30 YEARS OF THE GAMES: OFFICIAL CEREMONY AT THE CROATIAN NATIONAL THEATRE SPLIT (FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST)
The official ceremony celebrating the 30th season of the Plazma Youth Sports Games will be held at the Croatian National Theatre Split.
During the ceremony, Goran Ivanišević, legendary Croatian tennis player and coach, Ana Ivanović, former world-renowned tennis champion, and Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, will be officially announced as new Ambassadors of the Plazma Youth Sports Games.
The occasion will also honour individuals whose dedication and support over the years have helped the Games grow from a single idea into a project that has reached millions of children. Alongside promoting sport, friendship and fair play, the mission of the Games is to encourage children to spend less time in front of screens and develop healthy lifelong habits.
The Games expanded from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina 16 years ago, followed by Serbia, Slovenia, and, from this year, North Macedonia, continuing to unite children across the region through sport.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS – 20 & 21 AUGUST
Thursday, 20 AugustThe All-Star Day programme on Split's Riva begins with a simultaneous chess exhibition, where the best young chess players from the five member countries of the Games will take on renowned English chess Grandmaster Nigel Short.
The programme continues with the Sprite 3x3 Cup International Finals in both the boys' and girls' categories, featuring the best young basketball teams from the participating countries.
At 9:00 p.m., the Official Closing Ceremony of the International Finals will take place on the Riva. The symbolic extinguishing of the Games flame will mark the end of another unforgettable season. Visitors can look forward to musical and stage performances, as well as a spectacular drone show lighting up the sky above Split.
The evening will conclude with a concert by Crvena Jabuka, a gift to the City of Split and all participants of the International Finals.
Friday, 21 August
Alongside the All-Star exhibition football match at Prokurative (Republic Square), visitors will have the opportunity to take part in the interactive quiz "Become a Green SIM Ambassador", hosted by Croatia's well-known quizmaster and enigmatist Dean Kotiga.
The quiz is part of the "Zero Waste – Be Part of the Game – Save Our Planet" project, which the Plazma Youth Sports Games have been implementing for the fifth consecutive year in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company and its global "World Without Waste" initiative.
The celebrations will also bring together Games Ambassadors, world-renowned athletes and distinguished guests, including Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Goran Ivanišević, Luís Figo, Alastair Campbell, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Oleksandr Usyk, Ana Ivanović, Željko Obradović, Slaven Bilić, Ettore Messina, Predrag Mijatović, Nemanja Vidić, Aleksandar Kolarov, Šime Vrsaljko, Goran Dragić, Darijo Srna, Nemanja Matić, Dino Rađa, Nikola Karabatić, Marcel Desailly, Aitor Karanka, Mario Stanić, Christian Karembeu, Ivana Španović, Fernando Hierro, Radoslav Nesterović, Aljoša Asanović, and many others.
SCHEDULE:
| Event | Date and Time (CET) | Venue |
| Coca-Cola Cup — Football Final (M & W) | Wednesday, 19 Aug | 20:00 – 22:00 | FESB, Split |
| Chess Simultaneous Exhibition | Thursday, 20 Aug | 19:00 – 19:30 | Riva, Split (VIP area) |
| Sprite Cup — 3x3 Basketball Final (M & W) | Thursday, 20 Aug | 20:00 – 20:45 | Riva, Split |
| Closing Ceremony — 30th Season | Thursday, 20 Aug | 21:00 – 22:00 | Riva, Split (main stage) |
| Ambassador Inauguration Ceremony | Friday, 21 Aug | 12:00 – 13:00 | Croatian National Theatre (HNK), Split |
| Zero Waste Quiz — Become a Green Ambassador | Friday, 21 Aug | 19:30 – 20:30 | Prokurative, Split |
| All-Star Match | Friday, 21 Aug | 21:00 – 22:00 | Prokurative, Split |