Sports Games of Youth Celebrate 30 Years: Ana Ivanović First Ambassador

The Plazma Sports Games of Youth (Igre mladih) marked a significant milestone, celebrating 30 years of fostering sportsmanship and community among young people. The competitive segment concluded with a symbolic flame extinguishing ceremony on Split's Riva, followed by a grand jubilee celebration at the Croatian National Theatre in Split.

Over three decades, the Games have engaged more than 3.8 million children from across the region, including Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and North Macedonia. This anniversary event in Split brought together numerous prominent figures from the world of sports and public life.

“

It is a great pleasure for me that, precisely today when the Sports Games of Youth celebrate 30 years of existence, I become their first ambassador and part of an incredible sports family.

Tennis legend Ana Ivanović was honored as the festival's first female ambassador. "It is a great pleasure for me that, precisely today when the Sports Games of Youth celebrate 30 years of existence, I become their first ambassador and part of an incredible sports family," Ivanović stated. She expressed her commitment to promoting positive values and inspiring children to engage in sports, friendship, and fair competition.

“

I can only congratulate and thank the founders and organizers of the Sports Games of Youth, because this is an outstanding and incredible success over the last 30 years.

Tennis coach Goran Ivanišević acknowledged the impressive reach of the Games, noting the millions of children who have participated. He welcomed Ivanović's appointment as the first female ambassador, calling it a "super thing for the Games." European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, also lauded the Games for teaching children discipline, teamwork, and fair play, while fostering lifelong friendships and memories. "I can only congratulate and thank the founders and organizers of the Sports Games of Youth, because this is an outstanding and incredible success over the last 30 years," Brunner said.

Football superstar Zlatan Ibrahimović emphasized the unifying power of sport. "Sport, for me, connects people - wherever you come from and whoever you are. It brings joy, energy, and also provides new opportunities. So I am happy to be here, to be a part of this," he remarked. The celebration also included an ecological "Zero Waste" quiz and a spectacular All-Star exhibition football match, featuring both young participants and sports legends.

“

Sport, for me, connects people - wherever you come from and whoever you are. It brings joy, energy, and also provides new opportunities. So I am happy to be here, to be a part of this.