21ST MEN’S WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP – CROATIA 2009

Motif: Application of the logo of the 21st Men’s World Handball Championship - Croatia 2009 Globally known victories of Croatia’s men’s national handball team have made our handball players the most trophy winning Croatian sportsmen in general. Gold medals were won by our handball players at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Two gold medals won at the biggest world sports events were supplemented with the gold medal won at the World Championship 2003 in Portugal and two silver medals in 1995 in Iceland and in 2005 in Tunis. The large collection of medals has also been completed with several medals won at European championships. In 1994 in Portugal, handball players were bronze medallists and at the last European Championship in Norway (2008) they were runners-up and won the silver medal. None of the handball national teams on the global level and in any other sport can boast about such success as the Croatian handball. For many handball enthusiasts and experts worldwide the Croatian handball players are the „European Brazil“. Indeed, the Croatian handball players can really be compared to Brazil in the football world. It’s no wonder that with their continuous successes they are highly appreciated worldwide. It is only thanks to our handball players and their reputation that the International Handball Federation (IHF) entrusted Croatia with the organisation of the World Championship 2009, although at the time the decision was made our country did not have a single sports hall that would be an adequate venue for such sports events. The organisation of the biggest event in Croatia since its independence can partly be attributed to the guarantees of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and of functionaries in the local communities who made their promises and realised the goals on time. The sports halls in seven towns have been completed on time and the last organisational preparations have been finished as well. «Let the games begin» - the whole of Croatia is ready to welcome the handball players and their supporters from 24 best handball playing countries worldwide. In January 2009 (from the 16th January till the 1st February) the whole of Croatia will be breathing together with its handball players, dreaming about another great success. Zagreb, Split, Varaždin, Zadar, Osijek, Poreč and Pula, but also the whole of Croatia. A similar atmosphere was also at the 2000 Men’s Handball European Championships but also at the 2003 Women’s Handball World Championships, which were organised in Croatia. At that time, the world of handball was delighted with Croatia’s organisational skills. However, these World Championships will be better than the previous ones. This is what our handball heroes have promised to us and we should believe them because they always keep their promises. Ivano Balić, Petar Metličić, Blaženko Lacković and their «comrades», led by the national team selector and coach Lino Červar have made Croatia happy so many times, and everyone was celebrating and crying with them. At this event many handball players from the «golden generation» will say goodbye to national team and their dearest jersey. The most beautiful scenario would be if they could say goodbye as winners, with the national anthem on the highest step of the victory podium in the crowded beauty of Zagreb – Arena. The coach Lino Červar made one thing very clear: «It’s going to be the best organised championships in the history of handball. This generation deserves the biggest spectacle and farewell with the golden medal. My guys are the best in the world. ‘Let them cry – Croatia is the world champ’. »