June 10, 2022 - The greatest professionals in the world of sports will spend the next two days in Zadar at the SUNSET Sports Media Festival, which was officially opened on Thursday night at the Punta Skala Hotel in Petrčane.

SUNSET Sports Media Festival is a project that will set new standards in the organization of sports business events, and the participants of the festival are the world's biggest faces in the world of sports and sports production, writes  Zadarski.hr 

Italian sports journalist Giulia Diletta Leotta. (Photo: Sime Zelic/PIXSELL)

One of the most famous sports journalists in the world, Italian Giulia Diletta Leotta, arrived in Zadar for the festival. With her commitment to the life of a reporter, which is closely related to her other love - sports, Diletta inspires many women, but also people around her, so we can often see her professionally and passionately reporting from the football field.

Peter Schmeichel, Ray Lewis, Julian Edelman, Stephen Espinoza, and Damjan Rudez. (Photo: Milan Sabic/PIXSELL)

Former goalkeeper of the Danish national football team Peter Schmeichel, legendary American football players Julian Edelman and Ray Lewis, and producer and director Pete Radovich, famous Zadar man with an American address and winner of more than 40 Emmy awards who is also the ambassador of the first SUNSET Sports Media Festival.

Sports media producer and director Pete Radovich. (Photo: Sime Zelic/PIXSELL)

''Zadar is a sports city and there is no better location for the Sunset Sports Media Festival than this one. Whether you work in sports production or not, it will certainly be interesting to learn from the most famous people in this business and find out why they make the decisions they make. The most important thing about the whole festival is to find out what modern technology in sports is now available. Although some visitors are not in sports production, this is a great opportunity to learn from those who are.'', said Pete Radovich, adding that the stars of the SSMF festival, despite the rain that fell on the first day of the festival, were delighted with the city of Zadar.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

April 29, 2022 - Sunset Sports Media Festival, the first international festival on the global sports and media industry, will be held in Zadar from June 9 to 11, 2022.

Apart from being the most important sideline globally, sport is the most-watched TV spectacle and the only remaining media event that must be followed live. Moreover, the trend of globalizing sports today is stronger than ever, which is why the interest in the world of sports is incredible.

Sunset Sports Media Festival is a project that will set new standards in organizing sports business events. It combines the global sports and media industry and brings together the greatest professionals in sports. The Peppermint agency organized the Festival, which is also behind the Weekend Media Festival and has more than 20 years of experience.

"As active participants in the global sports and media scene, we have the opportunity to understand the main challenges of the industry and recognize innovators and key players on the scene, and the position and role Croatia has in the world of sports allows us to become a leader in such events," said Boris Kovacek, organizer of the first Sunset Sports Media Festival in Croatia.

The program features global world stars. Visitors will have a unique opportunity to listen to lectures by football legend, former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, winner of many trophies, including the Champions League with Manchester United and the European title with the national team, but also former American football players like multiple Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman, who played 12 seasons for the NFL for the legendary New England Patriots, and Ray Lewis considered one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history.

Some of the most exciting topics to be covered at the Sunset Sports Media Festival are "Everybody wants to rule the world: Football vs. Football," what lies behind a phenomenon called the NFL, and what are the key elements that separate the two football worlds as they fight for global dominance and spectator attention. In addition, Stephen Espinoza, President of Showtime Sports, shares his insights into the historical success of boxing in the lecture "Inside the ring with Stephen Espinoza." Visitors will also learn all about sports betting, digital and traditional challenges, and many other topics through the lens of the man who revolutionized Sky Sports and currently chairs the executive vice president of IMG and head of global production, Barney Francis.

Pete Radovich, a producer, director, and winner of more than 40 Emmy awards, executive producer in the NFL, coordinating producer, UEFA Champions League, vice president of production, and creative director of the media house CBS Sports, will be an ambassador at the event and bring visitors closer to the "Power of Story."

Sport is traditionally one of the strongest assets for promoting Croatia in the world. I believe that this commendable project will position Zadar on the world map in the way that this beautiful city, with some of the world's best athletes, deserves," said the advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Josip Pavić.

Martina Srnec, director of the CNTB's Promotion and Advertising Department, is convinced that such projects can contribute to creating a unique experience and present Croatia in the best possible light.

"In the Croatian Tourist Board, we recognize the importance of sports in promoting our country, which is the most recognizable globally in terms of sports and tourism. The Sports Media Festival will certainly give Croatia, and especially Zadar, additional visibility on the international market. The festival's program is rich, high quality, and full of renowned names from the world of sports, and everything will be followed by numerous representatives of the world media."

Sunset Sports Media Festival strengthens two areas in which Croatia is the best and by which it is recognizable - sports and tourism.

"We are happy and proud that the production of Sunset Sports Media Festival has chosen Zadar as the venue for this important media and sports event. Zadar has always been a city of sports, and it has many years of successful experience in combining the concepts of sports and tourism. Athletes are the best promoters of Croatian tourism. We believe that this is a beautiful continuation in spreading the glory of our city around the world," said Mario Paleka, director of the Zadar Tourist Board.

"We are more than honored that the city of Zadar is the host of such a world-class project, which we believe will, with all the capacities and climate we have, infrastructure, and transport connections, further highlight Zadar as one of the centers of sports tourism," said Zadar Mayor Branko Dukić.

More info here. 

To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.