24 May 2025 – The Boris Hanžeković Memorial, Zagreb (1951) – World Athletics Continental Gold meeting – which is celebrating its 75th edition this week, has been awarded the World Athletics Heritage Plaque in the category of ‘Competition’.
The meeting and its 110m hurdles memorial race were named after hurdler Boris Hanžeković, one of Croatia’s best athletes before WWII, who was killed while trying to escape from the Jasenovac concentration camp.
The plaque which was officially presented on behalf of World Athletics Heritage at today’s meeting by European Athletics vice-president Cherry Alexander.
The World Athletics Heritage Plaque is a location-based recognition, awarded for an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track and field athletics and of out of stadia athletics disciplines such as cross country, mountain, road, trail and ultra-running, and race walking.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commented: “World Athletics is delighted to salute the illustrious history of the Boris Hanžeković Memorial, Zagreb, the oldest sporting event in Croatia, with the award of a World Athletics Heritage Plaque.”
“My friend and former colleague on the World Athletics Council Alberto Juantorena, whose 800m world record I broke in 1979, won his first international race and set a Cuban record over 400m at the meeting in 1973.”
“Alberto is just one of the many international stars who have been attracted to compete in Zagreb since the competition, which today is a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold circuit event, was founded in 1951. High jumping and sprint legends Valeriy Brumel and Usain Bolt, and Croatian heroes such as Sandra Perkovic and Blanka Vlasic have all been drawn to the meeting which honours hurdler Boris Hanžeković, who was killed in WWII.”
“Congratulations to all those connected with the meeting as it celebrates its 75th edition in 2025.”
Director of the Boris Hanžeković Memorial Natko Bošnjak commented on the awarding of this great recognition to the meeting with the following words:
“This plaque is not only a recognition of our athletics meeting, but also a tribute to all generations of people who have built it over the past 75 years – athletes, coaches, volunteers, fans and partners. We would like to especially thank the family of the late Boris Hanžeković, the City of Zagreb and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for their continued support.
The Boris Hanžeković Memorial is our anniversary of sporting perseverance, tradition and excellence. We are proud that Zagreb has been recognized on the world athletics map as a city with such a rich sporting heritage. The plaque reminds us of everything that has been done so far, but also gives us additional strength and inspiration to continue developing this meeting for future generations. Our mission has always been to preserve the memory of Boris Hanžeković and provide athletes from all over the world with a stage worthy of their talent and dedication.”
