December 20, 2019 - An EU project in Split foresees a Poljud Museum, Hajduk Interpretation Center, new Poljud stadium roof and better stadium accessibility, as well as sports and cultural routes throughout the city.

Dalmacija Danas writes that a meeting was held with representatives of the City of Split, HNK Hajduk, the Split Tourist Board, Sports Facilities, RaST Development Agency and the Naš Hajduk Association with representatives of Kocka d.o.o. and Osam d.o.o., as part of the EU project "Split - A City Connecting Sport and Culture". 

At the meeting, they presented the elaborated project technical documentation, that is, the museum concept and establishing the future Poljud Museum and Hajduk Interpretation Center, which will cover 2.323 m2 on three floors within the Poljud Stadium, below the eastern stand.

At the beginning of the meeting, Deputy Mayor Nino Vela welcomed all present and thanked everyone for their dedicated work and cooperation.

On behalf of the International and EU Projects Office, Radojka Tomasevic welcomed everyone present and informed the attendees about the project implementation and project documentation, which was prepared during the previous project implementation. She emphasized the complete project documentation for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Poljud Stadium roof, conserving the base of Stadium, as well as the necessary rehabilitation projects throughout the Stadium, which include ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Documentation was also developed to establish sports and cultural routes that would link locations from Bacvice, the Firule Tennis Courts, and the Basketball Hall at Gripe, to the Holy Trinity Church at Poljud, the pools and stadium at Poljud, the Ancient Port at Spinut, the pools of Mornar and Jadran, the POŠK port, the Olympic trail on the West Coast, the Ad basilicas Pictas sites, the old Hajduk stadium at Stari Plac, the Croatian House building at Tonciceva, and the Old Town Hall at Pjaca.

For the park at the site of Ancient port in Spinut, a conservation base, a study of the greenery, the architectural design of the educational park, and the main architectural design of the interpretive center - a pavilion in the Scientific and Educational Ancient port park (museum and execution project) were made.

The Strategic Branding Plan of the Split Integrated Program as a City of Sport and Culture, as well as the Feasibility Study and Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Split Integrated Program as a City of Sport and Culture, will be finalized by the end of the project.

Special thanks were given to project manager Hrvoje Akrap and project coordinator Ana Jerkunica for their dedicated work in the implementation of the project from the very beginning. 

Designer Marko Barisic and project manager Jelena Devcic from the company Kocka d.o.o., and Darko Babic, director of Osam d.o.o., presented in detail the museum solution of the entire space of the Poljud Museum and the Hajduk Interpretation Center.

Thus, the Poljud Museum and the Hajduk Interpretation Center plan to offer visitors a range of new facilities using state-of-the-art technologies and multimedia equipment (9D) to create an experience and interpretation of cultural heritage and sports, presenting to the general public a valuable architectural and constructive solution for the Stadium, which is also individually protected immovable cultural property, entered in the Register of Cultural Property of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, in the category of profane architectural heritage, but also with the rich history of Hajduk.

All present expressed their satisfaction, from the Deputy Mayor, Nino Vela, the President of the Management Board of HNK Hajduk, Marin Brbic and his associates to representatives of the Tourist Board, the public institution Sports Facilities and the Naš Hajduk Association, emphasizing that the project will surely provide a new, unique tourist offer and product based on Split's underused history of sports and culture.

It is a considerable task for everyone to provide the means to implement all the planned activities as soon as possible, from the reconstruction of the stadium roof for which project documentation has been prepared, as well as necessary remediation projects and ensuring accessibility of the entire stadium to persons with reduced mobility, to establishing sports and cultural routes at various localities in the city, and branding Split as a city of sport and culture.

Recall, the EU project Split - City Connecting Sport and Culture, has been implemented since December 1, 2016, until December 31, 2019. The project developer is the City of Split, and the project partners are the Split Tourist Board and the Split Sports Facilities public institution. The total value of the project is HRK 6,392,000.00, of which the grant amount is HRK 4,999,822.40 financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

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The sport, recreation and fitness fair START 2019 is a unique manifestation taking place during the Split Half-marathon, from February 22 to February 24, 2019, at the Gripe sports center in Split, reports Dalmacija Danas on February 21, 2019. 

START 2019 is the first fair of its kind in Split that aims to unite the passion for sports and a healthy lifestyle. The fair is organized with the aim of bringing together sports professionals, clubs, associations and enthusiasts, as well as presenting everything that has an active connection with sports - from athletes to sports equipment and nutritionists, clubs, companies and associations involved with sports activities.

As a place to create new business opportunities in the fast-growing market of sports in Dalmatia and Croatia, START enables companies to present their products and services related to sports, recreation and fitness to a broad spectrum of visitors and the target market, or new consumers or customers. It is also an opportunity to improve contacts with existing and future partners, participate in interesting professional programs and present innovations and new trends from the sports world while being a part of an exclusive media campaign.

The professional program of the START 2019 fair will be an educational and competitive event. Within the educational program, expert workshops, training sessions and conferences will be organized, as well as presentations of clubs, sports associations and institutions for rehabilitating injuries. There will be a series of events related to the fitness fair such as the Fitness Convention, aiming to promote a healthy lifestyle, movement, and fitness, with presentations of contemporary aerobics programs, led by instructors from Split and the surrounding area that have many years of experience. The secondary goal is to revive aerobics in Split and to interest practitioners of all ages to work together and support such manifestations that, through their participation, encourage the development of recreational programs and raise them to a higher level. In addition, future instructors will be educated and will discover the latest trends in fitness.

Within the educational part of the START 2019 and Fitness Convention Fair, a workshop on the methodology of aerobics titled "How to create a quality group training with music" will be held for students of kinesiology, instructors, interested practitioners and anyone who wants to learn how about the methods of modern aerobics. Afterward, there will be seven seminars on how good practices can create a fun and challenging training for both absolute beginners and more advanced and experienced aerobics practitioners.

The fitness program, which will take place on February 23rd and 24th, includes the most popular and classic, high-quality pilates, yoga, and functional training currently available. Participants will even have the chance to take part in Zumba for children and adults with the idea of encouraging mothers to continue being motivated and practice being the best example for their children in maintaining an active lifestyle.

Also, for the first time in Split, the START 2019 fair will host the Split Power Challenge where all interested parties will be able to compete in three disciplines: bench press, squat and lift. The goal of this competition, which will be led by the Croatian champion and Balkan record holder in the bench-press, Marijo Rukavina from the Ruxpowerlifting club, is to find Split's strongest person.

The 2019 START program competition consists of two other competitions: a hand-wrestling contest and one in functional fitness. In all the competitions within the START 2019 fair, participants will receive symbolic awards for memberships in fitness centers or other perks related to fitness, recreation, and a healthy lifestyle.

The exhibition program of the fair includes professional sports equipment, recreational equipment, fitness equipment, sports nutrition and accessories, a children's program, footwear and clothing for athletes, recreation and fitness, and healthy diets. 

You can find out more at www.sajamstart.com. You can also find the program of events here. 

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