carnegie Hall debut took place in 2006, followed by performances in venues such as Mariinsky Theatre, Auditorium di Milano, Minato Mirai Hall or Philharmonie de Paris, among others. Musician of fiery energy and well defined artistic personality, he reveals a particular leaning towards classical and romantic repertoire and music of pronounced virtuosity.
Sven Maricic a pioneer of 3D printing technology in Croatia
A team of doctors at the Clinical Hospital in the city of Rijeka, Croatia, have recently and successfully attached a 3D printed ear to an elderly patient whose biological ear had to be removed because of skin cancer. The operation was executed as a joint effort between the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Rijeka and the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic at the local hospital and marks yet another successful implantation of a 3D printed prosthetic. The 3D printed ear model was designed by Dr. Sven Maričić and his associates Sanjin Fućak, and Duje Kalajžić and was based off of measurements made of the patient’s original ear.
Yoko Nishii Japanese pianist has six concerts in Croatia in Sep 2016
In September 2016 Yoko Nishii, Japanese pianist and proponent of the music of Dora Pejačević (the first Croatian women composer), arrives to Croatia again with a series of six concerts (Rovinj, Sisak, Vinkovci, Cavtat, Ludbreg, Zaprešić), as well as in Kotor and Budapest. On the photo Yoko Nishii with Vjeko Martinko, her host in Villa Astra in the town of Lovran in which she graduated piano studies in 2000. Yoko is fluent in Croatian language. In the Spring of 2015, Yoko Nishii issued an important double CD in Tokyo, containig complete pianistic works of Dora Pejačević.
Mother Teresa proclaimed a saint in 2016 and her connections with Croatia
Saint Mother Teresa was deeply connected with Croatian people. Croatian Jesuits stand at the beginning of her spiritual path, and her close collaborator in India was Ante Gabric, SJ, Croatian missionary and a good spirit of Bengal. In 1995, in Kolkata, she obtained an official Croatian passpoirt from the then Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia dr. Drago Stambuk, as an authorized representative of the Republic of Croatia for Humanitarian Aid . Saint Mother Teresa had spiritual speaches in Croatian language in the Zagreb Cathedral on several occasions. The photo on the left is from her Croatian passport. We also provide some anthological photos of Mother Teresa by Zvonimir Atletić, distinguished Croatian photographer.
Epidaurus Festival in Cavtat celebrates 10 fruitful years of existence in 2016 – congratulations!
Ivana Marija Vidović, distinugished Croatian pianist and poet from Dubrovnik, is the founder of artistic director of the Epidaurus Festival in the town of Cavtat near Dubrovnik. The Epidaurus Festival celebrates 10th anniversary in 2016. It has hosted numerous musicians and artists from Croatia and abroad. In the name of the readers of the CROWN, we express our deep gratitude to Ivana for her perserverence and hard work, and for having established numerous very interesting and fruitful music contacts between Croatia and other countries.
Ivica Kostelic Summer Ski Camp on the island of Mljet in Croatia
Ivica Kostelić, the greatest Croatian male skier in history, invited a number of his friends, mostly skiers, to spend a part of their summer vacations on the island of Mljet, one of the most beautiful Mediterranean islands. The resulting series of six videos provides a lots of information about this island, as well as about Ivica and his guests. The island of Mljet is the one on which the shipwreck of St. Paul the Apostle occured in the first century AD, described in the Acts of the Apostles (Chps. 27 & 28) of the New Testament in the Bible. On the photo Ivica with his beautiful wife Elin Arnarsdottir from Iceland.