First Information

Welcome 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.

After complimenting us for our organization of the World Challenge Cup for Juniors 2002 and World Synchronized Skating Championships 2004 as well as seven Zagreb Snowflakes Trophy competitions, the ISU entrusted Zagreb with the organization of the 10th World Synchronized Skating Championships. Along with Helsinki Zagreb is the only city to have organized both the World Challenge Cup for Juniors and World Synchronized Skating Championships and now it will become the first city in the history of this sport to host the World Synchronized Skating Championships twice.

World Synchronized Skating Championships 2004 was one of the biggest and most spectacular sport events ever held in the Croatia's capital - the atmosphere was beautiful, some ten thousand delighted people saw the competition, the patron of the Championships was the President of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Stjepan Mesić, who also opened the competition, the media coverage was excellent and, of course, the skating was brilliant. Everyone had a great time - skaters, coaches, judges, ISU officials, guests from all over the world...

As organizers, we will do our best to repeat 2004 and make those few days in April memorable not only by spectacular competition in a sport where there are no enemies, a sport that encourages friendships and creates lifelong bonds between young people, countries, cultures and continents...

For the members of the Organizing Committee and some 150 volunteers World Synchronized Skating Championships is an acknowledgement for their devotion to synchronized skating, their serious and systematic work on the nine international events held in Zagreb from 2001. to 2008 which delighted observers with the highest athletic and aesthetic criteria. As many as 85 teams came to Zagreb over the years and some 45 000 spectators cheered them on at the Dom Sportova arena.

Synchronized Skating will celebrate its 55th birthday in Zagreb - it all began in Michigan in 1954. On this occasion we will also mark the 20th anniversary of the first international synchronized skating competition held in Sweden, the 15th anniversary of founding the first Synchronized Skating Technical Committee and becoming a full member of the ISU family of sport. This is the 10th World Synchronized Skating Championships and also the 10th ISU competition in Zagreb and it will be held only months after we have celebrated the 10th anniversary of synchronized skating in Zagreb and Croatia.

I would like to thank all the wonderful people from the ISU for their trust and support over the years. I would also like to especially thank the Mayor of the City of Zagreb, Mr. Milan Bandić, and the sport officials of the city for recognizing the values and beauty of this sport and helping us to establish it.

And to all of you, dear guests, I wish that Zagreb and Croatia become a part of your hearts just as synchronized skating has become a part of your lives...

President of the Organizing Committee
Zoran Kovačević

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 ARENAS

The main venue for the World Synchronized Skating Championships 2009 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.

Zagreb Fair Arena will serve as the practice arena for the Championships. Located on Zagreb Fair complex, it was firstly used as Ice arena in 1979 and renewed in 1999. Before it was used as fair pavilion of Zagreb Fair. Ice surface is also 60 x 30 m.

THE HOTELS

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	80 EUR
Junior Suite	80 EUR
Double	100 EUR
Apartment (3 persons)	144 EUR
Family Apartment (4 persons)	152 EUR

Hotel "International" **** (www.hotel-international.hr) is the second official hotel for Teams; situated half way between the Main Ice Rink and Practice Ice Rink . It is a 5-minute bus ride to the Main Arena. It is within walking distance to downtown (10 minutes to the Main Railway Station).

Room	Price
Single	80 EUR
Double / Twin	100 EUR
Family Apartment (4 persons)	152 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 standard	60 EUR
Single superior	65 EUR
Double standard	72 EUR
Double superior	80 EUR
Triple superior	100 EUR

TERMS OF RESERVATION:

The Member Federation must make all requests for reservations through the Organizing Committee and not later than October 1, 2008.
The room rates are specified on page 9 of the Announcement.
The reservations will be confirmed to Teams directly from the Official Hotel, after getting permission by the Organizing Committee. After acceptance of the reservation, Member Federation will receive Invoice for pre-payment until November 1, 2008.
Terms of payment:
- 50% of pre-payment upon Invoice from the Official Hotel until November 15, 2008.
- the rest 50% of payment upon Invoice from the Official Hotel until March 12, 2009.
Changes and cancelations shell be made in writing directly to the Organizing Committee.
Cancelation and refund policies (less banking charges):
Refund of 80% of pre-payment   - cancelation until January 15, 2009
Refund of 50% of pre-payment   - cancelation between January 16 and February 15, 2009
Refund of 25% of pre-payment   - cancelation between February 16 and March 12, 2009
No refund                                  - cancelation after March 12, 2009

MEALS

All Meals will be served at the Official Hotels. The designated dining rooms will be for the skating family only.

All meals will be served in buffet style. All meals will have at least three choices of main dishes; one of which should be a pasta variation. A good variety of side courses (vegetables, rice, potatoes, etc.), salad, fresh fruit, cheese and dessert will be offered.

Meal times

Breakfast:     06:00 - 10:00
Lunch:         12:00 - 15:00
Dinner:            19:00 - 22:00, on late nights later if needed
Meal price:    16 EUR/meal (lunch or dinner) in both official hotels

The meal tickets are only valid on the date indicated on the ticket.
There will be a separate dining area for the ISU/Judges.
There will be an access control at the dining room to check the meal vouchers and the accreditation.

CLOSING PARTY

Closing party will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 22.30 hours in the Four Points Sheraton Panorama Hotel.

Ticket price 25 EUR

TICKETS

Section	Individual tickets EUR / Kn	Group tickets (40+) EUR / Kn
A	12 / 90	6 / 45
B	8 / 60	4 / 30
C	6 / 45	3 / 22

Tickets pre-sale will start in December 2008. You can book tickets from December 2008 and only Section A will be available in the pre-sale. All details about the sectors and buying procedure will be available on this page.

View seats in Dom Sportova Arena

For all accommodation arrangements please contact Zagreb Tourist board on www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr or +385 1 4814 052 and +385 1 4814 054.

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.

LANGUAGE

The official language is Croatian. Many people, especially young, speak English.

WEATHER

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.

TIME DIFFERENCES

GTM (Greenwich Mean Time) + one hour. During March to October, GTM + two hours.

ELECTRICITY

The voltage in Croatia is 220 V, 50 Hz, which is the same as the rest of Europe.

CURRENCY & EXCHANGE

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.

BANKING HOURS

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 OFFICE

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.

OPENING HOURS

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.

TIPPING

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.

TAX-FREE SHOPING

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.

CREDIT CARDS

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.

LIQUOR LAWS

The minimum legal drinking age in Croatia is 18 years.

TELEPHONE

Public telephone boxes accept only phone cards available in post-offices and convenience stores.

ZAGREB AIRPORT

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.

EMBASSIES, CONSULATES AND VISA REQUIREMENTS

All necessary information can be found at www.mvp.hr