Croatia’s Prime Minister hosts CEV President, acknowledges Roko Sikirić’s mission to usher in a new era for European Volleyball

On Thursday, Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković hosted CEV President Roko Sikirić for a high-profile meeting where he congratulated his compatriot on his recent election to the leadership of the European Volleyball family for the next four years. This represents a truly historic milestone for Croatia, which makes a whole nation proud, as Mr Plenković emphasised that Mr Sikirić is the first person from his native country to hold such a position in a European sports governing body. Moreover, in his current role and capacity, Mr Sikirić is also the youngest such leader across all sports in Europe.

Mr Plenković did also share the full commitment of his government to support the growth of Volleyball in Croatia as well as the delivery of major international Volleyball events in the country, with discussions revolving around Croatia’s interest in the organisation of CEV EuroVolley Men in 2028. This is an ambition that the Prime Minister shares with the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sport, represented at the meeting by Minister Tonči Glavina, as well as with the Croatian Volleyball Federation, whose highest authorities - President Frane Zanić and Director Valentina Bifflin - were in attendance as well. 

“I feel honoured and privileged that the Prime Minister did take so much of his time to meet with our delegation and to acknowledge the relevance of my election for the whole country. I feel extremely committed and energised to pursue, together with the other members of the CEV leadership, the ushering of a new era for European Volleyball,” the CEV President commented. “I look forward to continuing our cooperation with Croatia’s highest authorities and to having more of such productive meetings with governments of other countries as well for the good of European Volleyball as a whole.”