Popolana
Traditional recreational sports event comprising a variety of outdoor competitions held in the main town square with sponsored prizes
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Thanks to its rich program, the ninth edition of Popolana, a sporting, recreational, entertainment, musical and charity event, once again gathered a record number of participants at the streets and squares of Rovinj
POPOLANA
From Sports on Streets and Squares to Nature and Tourism
April 24/25/26, 2015
Trg m. Tita, Rovinj - Rovigno
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Entire Rovinj Got to its Feet Dancing, Exercising and Doing Charity Work
Thanks to its rich program, the ninth edition of Popolana, a sporting, recreational, entertainment, musical and charity event, once again gathered a record number of participants at the streets and squares of Rovinj. A hundred volunteers contributed to the success of the event, and the number of participants, reaching as many as two thousand, astounded the organizers - Rovinj Sports Federation, Tourist Board of the Town of Rovinj and Maistra Tourism Company.
The fact that Popolana is the most significant sporting and cultural spring event in this area was quite vividly confirmed by the success of its 9th edition. On this occasion, the people of Rovinj and the continuously increasing number of participants in the tournaments, who come not only from Istria but from Europe as well, also remember their less fortunate fellow citizens. Year after year, the proceeds from the sale of t-shirts with the event logo and handiwork are distributed to those in dire need of financial aid. This year's joyful and likeable event logo printed on the t-shirts was designed by Marija Čurčić, a fine artist, while the Tourist Board sponsored the production of the said t-shirts. Throughout the three-day event, these attractive t-shirts were sold at the symbolic price of HRK 25. A total of HRK 28,000 was raised in the charity campaign. The raised funds will be delivered to the address of the Association of Persons with Disabilities and used to cover the treatment of two boys from Rovinj.
The locals, both young and old, showed already on the first day of this three-day event that they truly love Popolana. More precisely, the children from town kindergartens and primary and secondary schools crowded the main town square, and the women of the golden generation, members of the Pensioners' Association, worked diligently at the charity stands inviting the passers-by to join the charity campaign. The event was also enriched by the Rovinj Majorettes and the Rovinj Brass Band.
The second day of Popolana was filled with melody and song, while the last day of the event was marked by sporting events. As far as sport results are concerned, the fishing competition results got most of the attention because, as it can be expected from a seaside tale, the entire catch was used to prepare delicious bites handed out to the citizens for free. In the spear-fishing category, the best results were achieved by Branko Ikić, while Danijel Karlović and Mario Dodić came second and third. The best team was the Rovinj team composed of members of the Meduza Underwater Activities Club. Anglers Martin Žgomba and Željko Velić recorded the richest catches fishing from the shore. At the same time, the main town square resounded with good music performed by two distinguished Rovinj musicians, namely Sergio Preden Gato and Riccardo Bosazzi and his quintet. The evening started with the first night race in the length of 15 km. Fifty-one persons participated in the run. Sebastian Žarnik from Slovenia recorded the best result winning first place.
Sunday was a day in the fast lane. It started with as many as three races – Rovinj half-marathon won by Hungarians Tomas Nagi (men) and Katlin Garani (women), a 5 km race won by Christian Galo from Pula and a 1 km race won by Zvonimir Kancelir from Rovinj. Seventeen other tournaments and competitions were organized at various locations across the town, but the most spectacular moment was when all the people gathered on the waterfront got to their feet and started dancing. More precisely, the Roxanne Gymnastics Club used this occasion to mark the World Dance Day. As many as four hundred members of the said club started dancing in an outdoor dance workshop at Marshall Tito Square. Thus, Rovinj and its 9th Popolana event, traditionally held under the motto: With Sports from Streets and Squares to Nature and Tourism, joined the celebration of the World Movement and Dance Day.
