SINJ, Aug 11 (Hina) - The winner of the 281st "Sinjska Alka" tournament which took place in Sinj on Sunday was Andjelko Vuckovic who was awarded with a golden ring with the Croatian suit of arms and a sabre by Croatian Defense
Minister Gojko Susak, envoy of the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. Major General Mirko Norac presented the winner with a golden plaque and money from the Alkar Knights' Society.
SINJ, Aug 11 (Hina) - The winner of the 281st "Sinjska Alka"
tournament which took place in Sinj on Sunday was Andjelko Vuckovic
who was awarded with a golden ring with the Croatian suit of arms
and a sabre by Croatian Defense Minister Gojko Susak, envoy of the
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.
Major General Mirko Norac presented the winner with a
golden plaque and money from the Alkar Knights' Society. #L#
Opening the tournament, which began with a minute of silence
for those killed during the homeland war and the Croatian national
anthem, General Norac recalled the historical battle in 1715 when
the Sinj knights defended the town from invading Ottoman Turks.
Since then, the Sinjska Alka tournament had become the symbol
of heroism and courage of the Croatian people, Norac said.
"We did not want war, all that we wanted was to be where we
belonged, to speak our language, to write with our alphabet, to
call our children with our names and to pray to God freely," Norac
said.
Besides Susak, present at the tournament were Croatian
government representatives, military officials, Church dignitaries,
foreign ambassadors with accreditation in Croatia and others.
(hina) lm
112053 MET aug 96