You can now find in the Event Info Section the Extra Practice Ice Schedule as well as the Official Practices Schedule and the Competition Schedule! See you in Zagreb!
News archiveWelcome to Zagreb
Dear friends of sport,
We are proud that Zagreb has become one of the foremost centers of this demanding and attractive sport that symbolizes unity and team spirit, hard work and perseverance, mutual encouragement and respect. This was possible only because of the organizational skills of enthusiasts gathered around the synchronized skating club "Zagreb Snowflakes" and the effort and progress of its skaters.
We already organized World Challenge Cup for Juniors 2002 and two ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in 2004 and in 2009 as well as ten Zagreb Snowflakes Trophy competitions.
A Brief History of Zagreb
Today's Zagreb has grown out of two medieval settlements
that for centuries developed on neighbouring hills. The first written mention
of the city dates from 1094, when a diocese was founded on Kaptol, while in
1242, neighbouring Gradec was proclaimed a free and royal city. Both the
settlements were surrounded by high walls and towers, remains of which are
still preserved.
During
the Turkish onslaughts on Europe, between the 14th and 18th centuries, Zagreb
was an important border fortress. The Baroque reconstruction of the city in the
17th and 18th centuries changed the appearance of the city. The old wooden
houses were demolished, opulent palaces, monasteries and churches were built.
The many trade fairs, the revenues from landed estates and the offerings of the
many craft workshops greatly contributed to the wealth of the city. Affluent
aristocratic families, royal officials, church dignitaries and rich traders
from the whole of Europe moved into the city. Schools and hospitals were
opened, and the manners of European capitals were adopted. The city outgrew its
medieval borders and spread to the lowlands. The first parks and country houses
were built. Zagreb confirmed its position as the administrative, cultural and
economic centre of Croatia.
When
Kaptol, Gradec and the surrounding settlements were administratively combined
into the integrated city of Zagreb in 1850, the development accelerated still
more. The disastrous earthquake of 1880 sparked off the reconstruction and
modernization of many shabby neighbourhoods and buildings. Prestigious public
buildings were erected, parks and fountains were made, and transportation and
other infrastructures were organized.
In the
19th century the population increased tenfold. The twentieth century brought
the Secession style to Zagreb. The city lived in the plenty of a civil society,
with firm links with all the central European centres. With an increase in
wealth and industry from the 1960s on, the city spread out over the wide plains
alongside the Sava River, where a new, contemporary business city has develop,
ready for the challenges of the third millennium.
The venue for the Zagreb Snowflakes Trophy is Dom sportova Arena. It has a seating capacity of about 5000 seats and was built in 1973. The ice surface is 60 x 30 m.
Four Points Sheraton - Panorama Hotel **** (www.hotel-fourpointspanorama.com) is the official hotel for Officials, ISU, Judges, Teams and Guests. Hotel is situated opposite of the Dom sportova Arena in the same square, Trg Krešimira Ćosića. It is within walking distance to the town center (20 minutes) and 15 minutes bus ride to the Practice Arena.
Room
|
Price
|
Single
|
71 EUR
|
Double
|
92 EUR
|
Triple
|
105 EUR
|
Apartment (3 persons)
|
138 EUR
|
Family Apartment (4 persons)
|
144 EUR
|
Hotel Laguna *** (www.hotel-laguna.hr) will serve as the official hotel for Press and Chaperons for the Championships. It is located two blocks from the Dom sportova Arena (700 m or 10 minutes max. walking distance).
Room |
Price |
Single |
45 EUR |
Double |
64 EUR |
Triple |
78 EUR |
MEALS
Meals will be served at the Hotels (for Teams accommodated there). The price is 15 EUR per meal. Meal tickets, ordered in advance, will be purchased and paid at the registration desk in the Hotel Panorama.
CLOSING PARTY
Closing party will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2012 at 22.30 hours in the Four Points Sheraton Panorama Hotel.
Ticket price 23 EUR per person.
View seats in Dom Sportova Arena
VISITOR INFORMATION
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, one of Europe's youngest countries - a parliamentary democracy that adopted its constitution in 1990 and was internationally recognized in 1992. It is geographically, culturally and historically in the very heart of Europe.
The official language is Croatian. Many people, especially young, speak English.
Inland Croatia has a continental climate, warm in summer, cold in
winter. In Zagreb temperature can easily reach 34ºC (90ºF) in high
summer (June-August) and drop to -14ºC (6ºF) in winter. Temperatures
start to rise from early March.
January can be cold with average temperatures around 0 ºC, there is a slight possibility of snow.
GTM (Greenwich Mean Time) + one hour. During March to October, GTM + two hours.
The voltage in Croatia is 220 V, 50 Hz, which is the same as the rest of Europe.
The basic Croatian currency unit is KUNA.
Coins are 1, 2 KUNA; coin and paper bill: 5 KUNA, paper bills: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 KUNA.
1 KUNA contains 100 LIPA. Coins are 1,2,5,10,20 and 50.
Foreign Currency can be exchanged for local money in banks, official exchange offices, post offices, etc.
Many bank branches and exchange offices are normally open from 8
a.m. to 7-p.m. non-stop (Monday-Friday), and from 8 a.m. to 12 noon
(Saturdays).
Most of the banks have cash machines (ATMs), which operate 24 hours a day.
At the Airport, banks are open every day (including Sunday and holidays) from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Post boxes are yellow in Croatia and the times of collections are indicated on the box.
The
main Post Office in Zagreb is in Jurišićeva 13, with opening hours from
7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday- Friday and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and
Sundays.
Government offices work from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Most shops and department stores are open non-stop, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
A "service charge" is already included in restaurant bills, but it
is customary to "round up" the bill in a restaurant (but not if you
just have a drink).
For special services rendered by hotel personnel usually expect tips between 10-50 KUNA.
Tourist whose purchases exceed 500 KUNA may claim a PDV (VAT) return for all goods except petroleum products when leaving the country with TAX CHEQUE receipts verified by the Croatian Customs Office. Time limit for tax refunds is one year.
All major credit cards like: American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard/Master Card, Visa, JCB and Eurocheques are advertised at points of sale, are normally accepted throughout Croatia.
The minimum legal drinking age in Croatia is 18 years.
Public telephone boxes accept only phone cards available in post-offices and convenience stores.
Zagreb International Airport at Pleso is about 30 minutes away from
the city center by car and can be reached by bus or taxi. Croatia
Airlines operate a bus service from Zagreb bus station, which runs
half-hourly to hourly from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. time of departure depend
upon flights. Return buses from the airport are on about the same
schedule.
Taxi price from the airport to the city center varies between 150-200 KUNA.
All necessary information can be found at www.mvp.hr
Related links:
Croatian National Tourist Board: www.croatia.hr
Weather forecast: www.meteo.hr
Croatian airlines: www.croatiaairlines.com