Wadaiko Yamato is a Japanese musical group of taiko drummers founded in 1993 by Masa Ogawa. In Japanese, the word “wadaiko” translates as “Japanese drum” and “Yamato” was the former name of the city of Nara, the group’s birthplace.

The world-famous Japanese Yamato drummers will hold a concert at Dom Sportova Sports Hall on March 19th, conveying the rhythm and energy of ancient Japan to the Croatian audience in an exciting two-hour long show.

The story of taiko drums has roots in the ancient history of Japan. At the first sounding of these drums, people would stop working and follow the drummers, celebrating the joy of life. This is how, several centuries ago, the Matsuri Festival came to exist, which is nowadays concerned with the preservation of traditional, ancient percussion music.

Zagreb’s Dom Sportova Sport Hall is preparing a real treat for June 5th – a concert held by the legendary band, Deep Purple, which is fronted by one of the greatest vocals in history of rock: Ian Gillan. It will not be the first time that Deep Purple will perform in Croatia; the band previously visited Zagreb in 2003 and, exactly 3 years ago, they brought Split’s Gripe Hall to full capacity.

Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members have tried not to categorize themselves as any one genre. The band also incorporated classical music, blues-rock, pop and progressive rock elements. They were once listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s loudest band, and have sold over 100 million albums worldwide. Deep Purple were ranked #22 on VH1’s Greatest Artists of Hard Rock programme.

Oumou Sangaré is considered an ambassador of Wassoulou (historic region in southwest Mali, northeast Guinea in Africa). Her music has been inspired by the music and traditional dances of the region. She writes and composes her songs, which forcefully support social criticism, especially concerning the place of women and their low position in society.

Since 1990, she has performed at some of the most important venues in the world: the Melbourne Opera, Roskilde festival, festival d’Essaouira, Opéra de la monnaie of Brussels.

Many of Sangaré’s songs concern love and marriage, especially freedom of choice in marriage.

Ticket price: 140 /160 / 180 kn

The festival began at 2005 and every year the big names of jazz music are performing on this festival. Following artists were already performing on the Zagreb Jazz Festival: Ron Carter Foursight, Jack Dejohnette Quartet, World Saxophone Quartet, Archie Shepp Quartet, Joe Lovano Nonet, James Blood Ulmer And Memphis Blood Blues Band feat.Vernon Reid, The Pee Wee Ellis Assembly, Wayne Shorter Quartet, Chick Corea And Bela Fleck, The Joshua Redman Trio, Ornette Coleman 3 Bass Quintet, Matija Dedić Trio, Roy Haynes Quartet, Dave Holland Quintet, Kurt Elling Quartet, Brad Mehldau Trio.

Sonny Rollins is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of the post-bebop era, Rollins’ long, prolific career began at the age of 11, and he was playing with piano legend Thelonious Monk before reaching the age of 20. A number of his compositions, including “St. Thomas”, “Oleo” and “Airegin”, have become jazz standards.

Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque. His brothers Jason Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Delfeayo Marsalis, and father Ellis Marsalis, Jr. are also jazz musicians.

Terence Blanchard is a jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and Golden Globe-nominated film score composer. Since he emerged on the scene in 1980 with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and then shortly thereafter with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Blanchard has been a leading artist in jazz. He was an integral figure in the 1980s jazz resurgence having recorded several award-winning albums and having performed with the jazz elite. He is known as a straight-ahead artist in the hard bop tradition but has recently utilized an African-fusion style of playing that makes him unique from other trumpeters on the performance circuit.

Since last year Vip Zagreb Jazz Festival is part of the International multicultural project: Autumn in Zagreb - Yes Zgb.

5. 11. 2009.
Sonny Rollins Sextet
Concert Hall “Vatroslav Lisinski”, 19.30h
Ticket price: 300 / 250 / 200 kn

6. 11. 2009.
Branford Marsallis Quartet
Student Center Cinema, 19.30h
Ticket price: 200 / 150 kn

7. 11. 2009.
Terence Blanchard Quintet
Student Center Cinema, 19.30h
Ticket price: 200 / 150 kn

In seven days of this year’s festival, around 60 world-renowned musicians will perform on stage.
Performances include the Lydia Lunch’s Big Sexy Noise (USA/England), Matt Darriau’s Paradox Trio (USA/Bulgaria), Kazutoki Umezu ‘kiki’ band (Japan), Gala Drop (Portugal) and many others.

