International Leaders Summit Announces New Confirmed Speaker:
Ivan Miklos
Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Finance
of the
Slovak Republic
 

August 23, 2004
International Leaders Summit
November 5-7, 2004, Zagreb, Croatia
www.ils-wde.org

Natasha Srdoc-Samy, Co-Director of the International Leaders Summit just received written confirmation this morning from Bratislava, Slovakia that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Slovak Republic, Mr. Ivan Miklos has confirmed his speaking engagement. Mr. Miklos, former president of a Slovakian economic think tank has been known for his leadership in promoting and implementing reforms. Most importantly, through the team effort of free market thinkers in Slovakia, these leaders have placed their once former communist state on the world map as leading nation that is unleashing free market forces.
Forbes Magazine, the Wall Street Journal and other prominent media communications groups have spotlighted Slovakia's courageous reforms from implementing the "flat tax" to other free market initiatives. Deputy Prime Minister Miklos' experiences and evidences will certainly influence reform-minded leaders at the ILS as they work toward augmenting reforms and free market initiatives in their respective nations.

Ivan Miklos, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Slovak Republic. Former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Transport, Post and Telecommunications of the Slovak Republic.
Deputy Prime Minister Miklos served as the Executive Director and President of the Economic think-tank M.E.S.A. 10 from 1992-98.
He was Minister for Administration and Privatization of National Property of the Slovak Republic in 1991-92.

Professional Career:

October 16, 2002 – Present Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Slovak Republic
June – October 2002 Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Transport, Post and Telecommunications of the Slovak Republic
October 1998 - June 2002 Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Slovak Republic
October 1997 - September 1998 National Property Fund of the Slovak Republic, Member of Supervisory Board
1994 – 1998 Lecturer, Trnava University – Slovakia
1992 – 1998 Executive Director and President of the Economic think-tank M.E.S.A. 10
1991 – 1992 Minister for Administration and Privatization of National Property of the Slovak Republic
1990 – 1991 Director, Department of Economic and Social Policy, Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic
1990 Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic
1987 – 1990 Senior Assistant Professor, University of Economics, Bratislava
1983 – 1987 Assistant Professor, University of Economics, Bratislava


Education:
1979 - 1983 University of Economics, Bratislava, National Economy Faculty specialized in long-range planning and forecasting 1993 London School of Economics


Business/Professional memberships:
1999 - Global Leaders for Tomorrow of the World Economic Forum


Honors and Awards:
2000 Honorary degree in Law, Alma College, Michigan, USA
2004 Political Entrepreneurship Award 2004, SME Union and European Enterprise Institute


Trusteeships:
1995 - International Advisory Board of the New Atlantic Initiative

Publications:
1987 “Model of Democratic Prognosis of Czechoslovakia and Slovakia to the year 2005”
1992 “Short-run Prognosis of the Development of the Czechoslovak Currency”, MESA 10
1993 “Problems of Forming the Capital Market under the Consequences of Voucher Privatization”, MESA 10
1993 “Development of the Slovak Privatization and Prediction for the Future”, MESA 10
1994 “Economic Possibilities and Limitations of the Southwestern Region of the Slovak Republic”, MESA 10
1995 “Corruption Risks in the Privatization Process”, Windsor Club
1995 “Economic Conditions of Municipalities in Slovakia” MESA10
1996 “Analysis of the Macroeconomic Development in 1993 – 1995 in Slovakia”, MESA 10
1996 “A New System of Funding Municipalities. Proposal for a Radical Change”, MESA 10

Dozens professional and semi popular economic oriented articles published in Slovak economic journals and newspapers.Please visit the International Leaders Summit website for further updates: www.ils-wde.org
Sincerely,
Joel Anand Samy

President, World Development and Empowerment
Co-Director, International Leaders Summit


WDE and International Leaders Summit
37736 Starflower Street
P.O. Box 964
Newark, California 94560
USA

WDE and International Leaders Summit
Markovici 15
51000 Rijeka
Croatia

Cell: +385-91-516-9129 (Croatia)
T/F: +385-51-626-582 (Croatia)
Email: JoelAnandSamy@aol.com
www.wdeusa.org
www.ils-wde.org
 

