Plazma Youth Sports Games in Karlovac started the 28th season

The 28th season of Plazma Youth Sports Games began in Karlovac County with the competitive and educational program "Zero Waste - Be part of the game - Let's protect our planet."

At Banija Elementary School in Karlovac, the 28th season of Plazma Youth Sports Games began with the sports-educational program “Zero Waste—Be part of the game—Let’s protect our planet” as part of a campaign on environmental protection, waste sorting, and recycling.

As the largest amateur sports event in Europe, Plazma Youth Sports Games not only promotes healthy lifestyle habits through socializing and sports but also champions sustainable development. It recognizes the potential to influence children, young people, and communities throughout Croatia in adopting and improving sustainable practices to protect our environment.

“We started the new season of the Games with the Zero Waste campaign, and since we are also implementing a positive influence on new lifestyle habits among our participants in addition to the promotion of sports and a sporty lifestyle, we will conduct education throughout the season at all our competitions, in which more than 110,000 children and young people will participate this year,” said Tihomir Gudić, executive director of Plazma Youth Sports Games.

Zero Waste, a pioneering project, creatively educates young people through play and sports. Its actions are designed to be easily adopted and practiced in everyday life. The educational questionnaire encourages young people to identify the causes and solutions to sustainable development issues, fostering logical thinking. The practical part of the campaign, dedicated to waste sorting at the YSG training ground, further reinforces these lessons.

In Banija Elementary School, “Zero Waste” was also supported by the principal of the school, Antonija Milanović Mastelić, who wished the participants a fair competition. The children in Karlovac were most amused by the green YSG polygon, and students Korina Luić, Bruno Štedul, Mihael Petruša, and Sara Barić were the most skilled in dexterity and waste sorting.

The Croatian Association for Public Relations also recognized the creativity and innovation of the Plazma Youth Sports Games campaign. They were awarded the Silver Grand Prix in the Institutions, associations, and organizations category, the highest award.

During January, the Games will visit all counties in Croatia, and 30 “Zero Waste” events will be held. With this campaign, Coca-Cola wants to contribute to the most positive environmental impact and provide solutions to packaging challenges, per the multi-year project “World without waste”.

Plazma Youth Sports Games provide an opportunity for children of elementary and high school age to participate for free in top organized competitions in 10 sports from January to September. Applications are open for all sports disciplines: futsal, Coca-Cola Cup, HEP handball tournament, Kinder Joy tournament in street basketball, volleyball, and beach volleyball tournaments, FIDE tournament in chess, table tennis, Hrvatska pošta Cup in tennis, Telemach Sports Day). All individuals, all freely formed teams, lovers of a healthy lifestyle and socializing, and not only children who actively play sports, have the right to participate. Applications are open at: sportskeigremladih.com/hr.