Of course, there is an unavoidable traditional jazz improvisation workshops, led by NY free-jazz wizard and one of the greatest pianists of today, Matthew Ship.

You can also see the latest project of Damir Bartol Indoša and Tanja Vrvilo: Anarhizam i shizofonija.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Dirty old shop and Theater &TD. Price for daily ticket can vary from 45 to 80 kn.

Dom sportova/Zagreb Sports Hall

Trg Kresimira Cosica  Zagreb

On the 10th World Synchronized Skating Championship , which will be from 1 to 5 April 2009 in Croatian capital, Zagreb - Dom sportova Arena,  23 teams will participate with 460 skater from 18 countries.

After 2004 it will be the second World Synchronized Skating Championship which is organized in Zagreb. The city is hosting also several other  top sporting events like “Snow Queen” at Sljeme, the World Championship in handball and ATP tennis tournament.

Ticket prices:

Tickets pre-sale has start in December 2008. You can now book tickets for both days (Short and Free), and only Section A is available in the pre-sale.

Group tickets (40+) means minimum 40 tickets for one day. There is no All-Event ticket. More information about ticket reservation you can find on the official website.

Official site: ISU 10th World Synchronized Skating Championships

21st World Handball Championship (for men’s) in 2009 will take place in Croatia. 7 Croatian city’s will host the World Cup, 3 of them are in the continental part of the country (Zagreb, Varazdin, Osijek) and 4 on the coast (Porec, Pula, Zadar and Split).

The opening will take place today in Split with Croatia versus Korea at 20:30.

The price of tickets for the preliminary group in Osijek, Porec, Split and Varazdin are 150 kuna. The same amount can is for the second round matches that are played in Zadar, while the main group tickets in Zagreb cost 200 kuna.

Semifinal match in Split costs 150 kuna, the second semifinal game is played in Zagreb, and tickets for this match are 300 kuna.

Final meeting and the game for the third place is on 01 February in Zagreb and the ticket cost 350 kuna.

Final Round

Main Round

Group I

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GDIF	Points
Croatia	5	5	0	0	137	118	+19	10
France	5	4	0	1	139	112	+27	8
Hungary	5	2	1	2	127	135	-8	5
Sweden	5	2	0	3	135	140	-5	4
Slovakia	5	1	1	3	124	137	-13	3
South Korea	5	0	0	5	119	139	-20	0

Group II

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GDIF	Points
Denmark	5	4	0	1	156	145	+11	8
Poland	5	3	0	2	150	141	+9	6
Germany	5	2	1	2	147	133	+14	5
Serbia	5	2	1	2	153	161	-8	5
Norway	5	2	0	3	138	141	-3	4
Macedonia	5	1	0	4	132	155	-23	2

Preliminary round

Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D
France Hungary Slovakia Romania Argentina Australia	Croatia Sweden Spain South Korea Kuwait Cuba	Germany Poland FYR Macedonia Russia Tunisia Algeria	Denmark Norway Egypt Brazil Serbia Saudi Arabia

Preliminary Round Timetable

All times are Central European Time (UTC+1)

Game results and reviews

January 16, 2009

Croatia v South Korea - (27:26)

Croatian handball team began the race in the World Championship in a difficult game for them. The  27:26 result gave victory against South Korea. The hit of captain Petar Metlicic decided the game 65 seconds before the end.

Statistics:

January 17, 2009

Poland v Algeria - (39:22)

Outcome for this game was expected to be like it is. Polish team came to this world championship with huge ambitions. Polish head coach Bogdan Wenta said: “We are here to defend the world silver. Although the team has suffered some changes since then, the appetites are still large, but the first objective is to pass the group.”

Norway v Saudi Arabia - (39:23)

Norway as predicted easily won against Saudi Arabia  in the first match of group D .

Spain v Kuwait - (47:17)

Spain team did not let any surprise to come, they won against Kuwait with 30 goals difference. Spain had 4 minutes of exclusion of their players and Kuwait had in total 6 minutes of exclusion.  Spanish goalkeeper David Barrufet saved 8 shots.