Croatia is Hot Stuff on Med Cruises This Summer
Destinations: Dubrovnik
Activities: Beach, Cruise
Author: Heidi Sarna

May 27, 2004 -- Who doesn't grow giddy at the thought of a trip to Europe? History, culture, fashion, food -- all these things keep us coming back year after year. Love affair aside, who wouldn't appreciate a new twist thrown into the standard Italy and Greece cruise mix. Just how many times do you want to take the three-hour bus ride to Florence from the port of Livorno? Can you really face the crowds at Lindos (the impressive ruins of an Acropolis in Rhodes) one more time? Maybe you're just plain itching to one-up your know-it-all neighbor with tales of the hottest new European destination since the wall came down...

Well, hot, it certainly is, but new? Hardly. Croatia is as old as the hills. It's just that it was off limits for most of the 90s due to the Balkans war (pre-1991, Croatia was part of Yugoslavia). The fighting ended a few years ago, and it's safe to say that the Dalmatian Coast is now firmly back on the tourist map. It's hopping like it was for years before the war, drawing Europeans who appreciate its beauty, beaches, history, culture and affordability.

"I've haven't been as excited about a destination in 20 years," says David Vass, Director of Land Programs & Hotel Development for Seadream Yacht Club. He should know, during his career Vass has traveled to more than 170 countries to check out potential ports of call, combing countless towns, villages and cities for interesting things to see and do.

A place like Croatia makes that job easy. Roman ruins and medieval villages are as common here as heather in the Lake District. The country's long rugged island-dotted coastline covers practically the entire eastern seaboard of the Adriatic, and there's no shortage of ancient towns encircled by picturesque crumbling walls. Vineyards, olive groves and beaches complete a montage of landscapes right out of central casting.

Itineraries may include calls on Korcula, the birthplace of Marco Polo; Pula, known for its Roman amphitheater; Losinj, for its long 18-mile beach; Rovinj, a medieval fishing village; Hvar, supremely picturesque with its vineyards and rolling hills; and Dubrovnik, the ancient walled city that sits high above a beautiful harbor. An ideal cruising destination, there's no doubt.

Not the least of Croatia's appealing virtues is its affordability. Among the best bargains in Europe, the dollar and Euro still go a long way here. Unlike most of the continent, Croatia isn't yet part of the European Union. That means, Vass points out, that shore excursions can be dramatically cheaper than in other European ports, like Italy.

With all it has going for it, it's no surprise that nearly every line worth its weight in bingo chips and Baked Alaska is including calls to Croatia this summer on Mediterranean itineraries, often embarking from and/or ending up in Venice. Not a bad deal.

Small-ship lines focus itineraries on typically four to five Croatian ports, and are the best way to skirt the crowds and slip into harbors and small villages. They'll show you more of Croatia than the megas could ever hope to. The best include SeaDream Yacht Club (www.seadreamyachtclub.com), whose 110-passenger ultra-luxe yachts are heaven on earth with free-flowing champagne and fun diversions like ski jets and mountain bikes (carried aboard and complimentary). Star Clippers' (www.starclippers.com) 227-passenger Royal Clipper is a lovely fully-rigged square-sail clipper, while Windstar's (www.windstarcruises.com) fleet includes the 308-passenger five-masted Wind Surf, a modern-style yacht with electronically operated sails. Slightly larger, ultra-luxe lines hitting Croatia this summer include all-inclusive Silversea (www.silverseacruises.com) and Seabourn (www.seabourn.com), plus Radisson (www.rssc.com) and Crystal (www.crystal.com), who offer a similarly elegant onboard vibe on their somewhat larger ships. The biggest, mostly 2,000-plus mega-ship lines visiting the Croatian coast this year -- typically just Dubrovnik -- include Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com), Celebrity (www.celebritycruises.com), Holland America (www.hollandamerica.com), Princess (www.princesscruises.com), and Cunard (www.cunard.com).

