CROATIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE BACKS RIJEKA'S MEDITERRANEAN GAMES BID

( Editorial: --> 2803 ) ZAGREB, March 27 (Hina) - The Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) has thrown its unreserved support behind Rijeka's bid for the 15th Mediterranean Games in 2005, but has asked the bid organisers to seek guarantees from the Croatian Government. This would show those deciding the 2005 host city that a Rijeka games would be organised in the best possible way, Committee president Antun Vrdoljak told a HOO Council meeting on Friday. Vrdoljak, an International Olympic Committee member, expressed his belief that Rijeka, with the support of the whole state, would be a good host and organiser of the largest sporting event to be held in Croatia since independence. Thanking HOO Council members for their support, Rijeka Mayor Slavko Linic said the games would encourage development of the northern Adriatic city and the surrounding region because there already existed a concrete plan on dispersing events. Linic said local government was interested in constructing sports facilities and would as a priority allocate funds over the next few years for this, but state support was necessary for building infrastructure. Head of Rijeka's city department for sport and technical culture, Luciano Susanj, said the building of an indoor Olympic pool and sports hall and reconstruction of the Kantrida and Krimeja stadiums was required for Rijeka to host the 2005 Mediterranean Games. (Hina) mb /ha 271632 MET mar 98