engleski

Traditional Rural Sports and Games: Heritage Research and Development Planning – The Case of Croatia

The starting point for this paper is the fact that, although Croatia abounds in traditional rural sports and games (TRSG), they have neither been sufficiently researched as heritage nor put into service for development purposes. To show the abundance of this type of heritage in Croatia, the paper briefly discusses literature from the late 19th and early 20th century which describes TRSG and represents an important source for research and development planning today. The Old Sports Olympics, held in the village of Brođanci since 1974, is presented as an example of a TRSG event in Croatia, with the purpose of preserving heritage and putting it into service for tourism purposes. In conclusion, the paper suggests that, for development purposes, TRSG should be considered from several aspects, namely culture, tourism, agriculture, education, and sustainability. Despite the predominantly local character of this heritage, the paper suggests considering and registering TRSG and TRSG events at the national level as it allows for consideration of all of their challenges and potentials.

traditional rural sports and games, heritage research, sports tourism development, Croatia

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