ZAGREB, 23 Jan (Hina) - The Croatian Sports Museum will open its first permanent exhibition on Tuesday, 27 January, in its newly renovated two-storey, 500 square metre space in central Zagreb, presenting the history, development and greatest achievements of Croatian sport over more than 150 years.

The exhibition tells, for the first time, a comprehensive story of the founding and development of sport and its key successes from the late 19th century to the present, museum director Danira Bilić told a press conference on Friday.

The €5 million renovation, launched in late 2019 and delayed by the pandemic, earthquakes and conservation requirements, was completed in November 2025 and funded by the government and the Ministry of Culture and Media.

Bilić said the opening marked a new phase for the museum, founded in 2003 but active in various forms for over 70 years, with the aim of becoming a place of dialogue and interaction linking sport, education, tourism and culture.

Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek said the museum highlighted the importance of sport for Croatian identity, social cohesion and values such as perseverance, respect and teamwork, stressing its educational role and support for other sports collections across Croatia.

The exhibition has two thematic sections: "Foundations" in the basement, covering the development of sport and physical culture since the late 19th century, and "Successes" on the ground floor, dedicated to achievements at Olympic Games and world championships since independence. It is modular, interactive and multimedia-based, allowing regular updates.

The author of the exhibition concept, Zrinko Čustonja, said the concept presents Croatian sports history in a contemporary, scientifically grounded and educational way, centred on the idea of success across generations. Exhibition designer Nikolina Jelavić Mitrović highlighted the challenge of creating a dynamic, expandable display in a limited space using multimedia solutions.

The museum holds nearly 500,000 items, with around 1,000 objects and 500 photographs on display, including equipment, medals, trophies, documents and audiovisual material. Contributions were provided by the public broadcaster HRT, the Croatian Cinematheque, Hina and more than 100 leading athletes and institutions.

The museum will take part in this year's Night of Museums on 30 January and offer free entry on 31 January and 1 February.