Slovakia v Argentina - (27:25)

Slovakia hardly won against Argentina. Slovakian coach Zoltan Heister said that Argentina is an great team and very aggressive in defense.  He also has admitted that Slovakia was quiet passive in defense and in attacking.

Germany v Russia - (26:26)

Current world champions Germany could not win against strong Russian team. The match was tough for both, with lot exclusions on both sides. The game was uncertain to the end, in 47th minute Germany had 4 goals advantage, but 30 seconds to the end Russia equaled to 26:26.  Germany missed their last attack and with it also the chance to end the game in their favor.

Sweden v Cuba - (41:14)

Cuba, as expected lost against Sweden. Cuban team had only 4 minutes of exclusion and Swedes 12 minutes. Swedish goalkeeper Sjöstrand (10 defense) and Sandström (9 defense) together have saved 19 shots. From Cuban team Randy Diaz de Armas has showed the most scoring 5 goals.

Egypt v Serbia - (22:30)

Egypt was playing good in first 30 minutes and the 1st half of the game ended with 12:12. After that Serbia came back to the game and ended the match with 8 goals difference in their favor. Serbian goalkeeper Dimitrij Pejanovic saved 17 shots. Best Egypt shooter with 8 shots was Ahmed El Ahmar. Best Serbian shooter was Aleksandar Stojanovic.

Denmark v Brazil - (40:27)

Denmark also did not had any problems to beat Brazil 40:27 (19:12). Implacable Lars Christiansen showed his experience scoring eight goals from nine shots. At Brazil team, which is much better in football,  Edinaldo Silva highlighted with 6 goals.

Macedonia v Tunisia (24:25)

In Varazdin in front of 4500 spectators, of which many were the Macedonian supporters, Tunisia won with  25-24 (13-14).

Ile Temelkovski said: ‘I’m sorry that we have lost the game, but congratulations on the triumph of Tunisia. We played two different halftimes, the first in which we had a good result, and then we thought that the game is solved. The another halftime was followed by mistaked, and after that defeat. Life goes further, in the next four matches we will try to achieve a better result “…

Hungary v Australia - (41:17)

France v Romania - (31:21)

Related links:

Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org

Official site - www.croatia2009.com

International Handball Federation - www.ihf.info

1.4.2009. - 5.4.2009.

Avenija Dubrovnik 15, Zagreb - Zagreb Fair

Crotour is International Fair of Tourism which take place in Croatia capital - Zagreb. The exhibition is rich and is an important marketing tool for the comprehensive presentation of tourist destinations and services. At the same time, participation in Crotour makes it possibele to acquire and develop new ideas in the tourism.

The Crotour Fair gives global market access and targeted marketing, with plenty of information for both visitors and exhibitors.

Avenija Dubrovnik 15, Zagreb

18 - 22 February 2009

In 17 years of its existence Boat & Sport Show has proved once again that it is an unavoidable event for all producers and their representatives in sport and sailing business.
This is the leading fair in sport-nautical industry in the countries of Southeast Europe.

The Fair will have more broad programe and new thematic units, compared to previous years. Leading world and domestic companies will present new products from the world of sports and nautic, and show in which direction this industry is walking nowdays.
PROGRAM

Sports

* Sports equipment
* Sports shoes and clothing
* Shoes and clothing for free time
* The construction and equipping of sports facilities and courts
* Supplies and equipment for camping
* Weapons, accessories, clothing and shoes for hunting and fishing
* Services in sport
* Sports medicine
* Sport nutrition

Nautics

* Various tipes of vessels - yachts, speedboats, sailing boats…
* Boat engines
* Sails, spar and equipment for the vessel
* Equipment for water sports
* Marinas, marine equipment
* Equipment for diving, underwater fishing and hunting
* Clothing and footwear for boaters
* Nautical tourism
* Charter services, sailing and diving

Official site - Zageb Fair

International Federation of Boat Show Organisors

Zagrebački Velesajam / Zagreb Fair

Avenija Dubrovnik 15, Zagreb

18.12. - 28.12.

This fair offers the greatest amusement park in whole Croatia. So if you will be during this period in Zagreb and you do not know where to go, for sure you have to visit Zagreb Xmas Fair and enter the land of Santa Clause, fairy tales world , dreams, entertainment, Candyland and magic!