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Danube Cycle Plans - CROATIAN CYCLING AMBASSADORS

09-01-2023

Professional rowers, a doctor, an actor, a journalist, a singer... they all discovered the multiple value of cycling and all included the bicycle in their everyday life. We bring you several stories of Croatian cycling ambassadors with the hope that their examples will encourage many others to accept cycling as a quality life change.

Cycling ambassadors, each in their personal and professional life, are people open to involvement in the processes of improving the position of cycling and active mobility in their own environment. The motivating stories of the Croatian cycling ambassadors will remain permanently available through short videos in which they testify about their own experience of riding a bicycle, not only as a means of transportation but also as a kind of influence on their lifestyle and long-term mobility routines.

 

VALENT AND MARTIN SINKOVIĆ - Olympic gold medallists in rowing

The Sinković brothers are the winners of a whole series of medals at top world sports competitions and are one of the most successful European and world tandems in the doubles rowing discipline. Totally dedicated to rowing, they give themselves equally in all areas of their life and work. Cycling is an inseparable part of their sports preparations, but also of their private life, because they cycle every day during training, and they often spend time with family members on bicycles.

 

NATKO BECK - radiologist, Ph.D. and TV host

"A doctor adored by the old and the young", Dr. Natko Beck, is known as an exceptionally high-quality physician. Thanks to his personal cheerfulness and positive spirit, he is always welcome at numerous social events, and over time he acquired the status of a very influential public figure or, as it is popularly said, Dr Natko became an influencer. As a recognized and respected physician whose goal is to preserve the health of the nation, he gladly accepted the honor of becoming a cycling ambassador to encourage many people to make a positive change in their lives by cycling themselves, because cycling is beneficial and healthy.

 

DUBRAVKO ŠIMENC - Olympic gold medallist in water polo

Dubravko Šimenc is one of the most trophy-winning Croatian water polo players, who reached his peak by winning Olympic gold and silver at two of the four Olympics, where he represented Croatia. Throughout his professional life, work and education, Dubravko is connected to the Croatian water polo sport, in which he still plays an important role in the preparation of the Croatian water polo national team, imparting to them the knowledge gained through many years of experience participating in top world competitions. From the earliest years of his life, Dubravko has been inextricably linked to bicycles and cycling, which he did not use exclusively as a means of maintaining sports fitness, but cycling is an integral part of his life, therefore he proudly accepted the honor and became the ambassador of cycling in Croatia.

 

MAJA SEVER - journalist

Maja is a well-known Croatian journalist and editor, born in Zagreb. In recent years, Maja has been engaged in the Information Media Service of Croatian Radio and Television, where she began her journalistic engagement in a children's program, while still a student, although her first professional engagement was reporting from the center of the war whirlwind, that was raging in the first half of the 1990s in Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite her "fiery" entry into journalism, Maja has maintained a positive spirit, cheerfulness and inclusiveness and is very socially engaged. A bicycle is one of her basic means of transportation in the narrow and wider city area, therefore she gladly accepted the appointment as a cycling ambassador, as a kind of recognition of her dedication and love for cycling, which will further encourage her to promote cycling, as a healthy, ecological and economical means of transport.

 

VEDRAN MLIKOTA - actor

Vedran is a well-known Croatian film, television and theatre actor from Zagvozd, who lives most of his life in Zagreb. During his rich career, Vedran founded a famous independent film festival in his hometown, which showed his love for his homeland, but also his desire for social engagement and contribution to society as a whole. Being appointed as a cycling ambassador for Vedran is a beautiful, but also responsible role that he will try to play in the best way possible, investing additional efforts in promoting cycling in society, especially among the young, but also the elderly because physical activity is half of health.

 

NEVENA RENDELI - journalist and TV host

Nevena is a well-known Croatian journalist and editor from Zagreb, known for her colourful travels throughout Croatia where she explores the wealth of Croatian cultural heritage, tourist and gastronomic offers. The likeable and charismatic journalist has enjoyed riding a bicycle since childhood, and even today the bicycle is an indispensable means of transportation for her to move around the wider city centre. Nevena is very socially engaged, therefore she gladly accepted the role of cycling ambassador and hopes that by her own example, she will encourage everyone around her to accept the bicycle as a practical and economical means of transport that, in addition to contributing to the preservation of the environment, greatly contributes to the improvement of the health of each individual and society as a whole.

 

List of Croatian cycling ambassadors

 

Programme co-funded by European Union funds (ERDF, IPA, ENI)