Big business hand in hand with sport



Major international sports events have become a meeting place, not just for sports fans from across the globe, but also for major companies as they look to develop new contacts and business opportunities.

With the qualification of its national team to the European Championship in Poland, the Slovenian Handball Federation took the initiative to create a platform to promote the country and also bring together Polish and Slovenian businesses.

The result was the ’Slovenia Centre – I feel Slovenia’ – a five-day programme of events sponsored by the Slovenian Tourist Board and organised in conjunction with a number of organisations including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Slovenian Embassy in Warsaw, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia.

Taking place in Wroclaw from 16-20 January at the same time as Slovenia’s games in Group C of the Preliminary Round, a full programme of business, sports, social and media activities has been organised including B2B meetings, business forums and social events in addition to the matches of the Slovenian team.


Leading the initiative is the Chairman of the Slovenian Handball Federation, Franjo Bobinac, who is also President of the Management Board and CEO of the Gorenje Group. He described the initiative as ’an excellent platform and opportunity to establish business links and business cooperation’.

EHF Secretary General, Michael Wiederer, attended the event’s business forum on 19 January and addressed delegates on the important links between handball and business.

Over 130 business people took part in the event from major Slovenian companies including Gorenje Group, Petrol and Pivovarna Lasko. The patron is the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Borut Pahor.

The Slovenian Handball Federation organised a similar business event during the Men’s IHF World Championship in Qatar in 2015.