After five years, the tournament was again held under the auspices of the head of state. Presenting the gifts to the winner, Lieutenant General Kruljac said that the Alka tournament being held with President Mesic's support was definitely a sign that the tournament was returning to its centuries-long tradition of being held under the auspices of state leaders.
The fact that the tournament is held with the support of President Mesic signals that the Alka is distancing itself from politics, he said.
"By that I mean daily politics which used the tournament for party interests and frequently against common interests. It is important that those responsible for governing Sinj and the leading people of the Alka Knights society have become aware of that and are willing to open a new chapter in the long history of the Alka. Let us all make the Alka only a competition of knights that will promote our culture and not generate political conflicts," Kruljac said.
Opening the central Alka event, Alka duke Ivan Cikara underlined the importance of the tournament for the Cetina River region, adding that it was also a world monument to traditional Christian values. Cikara also urged for support to the tournament and its projects.
He wrapped up his speech by thanking all former Alka knights and dukes, particularly his predecessor Mirko Norac, which was welcomed with loud applause.
The event was attended by Sabor Speaker Vladimir Seks, Deputy Speaker Djurdja Adlesic, the ministers of defence, agriculture, and science, 31 parliamentary deputies, the archbishop of Split, Msgr. Marin Barisic, members of the clergy, and town and municipal leaders from all over Croatia.
Although invited, foreign ambassadors did not attend.
There were no incidents at the tournament, except for a few catcalls during the speech by President Mesic's envoy. But the residents of Sinj responded to each catcall with applause, and Kruljac told Hina that he did not consider the catcalls significant.
Seventeen lancers took part in this year's Sinjska Alka, which was established in 1715 when Sinj defended itself from the Turks and has since then become a sport and cultural event.