The fact that only incredible natural and urban locations are chosen as venues for this world-class event, and Dubrovnik and its fortress Lovrijenac indubitably belong to this circle of destinations, only adds to the divers’ excitement.

Dubrovnik already was host to this event nine years ago. This year, divers, including the nine-time world champion Orlando Duque, are facing a 26-metre dive. When diving, divers only have seconds to decide which diving elements to put together, depending on the spatial factors and weather at hand. Never before did athletes have to dive eight times in a row from such a high cliff, which means that this year’s championship and its participants will push this sport to its very limits and set new standards. Only 30 to 40 athletes in the entire world have the capacity to do this exclusive and extreme sport.

12 great divers from nine countries are taking part in this year’s series, which, apart from Dubrovnik, is held in destinations in France, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Switzerland and Greece. To them and all extreme sports enthusiasts, Dubrovnik will prove an interesting and attractive host, and the beauties of this city under UNESCO protection an ideal background.

Around 70 thousand registered dives a year require 30 such interventions and the figure is expected grow year after year.

The hyperbaric chamber in Zadar can treat six patients at a time and it benefits from an antechamber.

In case of complications in a treated patient, a physician enters the antechamber where the pressure equalizes with that in the chamber and helps the patient.

The hyperbaric chamber is situated in a special container on a trailer and may be dislocated as needed.

Zadar has already established the International Center for Underwater Architecture and they are working on establishing diving technique study programs.

Read more about scuba diving in Croatia

All those who remember the great play of Croatian handball players who won the world championship in 2003 in Portugal, the Olympic gold in 2004 in Athens, world championship silver in 2005 and European championship silver in 2008 in Norway will say that the world championship is being held in the right place, in a country of great and successful handball.

From January 16 until February 1 of this year seven Croatian cities: Zagreb, Zadar, Split, Osijek, Varaždin, Poreč and Pula – will be the hosts to 24 world national teams.

In group A in Osijek the teams are France, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Argentina and Australia, in group B in Split Croatia, Sweden, Spain, South Korea, Kuwait and Cuba, in group C in Varaždin Germany, Poland, Macedonia, Russia, Tunisia and Algeria, and in group D in Poreč Denmark, Norway, Egypt, Brazil, Serbia and Saudi Arabia.

The three best teams from groups A and B will play in the second round in Zagreb, and groups C and D in Zadar.

Semi-final games will be played in Zagreb and Split, and the finals will be played in the Arena in Zagreb, which will welcome 15 000 spectators. At the President Cup for places from 13 to 24 the teams who do not make the second round will play.

The 21st world handball championship is the biggest sports event in Croatia since its independence and it is certainly the most demanding project which included the construction of new sports arenas and hiring
of a great number of professionals and volunteers.

The Arena Zagreb, Spaladium Split, City Garden Osijek, Sports Centre Krešimir Čosić Zadar and Sports Home Mate Parlov Pula are top sports objects as well as polyvalent centres which will enrich the sports, entertainment and cultural offer of Croatia.

Considering the long tradition (the first handball game was played in Croatia in 1930) and the great results in this sport as well as with an audience which loves it, Croatia will without a doubt be a great host of this
competition.

As the sports events like this have a tourist dimension, it is quite clear that Croatia will be a great host in that area as well. As an introduction, in 13 countries participants there were Croatian handball-tourist days and the tourist offer was presented with the accent on the host cities in which the games will be played.

An equally heartfelt welcome and an invitation to enjoy the beauties and the offer is awaiting athletes, delegation members, journalists and supporters during their stay in Croatia.

Read more at the official Men’s World Handball Championship in Croatia 2009 site

All the mentioned steps are expected to secure during the next ten years an income of HRK 15 billion based on a planned annual growth of 9.8 percent (source:hina.hr)

This year, for the first time, Terra Incognita, taking place from 17-23 September 2008, will be in the region of South Adriatic and will cover some teritorry of Bosnia and Herzegovina with very attractive rafting section, where every team will be given special guide, paddles and raft for that section.

Terra Incognita adventure race started in eight years ago. Its disciplines include : hiking, sea kayaking,  mountain biking, river kayaking, rafting and fixed ropes descending.

See more information about Terra Incognita race here

Sport and yachting fair: EUR 700 million income from nautical tourism in 2007

During the year 2007, nautical tourism generated an income of over EUR 700 million, which creates a 10 percent share of the total income from tourism in Croatia. Over 800 thousand nautical tourists visit over 96 Croatian nautical ports and the growth of nautical tourism is normally twice as high as the growth of stationary tourism, said the State Secretary for the Sea Branko Bačić at the opening of the 17th International Fair ‘Sport and Yachting’ at the Zagreb Trade Fair Centre.

The average spending of a nautical tourist per day totals EUR 72, which is twice as much as the spending of tourists in stationary tourism. The average stay of a nautical tourist lasts for almost 16 days, underlined Bačić adding that all that was reason enough to improve the offer of nautical tourism in Croatia.

