President Milanović Meets with Leadership of Neretva River Boatmen Association, Accepts Invitation to This Year’s Ladja Marathon
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received today a delegation of the Neretva River Boatmen Association [Udruga lađara Neretve] composed of Association President Luka Oršulić, Secretary Luka Liković, Supervisory Board President Ante Šprlje and Supervisory Board member Božo Zadro.
The delegation of the Neretva River Boatmen Association informed the President of the Republic of the ongoing preparations for this year’s Ladja Marathon, which will be held on 12 August under the patronage of the President of the Republic. They thanked President Milanović for his patronage and invited him to attend the competition, which he accepted. The delegation emphasized at the meeting that the Ladja Marathon, which is to be held for the 26th time, has taken on a competitive character in all respects, as 33 autochthonous boats [ladja] and some 700 oarsmen will participate, with more than 50,000 spectators expected.
The meeting also discussed the new initiatives of the Neretva River Boatmen Association, including those in conjunction with the Association’s purchase of the ship “Istranka,” the only preserved authentic Austro-Hungarian navy ship that sailed the Adriatic Sea. The Association plans to restore it and return the vessel to its original condition. The ship would serve as an additional cultural and tourist attraction of the Neretva River Boatmen Association, while promoting Croatia as a country with a maritime tradition, which the Association considers particularly important.
President Milanović was accompanied at the meeting by the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas