First Sports Incubator in Croatia
Sports and Recreation Society Jačaona is a sports association and the first Croatian sports incubator whose main role is the development of sports and physical culture.
Jačaona – Innovation and Support for Sports Development in Zagreb
Jačaona is the first Croatian sports incubator whose primary role is the development of sports and physical culture through providing and equipping the infrastructure necessary for maintaining sports activities and training, as well as developing new sports clubs.
In other words, our mission is to help coaches, instructors, and/or groups of exercisers more easily start their sports story and begin forming and regularly running their sports sections and clubs through adequate space and equipment.
Jačaona was founded in 2011 by a group of sports competitors and enthusiasts from Zagreb who, through volunteer work at Jačaona, want to give their contribution to the city of Zagreb and its citizens while simultaneously helping to promote a healthy lifestyle.
The association currently operates in a 72 m2 space located in the former Medika pharmaceutical factory at Pierottijeva 11, Zagreb.
Platform that Opens Doors to Sports
Starting a sports club (association) or independently organizing any sports activity is not easy. For the whole story to come alive, it is necessary to overcome a series of obstacles that may seem insurmountable at first. Obstacles such as finding suitable space, securing necessary equipment for training, and devising marketing approaches that will attract new members.
Jačaona is the first sports incubator in Croatia whose mission is to help coaches, instructors, and leaders overcome these obstacles. To make this possible, Jačaona provides adequate space and conditions, as well as knowledge on how to successfully incubate and accelerate sports clubs, thus long-term contributing to the development of sports and physical culture in the City of Zagreb and Croatia.
Through its program of incubating new sports clubs, Jačaona provides a platform that contributes to the basic goals of public needs in sports of the City of Zagreb. By investing in the development of coaches, instructors, and leaders and their sports organizations, Jačaona indirectly influences the development of athletes of all age groups, encouraging top sports quality and inclusion in sports.
Jačaona's Value System
Our goal is to create a safe and supportive environment for everyone, regardless of skin color, gender, age, or other personal characteristics. We promote equality and respect and actively fight against discrimination and intolerance.
Work is based on principles of inclusion, anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-fascism, and the fight against age discrimination.
Through the sports incubator, we encourage a healthy lifestyle and promote physical culture, contributing to the development of amateur, recreational, and elite sports in the City of Zagreb.
As one of the social factors in Zagreb, we build a community that values diversity and collectively contributes to the development of sports and society.
History of Jačaona – From Abandoned Space to Sports Center
In 2011, the founders of Jačaona launched an initiative to convert the abandoned space in the former Medika pharmaceutical factory into a hall for daily recreation and training. Soon after equipping and furnishing, it was discovered that 90% of the capacity was unused. This prompted the decision to make the space and equipment available to all interested individuals who want to develop their own sports club or section, provided they nurture the values that Jačaona represents.
From the very beginning, Jačaona ensures financial sustainability by collecting monthly membership fees and donations from founding and associated members. It operates on the principle of non-profit, and collected funds are reinvested in the development of the association.
Since then, Jačaona has continuously supported the development of various sports branches. In the last five years, the association has provided support in activities such as weightlifting, strength and endurance training, grappling, Ju-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Capoeira, Wing Chun, fitness, Hatha yoga, and others. In addition, we have organized numerous workshops and seminars on topics of physical culture basics, self-defense, ground fighting, and kickboxing.
On behalf of the Croatian Australian Football Association, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Jačaona for the generous support and enabling preparations for our athletes from the Croatian women's Australian football national team – Croatian Queens during the winter period from January 7 to April 7 in your premises.
Nikola Vuger
SANH SecretaryJačaona is a place of exercise where your body, your spirit, your endurance, and your character come to the fore... Exercise for yourself, exercise for yourself, and always exercise at Jačaona.
Mario Poljak
Wing Chun InstructorI would like to thank on behalf of the 3B Ju-Jitsu Club for providing the hall and infrastructure for training, help with statute upgrades and convening the club's electoral assembly, and advice on legal and accounting obligations.
Luka Škorić
President of 3B Ju-Jitsu Sports ClubOrganization
Members who founded and/or lead Jačaona
Nenad Malić, bacc.oec.
President
Darijo Juričić, mag. ing. tch. graph.
Vice President
Jure Dean, univ. mag. oec.
Secretary
Marko Domgjoni, mag. ing. geol.
Founding member and trainer
Lucija Matanović, mag. psych.
Founding member and trainer
Saša Kovačević
Founding member and trainer
Mario Poljak, mag. iur.
Trainer
Josip Barbača, mag. ing. traff.
Founding member and trainer
Petra G. Puljek, bacc. rel. int.
Founding member and trainer
Josip Kornet
Trainer
Vida Štefan, univ. mag. cin.
Trainer
Luka Pešun, mag. art.
Trainer