Bačić further pointed out that Croatia’s characteristics include a well-indented coast with 1244 larger and smaller islands as well as the clearest water of the Mediterranean.

Talking about the future perspective of nautical tourism in Croatia, Bačić explained that the country is currently counting 21.160 berths of which 16 thousand are located in the sea.

He also announced that the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure had prepared a Strategy for the development of nautical tourism which foresees the construction of additional 15 thousand berths throughout the upcoming ten years. In order to broaden the offer, he said, three new nautical centers are being prepared for concession (Ližnjan, Novi Vinodolski, Tisno) with a total of 761 berths.

In order to protect the environment, it is the country’s intention, not to build the new nautical centers and berths in intact bays and national parks – but in already existing communal ports and the construction of marinas for mega yachts is planned to occur at locations close to airports.

Talking about the beginnings of nautical tourism in Croatia, Bačić especially emphasized that the alterations within the Maritime Code by the end of the year 2004 brought order into nautical tourism and that these new measures had put an end to illegal charter activities. The result was that during the last three years the number of charter companies increased up to six times, so that in the year of 2007 Croatia counted a total of 928 registered companies for the charter of yachts.

Bačić congratulated also the Croatian nautical manufacturers which produced around 2.000 vessels in 2007.

This year’s yachting exhibition, covering an area of 25 thousand square meters features around 500 exhibitors and more than 200 vessels. See photos from the exhibition

The video include some great shots of Bisevo - a small island in vicinity of Vis, Croatia, well known for its Blue Cave (Plava Spilja), which is one of the most popular sailing destinations in Croatia.

Also, what I liked about this video, is well presented beauty of ‘bad weather’ while sailing – rain, wind, rough seas, gray colours and similar in ‘you get rain, rainbow and sun’ part.

The video, uploaded at YouTube is split in two parts: reasons 1 to 5 and reasons 6 to 10 – have a look:

10 Reasons to Sail in Croatia – Part one: 

10 Reasons to Sail in Croatia – Part two: 

Find out more about Weather in Croatia, Sailing in Croatia, Island of Vis and Bisevo and Modra Spilja (Blue Cave)

Zagreb Sport and Boat Show is currently going on in Zagreb, Croatia. The show profiled itself in the past 17th years not into an unavoidable venue that has continuously been gathering manufactures and representatives of the most prominent world brans of sporting and boating products, but also into the leading business and marketing event of the branch among the SE European countries.

This year’s programme is  enriched by new events and thematic units. From 22 – 26 February the most important home and foreign companies will present their new sporting and boating products as well as the latest developments in the world industry today.

Zagreb Sport and Boat Show is on until 24th of February.

Read more about Zagreb Boat Show here

About “Croatia Cruising Companion” by John Wiley & Sons:

The Dalmatian coast, with its many unspoilt islands and crystal clear waters, ranks high amongst the best cruising areas in the world. Share its secrets, get an inside track on the latest cruising and destination news, and obtain all the facts, photos and chartlets you need to cruise it safely, discover its hidden gems, and enjoy it to the full.

Croatia is a cruising hotspot that is developing rapidly. This is the most in depth and up to date book of its kind on the market. The authors have access to the best contacts and latest information on what is happening onshore and offshore. They have lived and worked in the cruising area for five years.This book features:

From today onwards, the Bjelolasica and Tintilinić ski resorts will be opened daily from 9 am to 4pm.

The prices for ski day pass are 80 kuna (Children – 30 kuna)

About Bjelolasica Ski Resort:

Bjelolasica is the highest mountain in the Velika Kapela massif, and indeed in the whole of Gorski kotar.

It extends in the form of a simple ridge, 5-6 km in length, with very steep slopes sweeping down from the wide forested plateau between Mrkopaljsko polje and Jasenacko polje.

The steep slopes are covered in forests interspaced with meadows, each more beautiful than the last.

The Croatian Olympic Center, situated at 620m above sea level, offers 7 groomed ski runs.

For more information: www.bjelolasica.hr + Skiing and Snowboarding in Croatia

Here are some short excerpts from the article:

Jim Bassett could have put away his bike helmet for the season in October. Instead he packed for a bike trip in Croatia..

…Vermont Bike Tours set up the 12-day trip, complete with two very helpful young Croatian guides, Marko and Vanja. Bassett already knew and had biked with 19 out of the 23 in the group, “and the others were friends of friends,” he said. They found that many Croatians speak English, but their main languages are Croatian, Serbian and Slovene. The country lies between Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has a long coastline and 1,700 islands on the east side of the Adriatic Ocean, across from Venice…

..After flying from Frankfurt to Dubrovnik on October 16, they met up with some of their fellow bikers at their hotel, the Hotel Zagreb, “a delightful place in a very pleasant neighborhood.” Generally the hotels were very nice, he said, perhaps nicer than what he and Mary would have chosen for themselves…

..October 18 found the group on a bus to Split, about 100 miles away. A highlight was visiting Diocletian’s Palace, ruins of the edifice built by the Roman emperor Diocletian around the 3rd century A.D. Bassett explained, “This is a historical site of major significance. The palace is one of the most famous and integral architectural and cultural constructs on the Croatian Adriatic coast, holding an outstanding place in Mediterranean, European and world heritage.” …

Read the rest of the article + More about Cycling in Croatia

The event includes two competitions, the Winter Cup of Cities and the European Cup of Nations, and this year it will be hold from 28th to 30th of December.

