Adelaide will be alive with a rich selection of Croatian sporting and cultural events during the period September and November 2009. The 35th Annual Croatian Soccer Tournament will be held on the October long weekend (2nd-5th October), and the annual Croatian Food and Wine Festival, known as "Festa" on Saturday 28th November 2009.

These major events are interspersed with the Croatian World Games "Australian Qualifying Tournaments," which will be held in Adelaide over three weekends beginning with Tennis (September 26th-27th), Basketball, Soccer, Swimming, Water Polo, Volleyball (October 10th-11th) and Bocce, Beach Volleyball, Handball, Rugby 7's, and Table Tennis (31st October - 1st November).

The 35th Annual Australian Croatian Soccer Tournament will attract approximately 40 teams from around Australia, involving approximately 1200 players, support staff and supporters. A highlight of this tournament will be the Gala Ball, which will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Saturday 4th October 2009.

The increasingly popular annual Croatian "Festa" last year attracted crowds of between 4,000 - 5,000 persons, and is now a major event on the South Australian calander.

In 2006 between 35-40 players represented Australia at the inaugural Croatian World Games in Zadar, Croatia. Many players only met each other for the first time, the day before the actual Games began in Zadar. Despite these constraints, the Australian team aquitted themselves well winning several silver and bronze medals.

Today we have an opportunity to select a strong "Team Australia" contingent of up to a possble 200 players, to compete for gold, silver and bronze at the 2010 Croatian World Games in Zadar. The Qualifying Tournaments in Adelaide are important not only for the selection process, but also provide an opportunity for selected players, coaches and managers to meet with each other and develop friendships, at least seven months before the Games begin. This will provide opportunities for teams, squads, and support to meet again to train as teams in preparation for the July 2010 Games in Zadar.

Come to Adelaide later this year and support the Croatian Australian Community in celebrating Croatian soccer prowess, feasting and enjoying Croatian food, wine and culture, as well establishing a strong Croatian Australian representation for the 2010 Croatian World Games.

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