The Ultimate 2016 Croatian Sports Fan Calendar

With 2016 being an Olympic Games and Euro football championships year, there will be plenty to get excited about for Croatian sports fans this year…

Whilst the two major highlights for Croatian fans will be the Olympic Games in Rio in August and UEFA 2016 Euro in June, there are a number of other World and European Championships in 2016 where Croatian athletes have a great chance to do the country proud and bring home some medals.

2016 Croatian Sports Calendar:

JANUARY

10 – 23 January
WATER POLO – European Championships (Belgrade)
The Croatian team will again be one of the favourites to at least reach the semi-finals this year. Their last European Championship medal was in 2010.

15 – 31 January
HANDBALL – European Championships (Poland)
Croatia will be hoping to improve on their performance at the World Championships in Qatar last year when they finished 6th.

18 – 31 January
TENNIS – Grand Slam – Australian Open (Australia)
Again there will be a number of Croatians playing in Melbourne, with former US Open champion Marin Čilić being Croatia’s best hope for glory.

FEBRUARY

12 – 21 February
WINTER OLYMPICS – Youth Winter Olympics (Norway)
This is just the second edition of the Youth Winter Olympics and the Croatian competitors will be hoping to bring some medals home.

MARCH

4 – 6 March
TENNIS – Davis Cup (Belgium)
Croatia will take on Belgium in the opening round of the Davis Cup.

17 – 20 March
ATHLETICS – World Indoor Championships (USA)
Croatia’s double-world indoor champion Blanka Vlašić will again be Croatia’s biggest hope in the high jump this year at the world championships.

Marin Čilić again looking for Grand Slam glory this year

APRIL

21 – 24 April
JUDO – European Championships (Russia)
Croatia has excelled in Judo at junior level and the time has come for the seniors to take on the best ahead in European ahead of the Olympic Games.

MAY

9 – 22 May
SWIMMING – European Championships (London)
Europe’s best will meet in London for the European Championships. Croatia has not fared that well in the pool in recent times, and they will be hoping for a better performance in London with the Olympic Games in Rio around the corner.

19 – 22 May
TAEKWONDO – European Championships (Canada)
Champion twin sisters Ana and Lucija Zaninović will be looking to win more medals for Croatia at these championships.

22 May – 5 June
TENNIS – Grand Slam – Roland Garros (France)

Croatia’s Ivan Dodig will be looking to defend his double title he won with Brazilian Marcelo Melo last year. Čilić will also be hoping for some good form on clay.

JUNE

10 June – 10 July
FOOTBALL – EURO 2016 (France)
Croatia have been drawn with Spain, Turkey and Czech Republic in Group D. Whilst it is not an easy group, with the quality Croatia has they could go far in France. Ante Čačić’s side will be hoping to go one better than the Croatia side did in France in 1998.

12 June – Croatia v Turkey
17 June – Croatia v Czech Republic
21 June – Croatia v Spain

Big hopes for Croatia at Euro 2016

27 June – 10 July
TENNIS – Wimbledon (UK)
The most prestigious Grand Slam of them all – Croatia’s representatives will be hoping to knock defending champions Novak Đoković and Serena Williams off their thrones.

JULY

6 – 10 July
ATHLETICS – European Championships (Holland)
Just one month before the start of the Olympic Games, Croatian athletes will be hoping to gain some confidence, and medals, ahead of Rio.

AUGUST

5 – 21 August
OLYMPIC GAMES (Brazil)
Croatia will be looking to improve on the 6 medals they won in London in 2012. 40 athletes so far from Croatia have assured qualification for the sporting highlight of the year. Over 100 Croatian athletes are expected to take part.

SEPTEMBER

(29 August) – 11 September
TENNIS – US Open (America)
Marin Čilić will be hoping to repeat his feat from two years ago when he won the tournament.

5 September
FOOTBALL – World Cup qualifiers (Croatia)
Croatia opens its 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign against Turkey.

DECEMBER

4 – 18 December
HANDBALL – Women’s European Championship (Sweden)
Croatia will be aiming to improve on their best ever finish of 5th at the European Championships in Sweden.