Croatian Australians Prepare for World Croatian Games in Mostar

Croatian Australians will take part in a weekend of sporting events in Melbourne to select athletes who will represent Australia’s Croatian community at next summer’s World Croatian Games in Mostar.

The amateur competition, often nicknamed the “Crolympics”, brings together Croatians and their descendants from around the world, representing the countries where they live.

Football matches for children, juniors, seniors and veterans will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Dandenong City Hajduk, a local club founded by Croatian immigrants. The matches will help select the men’s and women’s teams representing Croatian Australians at the Games.

Sunday’s program will also feature basketball, tennis, swimming and bocce. Participants can register for any sport online or upon arrival.

“We invite everyone to come along and have fun,” said Ivan Jurinović, the club’s technical director of football and assistant coordinator of Australia’s delegation to the Games.

Organisers are encouraging families, spectators and the wider Croatian community to join the festivities. The program will also include Croatian karaoke, traditional folk dancing and food and drinks throughout the weekend.

Visitors can enter prize draws, including a chance to win return flights to Croatia or a T-shirt signed by Croatian international footballer Duje Ćaleta-Car. Prizes will also be awarded in penalty shootout and crossbar challenges.

Australia is home to around 250,000 people of Croatian descent, making it one of the largest Croatian communities outside the homeland.

The World Croatian Games aim to strengthen ties between younger generations through sport and cultural exchange, while encouraging them to preserve their Croatian identity and maintain connections with Croatia, including through potential investment.

Organised by the Croatian World Congress, the Games have been held five times so far: in Zadar in 2006 and 2010, and in Zagreb in 2014, 2017 and 2023.

The next edition will take place in Mostar from July 27 to 31. Croatian Australians are still seeking sponsors, team managers and coaches to support their delegation.