CROATIAN FLAG RAISED IN SYDNEY OLYMPIC VILLAGE

SYDNEY, Sept 7 (Hina) - Croatia's flag was hoisted up the flagpole in the Olympic Village in Sydney at a ceremony on Thursday. The flag symbolises the participation of Croatian athletes in the greatest sporting event - the 2000 Olympic Games - that are gathering participants from some 200 countries.#L# Thursday's ceremony was attended by some of Croatian sportsmen and sportswomen who have come to Sydney to take part in the Games, members of the Croatian mission, Croatian Ambassador to Australia, Mladen Ibler, and other Croatian diplomats in that country. During the ceremony, Deputy Mayor of the Olympic Village, Sallyanne Attkinson, handed over the traditional Aboriginal sign of welcome - "the Message Stick" - to the head of the Croatian mission at the Games, Matija Ljubek. After the ceremony Ambassador Ibler toured the facilities and rooms given to the Croatian mission and athletes at the disposal while they are staying in the Village. Ibler wished much success to Croatian competitors, adding that both people in the homeland and particularly Australian Croats would watch their appearance at the forthcoming sporting event with enthusiasm. Ljubek thanked for the warm welcome and said the Australian Croats' support was very important for Croatian participants in the Games. (hina) ms