An unusual sports competition was held prior to the European Universities Games, which will take place in Rijeka and Zagreb from July 13 to 26. With our charming mascot Hrki the hamster cheering, the Croatian singer Danijela Martinović and Ivan Dečak of the rock band Vatra have shown their remarkable sports flair. The duo challenged the Medveščak hockey player Matija Miličić and the Croatian national team swimmer Mario Todorović to a long jump competition.
Danijela and Ivan have trained hard under the watchful eye of the students of the Faculty of Kinesiology in Zagreb and perfected their long jump, so that they surprised the athletes. The victory went to Danijela, who was awarded the mini version of the mascot of the Games – Hrki.
“As the winner, I feel fabulous. I like winning. The little Hrki I’ve won will have a special place in my home,” said Danijela and explained that sport is one of the most important things in her life. “In a healthy body, healthy mind,” reminded the famous singer.
Throughout the fifteen days of July, over 5.000 students from 45 European countries and more than 300 universities will compete in 21 sports, and they will all be part of this great sports story.
Ivan Dečak announced his visit to the Games and revealed: “The last time I jumped was in high school. I’ve been playing sports all my life and had I not become a music star, I would have been a star of the fourth-division football club in Virovitica. I am looking forward to the European Universities Games, to which I will come to watch the long jump.”
Under the coaches’ watchful eyes, the Medveščak hockey player Matija Miličić and the best Croatian swimmer Mario Todorović, who jumps every day, although into the water, both failed to win against the musicians, who had secretly trained to surprise us all.
However, the real sports struggle continues on July 13 in Rijeka and Zagreb, when the European University Games will be opened, the biggest multi-sport event of university sport on the Old Continent, and it will take place on the courts of Mladost Sports Center, the very place where this unusual competition was held.
Our stars have invited everyone to join and support the young athletes at the Games:
