Serbian rebounders trained in Kranj

Around 50 Serbian volleyball players arrived in Kranj between August 8 and 15, continuing a tradition of international summer camps hosted in the town for the third consecutive year. Organized jointly by the sports association Champ 07 Slovenia and the sports club Champ 07 from Novi Sad, the camp brought together young athletes aged eight to eighteen along with their coaches and support staff. The group trained intensively at the Športna dvorana Zlato polje sports hall, played beach volleyball on courts in Preddvor, participated in conditioning exercises, sports workshops, and various recreational activities throughout the week. Dr. Bogdan Tomić, head coach from Champ 07, described the daily routine as including four training sessions per day, technical drills indoors, strength exercises in the gym, nature runs, hikes up hills, and beach volleyball matches in Preddvor. Free time was spent exploring nearby attractions such as Celovec, Trieste, Piran, Bled, and Ljubljana before returning to Zagreb. According to Tomić, the camp aims to allow children to explore the region, build friendships, promote health awareness, and foster appreciation for nature and animals. The number of participants this year was slightly lower than last year, according to Tomić, due primarily to restricted access to a beach volleyball court near Gymnasium Franceta Prešern. Another factor cited was increased costs associated with excursions, which were included in the overall expenses. Despite these challenges, Tomić believes Kranj offers a more pleasant environment for training compared to the heat in Novi Sad. He noted that clean drinking water is available directly from taps, the local environment is well-maintained, the sports culture among residents is high, and restaurant prices are more favorable than in Serbia. Local officials welcomed the athletes, with Kranj's deputy mayor Manja Zorko visiting them on Tuesday to greet the group. She emphasized that Kranj is a city dedicated to sport and expressed enthusiasm about hosting top athletes and clubs like Champ 07, who have been coming to the town annually for training. Zorko highlighted the importance of promoting sports for community building and personal development, expressing happiness that the young athletes enjoy their time in Kranj and wishing them successful preparations for the upcoming season. Participants appeared delighted with their experience, with many enjoying the combination of rigorous training and recreational activities. Sara, a participant attending her second camp, mentioned how much she enjoys playing volleyball, going on excursions, and making friends. Čarna, experiencing her first visit to Kranj, praised the quality of training and the enjoyable trips. Jovana was particularly excited about visiting Ljubljana and looking forward to a trip to Trieste later in the week. Polona Kogovšek, project initiator and coordinator from Champ 07 Slovenia, explained that the idea for the camp originated three years ago with the goal of creating a sports environment where children and youth could receive quality training while gaining new experiences, forming friendships, and discovering different cultures and environments. Her vision includes expanding the program in the future to involve local children and coaches from Kranj as well. Kogovšek believes such projects can connect people, clubs, and countries while providing opportunities for knowledge exchange, shared experiences, and new friendships. She added that the initiative aims to include local trainers and children in the summer volleyball camp in the future, creating even more opportunities for connection and collaborative learning. Special attention is given to developing the social and personality skills of the children participating. Kogovšek emphasized the focus on strengthening courage, self-confidence, friendship, open communication, and readiness to help and collaborate among children. Additionally, within the framework of the "Levinje and Levi" program for the youngest participants, they employ the NTC method, movement through play, which they believe allows children to learn best through movement, play, and positive experiences.