The Winter Cup has been held 47 times and the European Cup 37 times, pooling spearfishermen (underwater fishers) from ten nations.

The bond between Mali Lošinj and underwater fishing is attested to by a monument to the spearfishermen -  the work of sculptor Ante Starcevic of Zagreb, who created the monument based on the original by sculptor Vinko Matkovic of Rijeka.

Spearfishing  – Underwater fishing or apnoea (temporary cessation of breathing) fishing is numbered among the extreme sports as it entails many hours of extreme exertion at great depths, working at the limits of physical strength the fishers are subjected to, and the many potential dangers present in these conditions. It is the most selective kind of fishing as the fisher chooses the fish he or she will catch.

And while it is a sporting discipline, spearfishing knowledge has always been passed on among a small body of enthusiasts. Fish rich locations are kept a top secret.

Spearfishing is attracting a growing number of hobbyists and professionals from year to year.

The New Year’s Cup in Mali Lošinj, like some other international events, are an indicator of the excellence of the top athletes and their exceptional physical and psychological preparedness.

Kvarner Map + Losinj Travel Guide + Mali Lošinj Tourist Board : www.tz-malilosinj.hr

 Gorski kotar, a highland region located North of Kvarner coast of Croatia, is attractive tourist resort for winter sport enthusiasts.

As we are approaching winter breaks, Gorski Kotar, with its growing number of highland ski trails, is an ideal place for skiing holiday in Croatia.

Petehovac ski resort, located near Delnice, features Alpine and Nordic skiing trails, ski tows and a small ski jump. There are three ski resorts on offer in the area of the small town of Mrkopalj, allowing skiers to enjoy the terrain of Begovo Razdolje, situated at about 1100 metres above sea level. Celimbaše grounds, with some three kilometres of maintained ski trials and four kilometre long trail of the Zagmajna Biathlon Centre are also in near vicinity.

In the village of Tršce, home of the Rudnik ski resort, skiers can ski on two trails and on cross-country skiing trails.

Similar trails are maintained in the area surrounding Ravna Gora, where there are other grounds available suited for sledding, children’s activities on the snow. Trails have been set up there for recreational skiing and night skiing.

Skiers can try their hand at the Platak ski resort’s trails where some nine kilometres of trails are maintained with five ski lifts, a children’s ski lift and a cable car. The resort offers guests ski and snowboard lessons and cross-country skiing and hiking.

Under the highest peak in Gorski kotar on the southeastern part of Mount Bjelolasica (1534 m) is the largest winter sports centre in Croatia, the Bjelolasica Olympic Centre, with trails for all types of skiers – from beginners to top-trained recreational skiers.

More info Gorski Kotar and more links to various resorts - Gorski Kotar Travel Directory + Skiing in Croatia into page.

Croatia wins water polo gold medal in world championship 

Croatia’s Pavo Markovic scored  two goals in extra time to seal the 9-8 win and delight a vocal and mostly pro-Croatian crowd, after the score had been 7-7 at the end of regulation time.

But goalkeeper Frano Vican was the true hero, pulling off some stunning saves, including a blinder late in the final term which helped Croatia push the match into extra time. Croatia’s Teo Dogas quickly replied to again make it a one-goal game, but with two minutes 40 seconds left in the game, Hungary’s Marton Szivos looked certain to again give his side a two-goal buffer.

A mid-pool turnover allowed him to get free on the fast break, giving him as much time as he liked to take a shot from point-blank range, with only Vican to beat. A goal would most likely have sealed the game, but Vican produced an incredible reflex save and the ball was rushed to the other end where Croatia’s Maro Jokovic scored the goal that sent the match into extra time. Markovic and Kiss each scored in the first period of extra time, before Markovic scored the winner midway through the second period. More Croatia Water Polo clips

Ok, I admit, this is not “travel” news – however, bearing in mind that 6 players from winning Croatian Water Polo Team are from Jug Waterpolo Club from Dubrovnik , I consider it to be good enough reason to make it into this blog

The world’s best Water Polo Players are: Josip PAVIĆ , Damir BURIĆ , Andro BUŠLJE , Zdeslav VRDOLJAK, Aljoša KUNAC , Pavo MARKOVIĆ , Mile SMODLAKA, Teo ĐOGAŠ , Maro JOKOVIĆ , Samir BARAČ , Igor HINIĆ , Miho BOŠKOVIĆ and Frano VIĆAN. Their leader is Ratko Rudic – the waterpolo legend… Related Topic : Croatian Water Polo Players in New York Times