Thompson’s Gig at Handball Celebration Sparks Debate

The news in Croatian

1. događaj (m.)
   nešto što se događa ili se dogodilo, važan ili zanimljiv zbivanje ↩︎
2. reprezentacija (f.)
   sportska ekipa koja predstavlja svoju zemlju ili organizaciju ↩︎
3. protiv
   u protivnom stavu ili suprotnosti prema nečemu ↩︎
4. povezanost (f.)
   stanje ili činjenica povezivanja ili vezanja s nečim ↩︎
5. ideologija (f.)
   sustav ideja i vjerovanja karakterističan za politički, društveni ili drugi pokret ↩︎
6. podjela (f.)
   čin ili proces dijeljenja na dijelove ili skupine ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: Who is supposed to sing at the event in Zagreb?

Question: What does the Prime Minister want to focus on?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
događaj (m.)	event
reprezentacija (f.)	national team
protiv	against
povezanost (f.)	connection
ideologija (f.)	ideology
podjela (f.)	division

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Zoran Pusić, the president of the Antifascist League, has publicly urged Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to reconsider the invitation extended to Thompson. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Pusić expressed his concern, stating that Thompson, particularly among younger audiences, represents a symbol of Ustaša ideology, which glorifies a controversial part of Croatia’s past linked to World War II fascism.

Pusić’s plea came in response to statements made by Tonči Glavina, the Minister of Tourism and Sports, who conveyed the government’s support for Thompson’s presence at the event. Pusić pointed to widely circulated videos that show concerning behaviour at Thompson’s past concerts, associating them with historical parallels that are deeply unsettling.

Despite these apprehensions, both the Croatian Handball Federation and the national team members expressed their desire for Thompson, whose song “Ako ne znaš što je bilo” has become an anthem for fans, to perform. They argue that his music resonates with the spirit of their recent successes.

Prime Minister Plenković responded to Pusić’s concerns by emphasising that the choice of performers reflects the preferences of the athletes and their representative bodies. He noted the role of such events in unifying the nation and strengthening national pride, suggesting that focusing on Thompson’s political implications would unnecessarily deepen ideological divides. Plenković stressed that disciplinary measures have been taken against individuals involved in promoting extremist symbols at previous events, implying these incidents should not overshadow the athletes’ achievements and the celebration of their success.

The Prime Minister concluded by inviting citizens to join the celebration and urged everyone to prioritise the collective national victory over divisive controversies. As the event approaches, it remains a focal point of both celebration and discourse on historical memory in Croatia.

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