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A big day for Gospić and Croatian athletics: New track opens as more than 500 young athletes reach the final

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Gospić opened a new athletics track and hosted the final of the Erste Plava Liga, bringing together more than 500 competitors from 12 Croatian cities.
  • The host team won three medals, the first for the Lika region in the competition.
  • Zagreb won the overall team standings, ahead of Rijeka and Zadar.

More than 500 young athletes arrived in Gospić for a day that combined the opening of a new athletics track with the final of Croatia's biggest primary-school athletics competition.

The athletes qualified through events in 12 Croatian cities, and Gospić entered its own team for the first time. Thirteen teams came onto the new track in a ceremony led by Gospić majorettes and city flag bearers. Singer Tihana Marković, a finalist on The Voice Kids Croatia, performed the national anthem.

The people of Lika have shown how talented they are, and this track will allow those talents to develop. I want this track to be so worn out in twenty years that you have to build a new one.

· Blanka VlašićThe athletics champion praised local talent at the track's opening.

Bishop Marko Medo of Gospić-Senj blessed the track before Gospić Mayor Darko Milinović, league ambassador Blanka Vlašić and local competitor Sara Žarak cut the ribbon. Žarak then ran the first race in the track's history, the 60 metres for fifth-grade girls, finishing fourth.

We must continue renovating and building sports infrastructure so it benefits everyone involved in sport, as well as citizens who will use it for their health.

· Darko VučićThe government representative described the broader purpose of investment in sports facilities.

The home competitors made more than a symbolic appearance. The Gospić team, assembled by AK Velebit with athletes from local clubs, won three medals, giving Lika its first medals at the event. Adam Alar won silver in the vortex throw with 45.36 metres, while Stjepan Ratković took silver in the shot put with a 9.10-metre throw. Both compete for RK Gospić. Josip Božić won bronze in the 60 metres in 8.85 seconds. He represents NK Gospić 91.

Zagreb won the team competition with 1,053 points, followed by Rijeka on 937 and Zadar on 829. State representative Darko Vučić said sports infrastructure should serve both athletes and residents. Vlašić said the region had talent but had lacked infrastructure, adding, "I want this track to be so worn out in twenty years that you have to build a new one."

It does not matter how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up. Talent opens the door, but perseverance takes you through it.

· Darko MilinovićThe Gospić mayor addressed the young competitors.
About this summary

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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