The year 2024 has brought a lot for the Croatian Academic Sports Federation, and one of the most important projects is the volunteer and leadership academy, better known as UniSport ViLA. The goal of this academy is to educate young people about career opportunities in sport and sports management, as well as to encourage the growth of volunteers in sport.
ViLA is a place where organizers and volunteers meet, where everyone can learn, share experiences, and develop their skills. This year, the theoretical part was held online in March and April, while the highlight was experienced at the national finale UniSport Finals in Poreč, with 1300 participants, competitions in 12 sports, the scientific conference “4HAS,” and nearly 50 volunteers who helped organize the event.
Summary of Online Lectures
Ivana Aničić opened the academy with an introductory greeting, proudly noting that this year’s edition attracted 100 new applicants.
Haris Pavletić, president of the Croatian Academic Sports Federation, spoke about the work and effort devoted to UniSport over 30 years of its existence. He mentioned projects such as UniSport Finals, the International Regatta of St. Duje, the UniSport Heart Foundation, among many others.
Albina Rakhmatullina introduced the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and the opportunities for involving FISU Ambassadors in projects. She emphasized the importance of participating in the FISU Volunteer Academy.
Andrej Pišl, communications and project manager at EUSA, presented the work of the European University Sports Association. He highlighted the internship and volunteer programs offered by EUSA.
Marko Erak, team manager of the Croatian Water Polo Federation, spoke about organizing the European Water Polo Championship in only 29 days. He stressed the importance of focusing on the big picture and delegating tasks efficiently.
Katarzyna Bujas, a marketing student, shared her experiences in volunteer management. She emphasized the importance of taking care of volunteers and promoting events.
Klea Taipllari, secretary-general of the Albanian University Sports Federation, told how she went from being a volunteer to the youngest secretary in FISU. She inspired many young people, especially women, to explore the sports industry.
Dario Marčac, one of the most followed TikTokers in the region, talked about the importance of social media for sports organizations. He shared tips on how to connect emotions with a brand and increase visibility on social networks.
Dražen Maleš and Fran Peterlin concluded the academy with topics on media in sport and building a personal brand. Their lectures provided useful guidance on how to stand out in sports management and communications.
At the last online meeting, Anja Gelo provided key information about volunteering and upcoming events, including UniSport Finals and the FISU Forum in Zagreb.
Volunteering at the Finals
After several online trainings and practical tasks, volunteers faced the key moment — traveling to Poreč and participating in the biggest sports event of the Croatian Academic Sports Federation, UniSport Finals 2024. Teamwork, creativity, innovation, responsibility, the beauty of sport, and fair play were just some of the values volunteers embraced, with the ultimate goal of building a national volunteer community eager to return to such events.
Nearly 50 volunteers, mostly young people aged between 18 and 22, and mostly female, participated in the competition. They were divided into several teams and assigned various project roles, including sports, medal ceremonies, accreditation preparation, media, and organizing the 4HAS conference. Together, they accumulated an impressive number of volunteer hours — as much as 1500!
At the end of the project, a survey on satisfaction with the volunteer program was conducted, where 100% of respondents highlighted their satisfaction with team communication, support from leaders, and the opportunity to influence the organization. All participants said they would recommend participation in the program to a friend.
The dedication, energy, and team spirit of these young people played a key role in the success of a large competition like UniSport Finals. Without this small but select team, and their kindness, selflessness, and passion, nothing would have been possible — this applies both to the Croatian Academic Sports Federation and many other future organizations and events in which they will be involved. Their willingness and desire to help is an inspiration to all of us, and their smiles and gestures made Poreč a better place.
New Opportunities on the Horizon
The conclusion of this year’s UniSport ViLA marked success and great interest among young people in volunteering and a career in sport and showed how young people can significantly contribute to sports events through volunteering and leadership. With enthusiasm, we look forward to future editions of ViLA and new volunteering opportunities already this year.
Three new events of the Croatian Academic Sports Federation are on the horizon, and we invite you to join us at:
- FISU World University Cheerleading Championship in Split
- FISU World Forum in Zagreb
- EUSA European University Rowing Championship in Zagreb
The International University Sports Federation as a Guiding Star
HASS’s academy follows the guiding principles of the FISU Students Ambassadors and Volunteers & Leadership Academy (FVLA), in which HASS and Croatian representatives have participated annually since its inception in 2017. Ivana Aničić, Anja Gelo, Zrinka Tabain, Ema Đurić, Zrinka Vuković, Helena Herc, and Ivana Prkić have completed the FISU program over the past six years. This year we also have a representative — our volunteer Ana Berač, who successfully completed UniSport ViLA and volunteered at the Finals in Poreč.
Inspired by the international academy and based on experience running volunteer programs at more than twenty large international sports competitions, in 2022 a lot of work was done on preparing the national volunteer and leadership academy UniSport ViLA. We are proud to have successfully completed the second year of the project and look forward to continuing and working together.
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