On the last day of the third edition of the Sunset Sports Media Festival, the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Tonči Glavina, presented the sports icon and the greatest coach in the history of American football, Bill Belichick, with a Croatian passport. This act not only celebrates the extraordinary sports achievements of Bill Belichick, but also emphasizes the connection between the Croatian, and the global sports scene. Presenting a Croatian passport to one of the most famous names in world sports further promotes our country as a destination that appreciates the values of sports and provides the best hospitality.
„Sunset Sports Media Festival is growing according to our plan; from the very beginning, our goal was to bring prominent figures of world sports to Croatia, and so far, we have achieved impressive success by bringing several Super Bowl winners, NBA champion and Champions League winners. But today I am especially proud to announce the arrival of one of the biggest names in the history of American sports. Bill Belichick not only brings an incredible sports career, but also an authentic connection with Croatia and an opportunity to promote the beauty and culture of our country.“ said multiple award-winning producer and creative director of CBS Sports and Sunset Sports Media Festival ambassador Pete Radovich.
After the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, awarded Bill Belichick with the Order of Danica Hrvatska that bears the image of Franjo Bučar, and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković presented him with a certificate of nationality, Bill Belichick continued his multi-day visit to Croatia in Zadar as the guest of honor of a three-day sports and media festival that gathered a number of athletes and experts from the world of sports, media and business that repeatedly exceeded all expectations. „I am very glad that I got the opportunity to be here at the Sunset Sports Media Festival and explore different parts of Croatia, meet political figures and feel the warmth of Croatia as the best host. Visiting my grandparents’ house in Draganići was a really special experience for me. I feel closely connected to this country and I am proud of my Croatian origin, so thank you for the opportunity.“ said the most decorated American football coach, Bill Belichick.
Bill Belichick likes to point out his Croatian origins whenever he gets the chance and often wore Croatian symbols with special pride at NFL games, therefore the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Kristjan Staničić awarded him a special recognition for his contribution to the promotion of Croatia during his professional career in United States of America.
With the incredible synergy of experts, the foundations for a new era of the sports media industry were created.
The program part of the third day of the Sunset Sports Media Festival began with the words of the Italian ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Paolo Trichila, who presented the panel The Power of Sports Diplomacy. The well-known TV reporter and writer Guillem Balague talked about the interplay between sport and diplomacy with Croatian volleyball icon and director of EU projects at HOO Maja Poljak, State Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Josip Pavić and football coach of FC Istria Paolo Tramezzani. The interlocutors shared their insights and agreed that sport is a great tool in promoting peace and tolerance; since ancient times, sport has broken down borders and softened rivalries, reaffirming its role as a key element of friendship and support. Huge potential of the digital ecosystem in sports lies in increasing audience engagement through interactive platforms, enabling a deeper connection between fans and sports organizations. Digital technologies open new revenue streams through online ads, sponsorships and e-commerce, enabling data collection and analysis to improve performance and personalize marketing. Thus, sports organizations can increase their global reach, adapt to the needs of the younger generations and provide unique virtual experiences. Sports journalist Anita Nekka Jones, head of the digital department at NBA Europe, Sharon Fuller, chief marketing officer at AC Milan Tania Moreno, digital marketing director Stefano Pallard and digital innovation expert at GNK Dinamo Mate Naletilić discussed this very topic at the Digital Boom panel where they have revealed examples of good practice and the key role of digital media in engaging audiences and raising brand awareness. On an interesting panel about the predictions for the reach of artificial intelligence The Future of Sports Journalism, presenter and journalist at Caze TV Isabela Pagliari, popular writer Guillem Balague, journalist and official host of the Champions League Eva Murati and HRT journalist Marko Šapit spoke, who agreed that AI is important for the future of sports, but it will probably never be able to replace the personality and emotions of journalists. You can find out more about all the lectures and the fantastic festival atmosphere on the Facebook and Instagram profiles of the Festival.
