After attracting renowned names in recent years such as Darijo Srna, Mario Ančić, Matt Barnes, Stephen Jackson, Stephen Espinoza, and Miško Ražnatović, this year’s third edition of the Sunset Sports Media Festival in Zadar is bringing new globally recognized stars. Celebrated Italian footballer, now a popular commentator for Italian TV networks and CBS/Paramount+, Alessandro Del Piero will be the honorary guest of the third edition of the Sunset Sports Media Festival in June. In an exclusive 1:1 interview, Del Piero will share everything about his professional football career and his transition from football to media. Alongside him, Guillem Balague will also share his secrets in Zadar, an award-winning author of biographies of the greatest footballers such as Messi, Ronaldo, and Maradona. For all sports enthusiasts, organizers have prepared numerous surprises, already announcing the attendance of Ivica Kostelić and celebrated tennis player Bojana Jovanović. From June 6th to 8th, all visitors will have a unique opportunity in Zadar to meet numerous sports and media stars and learn firsthand what motivates them, as well as discover the latest trends in the world of sports and business.
Zadar will once again be the center of gathering for the biggest names from the world of sports and media this year. “As always, I am confident that with top-notch organization and synergy among various experts, the magic of Croatia will be successfully transmitted onto the world stage. Guests recognize the importance of such an event and its unique atmosphere, which is one of the reasons why the festival is rapidly growing year after year. In collaboration with our main strategic partners from Sofascore, we aim to become the most relevant conference of its kind in the world and continue to spread the story of Croatia as an essential sports destination,” stated Damjan Rudež, director of the Sunset Sports Media Festival and celebrated NBA star.
Renowned experts on panels covering diverse topics
The rich program of the three-day festival will offer numerous highlights. With extraordinary storytelling talent and a brilliant ability to establish trust, Guillem Balague, a prominent writer and television journalist with CBS Sports, has become renowned as the author of exclusive autobiographies for global sports icons such as Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola, and Diego Maradona. In the lecture ‘The Storyteller,’ alongside TNT Brasil reporter Fred Caldeiro, Balague will reveal the secrets behind the art of storytelling about the lives and careers of the greatest names in the world of sports. The participants will get to know the interesting things about creating incredible autobiographical works and achieving the status of the best-selling international sports author, so this is an opportunity for everyone interested to immerse themselves in the world of sports legends through the eyes of this excellent author.
Sports giant Ivica Kostelić will share his rich experiences of conquering sports arenas with Damjan Rudež and all attendees, shedding light on the secrets behind his documentary film. At the panel “The Game Behind the Game,” visitors will have the opportunity to learn firsthand what troubles NBA stars and who stands behind their successful careers in the NBA from Matteo Zuretti, responsible for international relations and marketing at the NBA Players Association, and Boštjan Nachbar, director of the Euroleague Players Association. This year, Zadar is also going to be a destination for Mezna Amarzaooqi, the general director of the Leadership Development Institute at the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sports, Dino Ruta, head of sports management at Bocconi, and Jeffrey Gertrulla, the man behind the production of the most-watched TV spectacle in the world – the Super Bowl. It’s well known how sports has always been a powerful tool used in diplomacy worldwide, and an experienced panel consisting of Michele Ciccarese, Director of Marketing and Strategy at Serie A, Maja Poljak, volleyball player and EU funds coordinator at the Croatian Olympic Committee, and Josip Pavić, State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, will share their perspectives on how sports and politics collaborate in overcoming all boundaries at the panel “Athletico Diplomatico“.
Inspirational stories, experiences, networking, and knowledge sharing in the city with the most beautiful sunset in the world will be accompanied by an exciting and diverse entertainment program, which rightfully positions the Sunset Sports Media Festival as an unmissable destination for all sports and media industry enthusiasts. Stay updated with all the latest news on our Facebook and Instagram profiles and make sure to secure your tickets on time.
