The Water Sports Festival (WSF), a project co-financed by the European Union within the Erasmus+ Sport framework, held in Zagreb from August 24–31, 2024, was not just an event — it was a transformative experience. Bringing together athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts from across Europe, this collaborative initiative showcased the power of sport to transcend borders and highlighted the benefits of a multi-sport approach.

A New Dimension to Water Sports
Organized as part of an Erasmus+ project, WSF aimed to integrate diverse water sports into grassroots organizations’ programs. The event featured four key disciplines: water polo, finswimming, open water swimming, and swim-run triathlon — each offering participants new challenges and growth opportunities.

The festival emphasized the value of multi-sport engagement, especially for youth. Benefits include enhanced motor skills, reduced risk of burnout, and longer, more enjoyable athletic development. This aligns with current research promoting multi-discipline involvement to counter the downsides of early sports specialization.

Collaboration Across Borders
WSF was a joint initiative by three organizations:

• Sharks Sport Club (Sweden), which introduced triathlon and swim-run training
  
  
• Sirens ASC (Malta), which shared expertise in water polo and artistic swimming
  
  
• Finswimming Team Novi Jelkovec (Croatia), which led finswimming workshops and highlighted the sport’s potential for growth
  
  

Each partner contributed unique experience and tools, embodying the spirit of cross-border cooperation.

Empowering Athletes and Coaches
Throughout the week-long event, participants engaged in a range of activities:

• Water Polo Tournament: Held at the Mladost pool in Zagreb, where Malta’s U-19 women’s team played matches and trained with international peers
  
  
• Finswimming Training: Led by Finswimming Team Novi Jelkovec, offering both technical skill-building and team connection
  
  
• Open Water Swimming & Swim-Run: Conducted at Jarun Lake, these sessions combined outdoor endurance with mental and physical adaptability
  
  

Grassroots Impact and Beyond
With 32 participants from Croatia, Sweden, and Malta, WSF became a vibrant melting pot of cultures, skills, and perspectives. Beyond developing athletic performance, the event also prepared coaches and volunteers for the demands of organizing international sporting events.

The festival reinforced the importance of inclusion. Athletes came from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and the event intentionally encouraged more female participation in aquatic sports — aligning with the EU Work Plan for Sport 2021–2024 and its goals of equality and access.

A Vision for the Future
WSF was not a standalone event — it was a catalyst for change. With momentum from its success, partner organizations now aim to expand the initiative: introducing finswimming, triathlon, and swim-run to new communities, and investing further in event management and grassroots outreach.

The festival stands as a model for collaboration, proving that sport — when paired with innovation and inclusion — can build bridges, transform lives, and inspire the next generation of athletes.

The Water Sports Festival is proof that when we unite around shared goals, sport becomes more than competition — it becomes connection.