Nationalism at the World Handball Championship in Croatia

Zivko Kolega, mayor of the Croatian city of Zadar on the Adriatic coast, has bowed to public pressure against the presence of the Serbian flag at the World Handball Championship and removed the flags of all participating nations. The left-wing daily die tageszeitung comments that Croatia is missing a big chance: "Removing the flags of all participating states on the basis of public pressure is an insult to everyone. And it destroys Croatia's reputation as a sporting nation. Certainly, the city of Zadar suffered heavily from Serb attacks during the war from 1991 to 1995, when the city limit formed the front line. But that was long ago, and sport is supposed to foster understanding between peoples. The Croatian politicians have consciously failed to nurture such understanding. How can the mayor be such a spineless host? And all that has come from Zagreb were muted voices of reserve. Clearly, Croatia does not see this matter as a scandal of the first order."

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