The Block Party marked the beginning of the countdown to the most renowned sports-business event in the region.
Zagreb, May 10, 2025 – This Saturday, Zagreb’s Mažuranić Square transformed into a hub of urban culture and sporting spectacle for the Block Party powered by OTP Bank, officially announcing the fourth and most ambitious edition yet of the Sunset Sports Festival.
The event brought together numerous well-known figures from the world of sports and public life, and marked the beginning of the countdown to this prestigious sports-business festival, taking place from June 5 to 7, 2025, at Fortis Club in Zadar, within the Falkensteiner Resort Punta Skala. Attendees can look forward to a series of exciting new features, world-renowned guests, and a unique blend of sports, technology, education, and inspiration.
Visitors in Zagreb had the opportunity to meet and connect with numerous sports role models, including former NBA player and Festival Director Damjan Rudež, celebrated Olympians Martin and Valent Sinković, Olympic shooter and world champion Miran Maričić, as well as marathon runner and Olympian Matea Parlov Koštro.
As part of the rich program, an exciting 3×3 basketball show was held, featuring the Croatian national team alongside actors Filip Juričić, Asim Ugljen, Jan Mihaljević, Edin Mehmedović, Miran Kurspahić, and Domagoj Nižić as part of the Skechers team, as well as popular influencers and DJs. Together, they created a one-of-a-kind atmosphere that was hard to top.
A major highlight of the evening was the official program announcement for this year’s Sunset Sports Festival, which will once again bring leading figures from the worlds of sports, media, technology, and business to Croatia. Among them is legendary UFC fighter and two-time heavyweight world champion Stipe Miočić, who shared his excitement about returning to his roots: “For me, this isn’t just a trip to Croatia — this is a return home.”
This year’s Sunset Sports Festival begins with the Sofascore Player of the Season global award ceremony, officially opening a three-day program filled with inspiring talks, panels, and networking opportunities. A number of internationally recognized speakers will take the main stage to share their stories.
Among them are Pete Radovich, Vice President of Production and Creative Director at CBS Sports, Kate Scott, CBS journalist, Diego Garcia, Marketing Director at Nike responsible for the NBA and North America, Aleksandar Đurić, former footballer and advisor to the Minister of Sports in Singapore, Oliver Lušić, President of the Croatian Sports Federation for the Deaf, and Nils Sterenborg, former Director of Sports for the EMEA region at Amazon Web Services.
For the first time, the Sunset Esports Festival will be held as part of the main program, further expanding the festival’s horizons by merging the worlds of traditional sports and the modern gaming scene. Special focus will be placed on the Esports Stage — a new and dynamic segment dedicated to one of today’s fastest-growing industries.
The audience will have the chance to hear from and meet leading figures from the regional and international esports scene, including Nikola Stolnik, founder of Good Game Global, and Luka Perković – Perkz, the most successful Croatian esports professional. Their experiences and visions open the door to new generations of sports enthusiasts, business innovators, and digital creators.
The third festival zone, the Performance Lab, brings cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations that push the boundaries of human performance, with a focus on training, recovery, and optimizing sports results.
Top-level experts sharing their knowledge will include Chris Barnes from UEFA, Johan Lundberg from the Swedish Football Association, Alberto Filter from the Football Science Institute, and many more.
Alongside a strong international lineup, Sunset Sports Festival remains committed to its core mission of connection, inspiration, and development: “Sunset brings together people who share the same values – a passion for sports, a drive for progress, and a willingness to share knowledge. This year, we are once again proud to welcome globally inspiring names – from Stipe Miočić to top experts in sports, technology, media, and business. Every talk, every panel, and every interaction at the festival holds the power to spark something new. And that’s what excites me the most – that we are building a community together, one that grows, connects, and pushes boundaries – not only in Croatia but far beyond,”
said Damjan Rudež, Director of Sunset Sports Festival and former NBA player.
The fourth edition of the festival brings an exciting blend of education, inspiration, and entertainment. Over the course of three days, visitors will have the opportunity to learn all about the future of sports, innovation, and the sports business, all in a relaxed atmosphere with a fun-filled program. The program is available at the link, and you can follow all the latest updates on the festival’s Facebook and Instagram‘s profiles.