Have you cruise into Croatia? We would love to read your Trip Report. Just click over to our Croatia Message Boards and tell us all about it.

http://www.frommers.com/activities/cruise/article.cfm?articleid=2008&destid=CRUISE

OI 2004.: SPORTSKI ARBITRAŽNI SUD ODUZEO ZLATO NIJEMCIMA, FIG PRIZNAO POGREŠKU SUDACA
21.08.2004

Sportski arbitražni sud u Lauseanni (CAS) odlucio je prihvatiti žalbu Francuske, Velike Britanije i SAD-a, te njemackoj reprezentaciji u konjickome sportu i njezinoj clanica Bettini Hoy oduzeti zlatne medalje osvojene u eventingu.

CAS je pozitivno riješio žalbu Francuske, Velike Britanije i SAD-a koje su tražile da se njemackoj jahacici Bettini Hoy doda 12 kaznenih bodova zbog pogrešnog polaska u posljednju disciplinu, preskakanje prepona. Hoy je prerano krenula, pa se vratila, odnosno dva puta prešla preko startne linije i zbog toga su joj suci dodali 12 kaznenih bodova. Njemacka se na tu sudacku odluku žalila, Medunarodna konjicka federacija je tu žalbu prihvatila, ali potom su Francuzi, Britanci i Amerikanci citav slucaj predali CAS-u koji je presudio u njihovu korist.

Nakon dodanih 12 bodova Bettini Hoy, zlato u ekipnome natjecanju pripalo je Francuskoj, srebro Velikoj Britaniji, a bronca SAD-u, dok su medalje u pojedinacnoj konkurenciji pripale Britanki Leslie Law (zlato), Amerikanki Kimberly Severson (srebro) i Britanki Philippi Funnell (bronca).

Medunarodna gimnasticka federacija priznala pogrešku sudaca, ali ne mijenja konacan poredak višeboja

Medunarodna gimnasticka federacija je nakon dodatne istrage priznala kako su suci tijekom olimpijskoga višeboja zakinuli korejskoga vježbaca Yang Tae Younga za jednu desetinku, ali bez obzira na ociglednu pogrešku sudaca Yang nece biti proglašen olimpijskim pobjednikom, vec ce zlatna medalja ostati u vlasništvu Amerikanca Paula Hamma.

Yang je, naime, s 57,774 boda osvojio broncanu medalju, iza Hamma s 57,823 i sunarodnjaka Kim Dae Euna s 57,811. Kada bi mu se dodalo oduzetih 0,1 bodova, Yang bi skocio na prvo mjesto sa 57,874 bodova. Pogrešku su napravili suci na rucama koji su pogreškom kao pocetnu ocjenu za Yangovu vježbu uzeli 9,9 umjesto 10.

Prema pravilima FIG-a ne postoji mogucnost pritužbi na sudacke ocjene. One bi trebale biti prihvacene kao konacne i nepromjenjive. Takoder, FIG izražava žaljenje zbog nastale situacije, piše u izjavi FIG-a.

Hina/HRTweb sport (vh)

 

Rogosic preplivao La Manche

Veljko Rogosic, 63 year old man from Croatia, swam over La Manche

Op-ed

It would be nice if someone could translate this article.

NB

Vjesnik, Dobrila Stella, Ivan Smircic, 16. kolovoza 2004.
Poznati splitski maratonac preplivao je izmedju 43 i 45 kilometara za 11 sati i 27 minuta
SPLIT - Najpoznatiji hrvatski maratonac, sezdesettrogodisnji Splicanin Veljko Rogosic, preplivao je u noci na nedjelju kanal La Manche. Za taj podvig Rogosicu je trebalo 11 sati i 27 minuta. Unatoc vrlo losim vremenskim uvjetima, hrvatski je maratonac u drugom pokusaju uspio preplivati morski prolaz koji spaja Atlantski ocean sa Sjevernim morem, a cijelim putem do krajnjeg cilja pratila ga je kisa nosena jakim vjetrom, koji je podizao velike valove, sto je Rogosicu stvaralo nemale fizicke poteskoce. Gotovo istovjetne vremenske prilike bile su i prije godinu dana, kada je Rogosic prvi put pokusao preplivati La Manche. Iako u vrlo dobroj fizickoj kondiciji i s odlicnom zdravstvenom slikom, Rogosic tada nije uspio preplivati morski prolaz izmedju Francuske i Engleske, jer je procijenjeno da bi takav pokusaj bio preriskantan, odnosno, opasan po zivot naseg maratonca.

