134 Years of Skating in Zagreb

Zagreb will host the 150 best European male and female skaters from 41 countries at the European Figure Skating Championship between 21 and 28 January at Dom Sportova Sports Hall. The competition will be held under the high auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Stjepan Mesić.

Zagreb is a city with a long tradition in organizing major sporting events. As an organized sport, skating has already existed for 134 years in Croatia. The first skating club in Croatia was established in Zagreb in 1874, and the Skating Federation in 1939.

Zagreb and Croatia have both made a major contribution to the development, popularization and promotion of skating.
In 1974, Zagreb hosted its first European Figure Skating Championship, and had the privilege again in 1979.

In addition to professional skaters, who often compete at Zagreb’s ice-rinks, skating has always been a favorite sport of amateurs. They used to skate on the lakes at Maksimir Park, in Tuškanac Park, on Marulić Square and on almost every surface covered in ice. Today, there are three ice skating rinks in Zagreb: the outdoor rinks at Šalata and the Zagreb Fair and the indoor rink at the Dom Sportova Sports Hall.
 
The rink at Šalata is open from Wednesday through Sunday, the one at the Zagreb Fair on Friday and Saturday evenings and on Sunday mornings and evenings, and the Dom Sportova Sports Hall is open to the general public every Wednesday and Saturday evening and on Sunday mornings and evenings. Obviously, the Dom Sportova rink will be closed to the general public from 21 to 28 January, during the championship. We invite all skating aficionados to come and watch the “ice” virtuosi in action.