15.09.2011.

FORMAL CLOSED INA SPORTS YOUTH GAMES

Zagreb, 15 September 2011. - Extinguishing of the flame in a crowded hall of the biggest sports hall Arena Zagreb, INA Youth Sports Games 2011 were officially closed.

The flame was extinguished by Petar Cobankovic, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, who stressed the importance of this sporting event, which for years has been conducted under the auspices of Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.

The Mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandic, as a co-major of the Great  Finals participated in the ''border" match. The captain of "fast ones" in his winning team played with Dinamo footballers (Jurcic Kelava, Sammir, Vida, Badelj and Kovacic) and Zoran Mamic. This team competed against the "fierce ones" made ​​up of journalists Hloverka Srzić-Novak, Lana Banely, Željko Vela, Peter Pereža, Tomislav Jelincic, Filip Brkic supported by Dragan Primorac, D. Šimenc and Veljko Mrsic.

Zdravko Maric, the President of INA Youth Sports Games on that occasion said: "Today's full Arena and 80,000 participants are proof that we are going in the right direction and that we have the support of children and young people which we need the most. As long as we have the participants who are returning to their homes smiling, we know that our mission was successful, and that slogan through which we operate, "Live life without drugs because drugs take life," is not just on paper. "

Also, Maric thanked INA, the general sponsor of the Games for their big effort to enhance this year's competition of INA Youth Sports Games and make it better.

Ivan Kresic, a member of the INA's administration said that INA, which is present in our society for decades and giving support to such projects, shows that it recognizes the true value and added: "I can say that INA Youth Sports Games are so much more than sport and competition. I see young people who have over the past three months through sports and socializing learned many things, such as fair play, justice, teamwork and perseverance. All that you have learned will follow you through life, and the most precious thing you have gained are definitely the friendships which are important support in our life. I'm proud of INA because it especially made its contribution. "

INA Youth Sports Games 2011 gathered a record number of participants of even more than 80,000 athletes who competed in ten sports. They competed all over the country, and Grand Finals took place in Split. And for the first time in the 15 years, as the Games are taking place, the closing ceremony was held outside Split.

The award for fair play

During the ceremony the parents Jakovac presented the award for fair play team, which went into the hands of Domagoj and Fran, from the Zagreb county, who were also awarded with gifts from INA. "Matteo Tim Jakovac" - award for fair play is traditionally given for several years to the team who on, but as well off the field, express concern for their teammates. Domagoj and Fran competed in beach volleyball, the category of year 1996 and younger. "Thanks to our fair play game, we have vacationed in Split for free, although we did not won the regional competition. But we will compete next year and try to be even better", said Domagoj.

Innovations in 2011:

• INA - Oil d.d. General sponsor of the INA Youth Sports Games

• Applications over the Web, phone, Facebook, and in certain INA petrol stations

• 80,000 participants

• Regional competition held in all the county towns, around the entire Croatia

• Regional competition held in four regions: East, Central and South Croatia (together with the city of Zagreb)

• Finals in Split with 1400 finalists who per week vacationed for free

• Stars International Days of INA Youth Sports Games gathered children from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Estonia, Hungary, Montenegro and Croatian

• Youth Sports Games, held for the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina with 11,000 participants - they are spreading on the region

• Hungary wants its own Youth Sports Games

• Jose Mourinho - the new ambassador of INA Youth Sports Games