Nekoliko mjeseci poslije, Rogosic je ipak uspio ostvariti veliki podvig koji je prokomentirao rijecima: “Ne mozete ni zamisliti kako je bilo. Prestrasno. Mislio sam da ce mi sama dusa izaci na usta”. Rogosic je rekao da su ga nepovoljni vremenski uvjeti iscrpili do te mjere da je ovaj pothvat ostvaren zahvaljujuci golemim fizickim, ali i psihickim naporima koje je ulozio. “Presretan sam iako je bilo tesko pa i opasno uci u more jacine cetiri bofora. Ipak, najteze mi je bilo nakon cetiri sata plivanja kada sam, unatoc tabletama, poceo povracati i tada sam pomislio da je sve gotovo”, kazao je Rogosic naglasivsi kako su ga mnogi odvracali od pokusaja da prepliva La Manche porucujuci da takav pothvat malo tko moze ostvariti.

Rogosic je istaknuo da su u pokusaju preplivavanja La Mancha sudjelovala jos cetiri maratonca, medju kojima i jedna zena, ali da su svi, osim njega i jednog Amerikanca, odustali na sredini kanala, gdje je more bilo jacine sedam bofora. “Preplivao sam La Manche i mogu reci da je ovo jedan od mojih najtezih maratona, ali ne zbog velike hladnoce, nego zbog povracanja koje mi je stvaralo tolike poteskoce da sam imao osjecaj kako cu se ugusiti. Toliko sam fizicki iscrpljen da poslije ovog uspjeha nisam mogao popiti cak ni kap tekucine”, kazao je presretni Rogosic dodajuci da je ruta koju je uspio preplivati duga izmedju 43 i 45 kilometara. Rogosic je cetverostruki prvak svijeta u plivackom maratonu te pobjednik svih kontinenata.

“Kralj hladnih voda”, kako ga nazivaju novinari, uvrsten je i u Medjunarodnu dvoranu sportskih velikana u Fort Lauderdaleu na Floridi. Rogosic je 142 puta bio prvak Jugoslavije u raznim disciplinama, a 52 puta srusio je drzavni rekord. Preplivao je Nil, Michigen, Cookov prolaz, Ontario, La Platu, Missouri i Mississippi, a samo na Jadranu isplivao je 22 maratona. Svojedobno je bio i dvostruki prvak Balkana, dok je, gledajuci rang-liste najboljih vremena, zabiljezen kao cetvrti na svijetu stilom kraul na 1500 metara. Prema sluzbenom zbroju njegovih preplivanih milja, Rogosic je cak sest puta oplivao Zemlju. Hrvatskom plivackom maratoncu na ovom je podvigu u nedjelju cestitao predsjednik Stjepan Mesic.

http://www.vjesnik.hr/

Memorial grad earns Petrovic Scholarship

Class of 2004 val gets award in memory of former Nets great killed in car crash

Barbara sort of mirrors what Drazen embodied. She has a great respect for her Croatian heritage.

Op-ed
How sensitive and kind and profound have been New Jersey Nets for not letting the name of late Drazen Petrovic be forgotten. It would be nice, to say the least, that we as a Croatian community, or/and government recognize that in a public way. There are many ways and one
doesn't exclude the other. Let's say that for one game of the season that is not selling well, we buy the rest of the unsold tickets and invite all our friends to attend the game with us. They may play some videos of Drazen in the half time ? Establish CROWN's "Honorary Croatian Award" and honor Mr. Dan McNeal?

What do you think? Let me know !

