Archive for September, 2007
September 6th, 2007 | 
Author: It’s a big project but Croatia has made a big splash on the international sporting scene. Croatian skiers, tennis players, footballers and handballers have rained glory on the country and now the government will honour them by building a vast new sports arena in south Zagreb. Prime Minister Sanader laid the cornerstone today for the Zagreb Arena, a project that will cost 87 million euros and seat 160000 sports fans. The precipitating event for the project was Croatia’s position as the host of the World Handball Championships of 2009 but the arena will eventually be a hive for all sorts of sports in the nation’s capital. And then . . . look for a shopping mall and entertainment centre to amuse the non-sporty in the same complex
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Calling all Brits. Tune in to BBC this month (date to be announced) for Michael Palin’s trip to Croatia. The peripatetic thespian travels from Rijeka to Dubrovnik before continuing his exploration of eastern Europe. Here’s what the BBC press release said:
In tonight’s first instalment, he becomes acquainted with Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Albania. From high in the spectacular Julian Alps of Slovenia, Michael heads to the stunning Dalmatian coast and goes on a tour of the ancient port of Split in Croatia.
A ferry-ride away is the paradise-like island of Hvar, where Michael enjoys walks, wine and fine food with a local restaurateur. Then it’s on to the pilgrimage town of Medjugoree in Bosnia, where Mirjana Dragicevic tells of her visitations from the Virgin Mary which began 25 years ago.
Michael takes in the spectacular rebuilt bridge in Mostar, visits mine-clearance workers in Sarajevo and meets clubbers in Belgrade. He gains a new perspective on the wars that followed the break-up of Yugoslavia and hears of the hope that reconstruction is bringing.
In Dubrovnik, he meets up with lute maestro Edin Karamazov (who recently made an album with Sting) busking in the splendour of this walled city. An opera-singing captain then takes him down the coast to Albania, once the most secretive country in Europe. Read the entire release and see Michael dockside in Rijeka.
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