30 Years of the Plazma Youth Sports Games
30 Years of the Plazma Youth Sports Games: Official Ceremony at the Croatian National Theatre Split and All-Star Exhibition Football Match at Prokurative
The Plazma Youth Sports Games International Finals will take place from 17 to 22 August 2026, bringing together 1,224 young athletes from six countries. The highlights of the programme, on 20 and 21 August, include the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Europe’s largest amateur sports event for children and young people, the announcement of Goran Ivanišević, Ana Ivanović and Magnus Brunner as new Ambassadors of the Games, and an All-Star exhibition football match where world football legends will face a team of Plazma Youth Sports Games participants.
SPLIT, 5 August 2026 – The Plazma Youth Sports Games are the largest amateur sports event for children and young people in Europe. Over the past three decades, the Games have brought together more than 3,869,000 children and young people. This summer marks the milestone 30th season of the Games.
The central celebrations will take place in Split during the International Finals, held from 17 to 22 August 2026. The main events, on Friday, 21 August, include the official ceremony at the Croatian National Theatre Split and the traditional All-Star exhibition football match at Prokurative (Republic Square).
30 YEARS OF THE GAMES: OFFICIAL CEREMONY AT THE CROATIAN NATIONAL THEATRE SPLIT (FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST)
The official ceremony celebrating the 30th season of the Plazma Youth Sports Games will be held at the Croatian National Theatre Split.
During the ceremony, Goran Ivanišević, legendary Croatian tennis player and coach, Ana Ivanović, former world-renowned tennis champion, and Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, will be officially announced as new Ambassadors of the Plazma Youth Sports Games.
The occasion will also honour individuals whose dedication and support over the years have helped the Games grow from a single idea into a project that has reached millions of children. Alongside promoting sport, friendship and fair play, the mission of the Games is to encourage children to spend less time in front of screens and develop healthy lifelong habits.
“Thirty years ago, we had one idea – to give every child the opportunity to take part in sport. Today, millions of children, thousands of cities and five countries stand behind that idea, with the Games being organised completely free of charge. None of this would have been possible without our partners, sponsors, institutions, host cities and everyone who has believed in this vision for the past three decades. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey, especially the children, who continue to inspire us to do even better. We believe we are on the right path because every child deserves the opportunity to play, and this year’s International Finals – the biggest ever – are proof of that,” said Zdravko Marić, President of the Plazma Youth Sports Games.
The Games expanded from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina 16 years ago, followed by Serbia, Slovenia, and, from this year, North Macedonia, continuing to unite children across the region through sport.
ALL-STAR EXHIBITION FOOTBALL MATCH AT PROKURATIVE (FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST)
At Prokurative (Republic Square) in the heart of Split, an All-Star team will take on a team of Plazma Youth Sports Games participants.
The All-Star squad features UEFA representatives, Ambassadors and friends of the Games, together with internationally renowned football legends whose names are recognised around the world.
This tradition began in 2021, returned in 2023, and has since become one of the highlights of the International Finals. Each edition features a unique line-up of football greats. The most recent match included Aleksander Čeferin, Luís Figo, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Predrag Mijatović, Darijo Srna, Nemanja Vidić, Esteban Cambiasso, Christian Karembeu, Mario Stanić, and many others.
The matches are always played in a fantastic atmosphere and with genuine competitive spirit, as the Plazma Youth Sports Games team consistently rises to the challenge, demonstrating impressive teamwork, determination and footballing quality against some of the biggest names in the sport.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS – 20 & 21 AUGUST
Thursday, 20 August
The All-Star Day programme on Split’s Riva begins with a simultaneous chess exhibition, where the best young chess players from the five member countries of the Games will take on renowned English chess Grandmaster Nigel Short.
The programme continues with the Sprite 3×3 Cup International Finals in both the boys’ and girls’ categories, featuring the best young basketball teams from the participating countries.
At 9:00 p.m., the Official Closing Ceremony of the International Finals will take place on the Riva. The symbolic extinguishing of the Games flame will mark the end of another unforgettable season. Visitors can look forward to musical and stage performances, as well as a spectacular drone show lighting up the sky above Split.
The evening will conclude with a concert by Crvena Jabuka, a gift to the City of Split and all participants of the International Finals.