Nenad Bach
Editor in Chief

Letters@CroatianWorld.net

Jim Hague
Reporter staff writer 08/22/2004

Barbara Korda recipient of the Drazen Petrovic Memorial Scholarship

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD - West New York resident Barbara Korda was named the recent recipient of the Drazen Petrovic Memorial Scholarship, in memory of the former New Jersey Nets All-Star, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 1993.
While she was growing up in her native Croatia, Barbara Korda said that it was only natural to know who Drazen Petrovic was.

"He's a legend in our country," Korda said of Petrovic, the former New Jersey Nets All-Star guard who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in June, 1993. "Everyone knows who he is. I knew that he was a pretty big basketball star who did a lot of nice
things for people."

Korda also knew that the Nets had established a $10,000 scholarship in the memory of Petrovic.
The Drazen Petrovic Memorial Scholarship provides financial assistance to Croatian-American students who have graduated from New Jersey high schools and plan to attend four-year accredited colleges in the United States. The Nets established the scholarship as a lasting memorial to Petrovic after he lost his life in Germany.

The scholarship, payable over four years, is awarded annually to a deserving Croatian-American student who exhibits the same work ethic and will to succeed that made Petrovic such an intense competitor and unique symbol of Croatianspirit and pride.

"Of course, being Croatian, I knew of the scholarship," said Korda, who came to the United States and West New York six years ago, with the pursuit of a quality education in mind. "I knew of the scholarship, but I was reminded by the guidance counselors in school. I knew I had the credentials, but I figured it was the whole state of New Jersey and that's pretty big. I knew I had a chance to be a good candidate."

That's because Korda graduated from Memorial High School last June as the premier student in her graduating class. The valedictorian out of a class of 340 students, Korda already declared her intentions to attend Stevens Tech and study chemical engineering in the fall. Korda decided that she had nothing to lose and applied for the scholarship. She soon received a letter from the Nets and Devils Foundation, the group overseeing the selection process, that she was among six finalists for the scholarship. "When I got the letter that I was a finalist, I was in shock," Korda said. "I couldn't believe it." Korda was then asked to attend an exclusive interviewing session with the members of the Petrovic Scholarship committee. "I thought the interview went great," Korda said.
"She's a wonderful young woman," said Dan McNeal, the programming grants manager for the Nets and Devils Foundation. "First and foremost, you could see right away that she was a remarkable student. For her to be able to come here to the United States and to be able to speak as well as she does is remarkable. Then, everything she has been able to attain in her academics. It's quite an accomplishment."

McNeal, who served on the four-member selection committee, was impressed with Korda's presentation in the interview process. "She had a good idea of what she wanted to do with her life and her education," McNeal said. "You could tell that she had a very bright
future ahead of her. That's what the Petrovic Scholarship is all about, to remember the life of Drazen Petrovic and what he was able to accomplish. Barbara sort of mirrors what Drazen embodied. She has a great respect for her Croatian heritage."

With that, the foundation presented Korda with the scholarship that will help defray the costs of her Stevens Tech education over the next four years.

"When Mr. McNeal called me and told me that I got it, I was so excited," Korda said. "I asked him if he had called the right number. It's going to be a big help for me in going to college. My father is not working right now and my mother is working for a medical insurance company, so it will come in handy. It's such an honor for me to receive the scholarship."

While there might be similarities in the personalities of the late Petrovic and young Korda, there is one major difference. "I don't exactly play basketball," Korda said. "At least I'm tall, so I have that. And I like to watch basketball. The interviewers all asked me the same question, whether I played."

But she does have an appreciation for what Petrovic meant to the Croatian community and finally to the Nets. "From what I hear, he was a great guy," Korda said of Petrovic. "Unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet him or see him play, but I'm definitely grateful for what he did for everyone."

Korda said that she hopes to become a doctor some day. "I'm majoring in chemical engineering with the dream of becoming a doctor," Korda said. "Everyone takes the biology path to get to
medical school. That's old. I'm going this way. I can't wait to start school. It's going to be a big thrill." Korda vividly recalls coming to the United States six years ago. "I was excited, nervous, anxious, all of that," Korda said. "My family came here out of the blue. We didn't have family here. They came here to give me and my sister [Tjasa, a student at St. Peter's College] a better education." And is she appreciative?

"You don't have to remind me," Korda said. "My parents tell me every day that they came to this country for me. But I'm happy we did."

ŠThe Hudson Reporter 2004

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12740640&BRD=1291&PAG=461&dept_id=523591&rfi=6

 

Mariachi festival to be held next month in Guadalajara

Canadian Press
August 19, 2004

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) - The unmistakable blend of trumpets, guitars, violins and the human voice will fill Guadalajara when the annual International Mariachi and Charro Festival takes place Sept. 2 to 12.

Considered the city's most important cultural festival of the year, the event features a series of gala dinners, rodeo shows, concerts, music workshops and art exhibits. Two million spectators are expected. And the mariachi groups -more than 50 in all -come not just from Mexico, but from as far away as Japan,Croatia and Italy. The foreign groups all use traditional mariachi instruments -which include the Mexican folk harp -and they sing in Spanish. But they don't always know the meanings of the words.

All the musicians will take part in the grand parade held on Sept. 4 through the city streets.

Traditionally, mariachi music celebrates both joy and sorrow -weddings and birthdays as well as funerals and holidays. The charros -Mexican cowboys -will compete in a rodeo wearing traditional dress.

For more information on the festival, visit www.mariachi-jalisco.com.mx.

Š The Canadian Press 2004
http://www.canada.com/travel/story.html?id=bbb3e0da-2729-40b9-bd3e-c0c1fae0853c

Croatian Minister Visits Portfolio Committee
BuaNews (Pretoria)

August 17, 2004
Posted to the web August 17, 2004

Karen Pretorius
Cape Town

Croatian Foreign Affairs Minister Miomir Zuzul today paid a special visit to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs to discuss possible future cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries.

Dr Zuzul told the portfolio committee that his country wished to deepen bilateral relations with South Africa and another way of doing this would be through exchange projects in tourism since both countries were known for their abundant natural beauty.

"An exchange in tourism could be a way to promote both countries, our tourism is not in competition, in fact it is complimentary," the minister said. He explained that Croatia was a relatively small country with a population of 4.5 million and the number of South African tourists to that country has increased while a small but active Croatian community was found here. He applauded South Africa for its gains in the tourism sector and said his country would have to improve in this regard.

The Croatian minister explained that his visit to South Africa would reaffirm the good relations between the two countries who had so far signed various treaties and negotiations are underway for the signing of a 3-year Cultural Treaty.

"South Africa can act as access for Croatian business into the rest of Africa," Dr Zuzul said, adding the country also had a significant role to play in the United Nations, which he described as important and irreplaceable.

"There could be discussions on how to make [the United Nations] more efficient," minister Zuzul said as he lobbied for South Africa's support for Croatia to become a member of the UN Security Council for 2007/08. Dr Zuzul, who is on his first visit to the country, would also lead a delegation to the Summit of the Non Aligned Movement in Durban.

Copyright Š 2004 BuaNews.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200408170299.html
 

South Africa, Croatia sign trade agreement

Johannesburg, South Africa, 08/21 - South Africa and Croatia on Friday signed a trade agreement to facilitate business relations between companies in the two countries.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Pretoria, South Africa`s trade and industry minister Mandisi Mpahlwa described the trade agreement as a significant step towards strengthening bilateral trade relations between South Africa and Croatia.

Mpahlwa expressed the determination by the two countries to use the bilateral engagements to strengthen the multilateral trading system.

"The agreement broadly commits the two countries to raise the profile of South Africa-Croatia relations as well as to establish an inter-governmental committee on trade for the effective implementation of the agreement," Mpahlwa stated.

He said the two countries would grant Most Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment to each other in accordance with the principles contained in the World Trade Organisation agreement.

Meanwhile, the Croatian foreign minister, Miomir Zuzu, said his country and South Africa and Croatia were relatively newly established democracies with similar developmental challenges.