Friday, 21 August
Alongside the All-Star exhibition football match at Prokurative (Republic Square), visitors will have the opportunity to take part in the interactive quiz “Become a Green SIM Ambassador”, hosted by Croatia’s well-known quizmaster and enigmatist Dean Kotiga.
The quiz is part of the “Zero Waste – Be Part of the Game – Save Our Planet” project, which the Plazma Youth Sports Games have been implementing for the fifth consecutive year in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company and its global “World Without Waste” initiative.
The celebrations will also bring together Games Ambassadors, world-renowned athletes and distinguished guests, including Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Goran Ivanišević, Luís Figo, Alastair Campbell, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Oleksandr Usyk, Ana Ivanović, Željko Obradović, Slaven Bilić, Ettore Messina, Predrag Mijatović, Nemanja Vidić, Aleksandar Kolarov, Šime Vrsaljko, Goran Dragić, Darijo Srna, Nemanja Matić, Dino Rađa, Nikola Karabatić, Marcel Desailly, Aitor Karanka, Mario Stanić, Christian Karembeu, Ivana Španović, Fernando Hierro, Radoslav Nesterović, Aljoša Asanović, and many others.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL FINALS
The Plazma Youth Sports Games International Finals in Split bring together 1,224 participants from six countries – the best young athletes from the Games’ five member countries: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia and North Macedonia.
A special feature of this year’s International Finals is the participation of 204 children from Ukraine, the Games’ guest country. Their visit will be supported by the presence of world heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Participants will compete for the title of Plazma Youth Sports Games International Champions in the Coca-Cola Cup, U-12 mini-football, basketball, handball, volleyball, beach volleyball, tennis, table tennis, chess, dodgeball and athletics.
Over five days of competition, participants will have the opportunity to meet their sporting heroes, make new friends from across the region and enjoy everything Split has to offer. For many, it will be their first journey without their parents, their first medal and the beginning of friendships that will last far beyond one summer.
In its milestone 30th season, the Plazma Youth Sports Games continue to fulfil their mission of giving every child the opportunity to take part in sport, develop healthy habits and embrace the values of teamwork, tolerance and inclusion.
Participation in all competitions and accompanying activities is completely free of charge and open to all children and young people aged 7 to 18, regardless of whether they train regularly or simply want to experience sport for the first time. Although the competitions are amateur, the Games are organised to the highest professional standards, giving every participant the experience of competing like a professional athlete.
The sporting highlight of the International Finals is the Coca-Cola Cup Grand Final, Europe’s largest amateur mini-football tournament. This year alone, the Coca-Cola Cup brought together 172,748 participants across 703 tournaments, with the international finals featuring both boys’ and girls’ competitions.
Girls’ football has become an increasingly important part of the Plazma Youth Sports Games programme in recent years. A major milestone was achieved in 2020, when the Games established a partnership with UEFA and the UEFA Foundation for Children, led by Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President and Ambassador of the Games. This year, 17,445 girls took part in the Coca-Cola Cup.
“It is fascinating to see how this event cares for children and promotes the right values. When you see how happy they are, how there is no hatred, only friendship, and how much they enjoy football as well as many other sports, you realise how important initiatives like this are. There are simply not enough positive things like this in today’s world,” said Aleksander Čeferin.
SCHEDULE:
| Event | Date and Time (CET) | Venue |
| Coca-Cola Cup — Football Final (M & W) | Wednesday, 19 Aug | 20:00 – 22:00 | FESB, Split |
| Chess Simultaneous Exhibition | Thursday, 20 Aug | 19:00 – 19:30 | Riva, Split (VIP area) |
| Sprite Cup — 3×3 Basketball Final (M & W) | Thursday, 20 Aug | 20:00 – 20:45 | Riva, Split |
| Closing Ceremony — 30th Season | Thursday, 20 Aug | 21:00 – 22:00 | Riva, Split (main stage) |
| Ambassador Inauguration Ceremony | Friday, 21 Aug | 12:00 – 13:00 | Croatian National Theatre (HNK), Split |
| Zero Waste Quiz — Become a Green Ambassador | Friday, 21 Aug | 19:30 – 20:30 | Prokurative, Split |
| All-Star Match | Friday, 21 Aug | 21:00 – 22:00 | Prokurative, Split |