According to him, it is in these new economies where opportunities for growth are very high and the development of modern technologies is inevitable, as more and more of the multinational corporations relocate to their markets.

http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=275601
 

HRVATSKI VESLACI NA OI 2004 SINIŠA I NIKŠA SKELIN SREBRNI

Presretni Skelini

21.08.2004

Hrvatski veslaci braca Siniša i Nikša Skelin osvojili su srebrnu medalju u dvojcu bez kormilara na Olimpijskim igrama u Ateni.

Hrvatska posada je na svim prolazima, na 500, 1.000 i 1.500 metara, bila druga. Na prolazu na 500 metara najbliži pratitelji bili su im Nijemci, na polovici staze prijetila im je posada Srbije i Crne Gore, a nakon 1.500 metara bilo je jasno da ce o medaljama odlucivati vodeci Australci, te hrvatska i južnoafricka posada. Južnoafrikanci, koji su poznati po odlicnom finišu, vodili su sa Skelinima do kraja utrke veliku borbu za srebro. No, hrvatska je posada uspjela odbiti sve njihove napade.

Na kraju zlato je pripalo svjetskim prvacima Australcima Ginnu i Tomkinsu. Braca Skelin osvojila su srebro, zaostavši za njima sekundu i 88 stotinki. Bronca odlazi u Južnoafricku Republiku, koja je za 76 stotinki bila sporija od hrvatske posade.

Braci Skelin je ovo druga olimpijska medalja, nakon što su u Sydneyu bili clanovi broncanog osmerca. Hrvatska se, pak, nakon bronce Nikolaja Pešalova, srebra Duje Draganje i bronce Ancica i Ljubicica, domogla cetvrte medalje.

Za ovo smo radili posljednje cetiri godine, rekao je Siniša i dodao: U startu smo izašli prvi, kao što smo i ocekivali, ali smo znali smo da ce nas Australci napasti i povesti. Mislili smo, ipak, da nam nece toliko pobjeci prije zadnjih 500 metara, kada smo dizali finiš. Nismo ih uspjeli stici, ali smo do kraja uspjeli kontrolirati Južnoafrikance, koji su bili iza nas.

Nikša je napomenuo da su utrku uspjeli odveslati kao što su se dogovorili, ali da su ocekivali da ce Australci, kojima je pripalo zlato, barem malo pasti u finišu.
Zadnjih 250 metara bilo mi je najteže u životu. Veslali smo kao što smo se dogovorili, nismo mijenjali taktiku. Ocekivali smo da ce Australci pasti barem malo u zadnjih 500 metara, no to se nije dogodilo. Znali smo da su Južnoafrikanci velika opasnost u zadnjih 500 metara, ali smo ih dobro kontrolirali. I do sada smo ih dobivali, tako da smo bili prilicno sigurni da nas nece iznenaditi u finišu.

MUŠKARCI, DVOJAC BEZ, FINALE:

1. Drew Ginn/James Tomkins (Aus) 6:30.76
2. Siniša Skelin/Nikša Skelin (Hrv) 6:32.64
3. Donovan Cech/Ramon Di Clemente (JAR) 6:33.40
4. Nathan Twaddle/George Bridgewater (NZL) 6:34.24
5. Nikola Stojic/Mladen Stegic (SCG) 6:39.74
6. Tobias Kuehne/Jan Herzog (Nje) 6:46.50

Croatia wins rowing silver
August 21, 2004 - 5:14PM


Email to a friend Printer format
Australian rowers Drew Ginn and James Tomkins won the men's pairs rowing gold medal at the Olympics. Both had been members of the Oarsome Foursome coxless four that won gold in Atlanta eight years ago.

The Australians, renowned for their long, elegant style, beat Croatia' Skelin brothers - Sinisa and Niksa - by half a length. South Africans Donovan Cech and Ramon di Clement finished in the bronze medal place.

G and T, as they are known, drew out a length lead by the 1,000 metres half-way mark and held on at the finish.

For Tomkins, 39, it was his third rowing gold medal after victory in Barcelona in 1992 in the original Oarsome Foursome. Ginn, 29, joined that crew for the next Olympics.

Tomkins also won bronze in Sydney 2000 in a scratch pairs crew after Ginn pulled out prior to the Games with a back injury.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/21/1092972815151.html?oneclick=true