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Marking 25 years of the Croatian NOC IOC President Thomas Bach praised Croatia’s success at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Croatian Olympic Committee, which was celebrated in Zagreb on 10 September. The IOC President was invited to the anniversary celebrations by NOC President Zlatko Mateša. Around 250 guests joined the celebration, including a number of Olympic medallists, as well as Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković, IOC Honorary Member Antun Vrdoljak, Janez Kocijančič, acting President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), and EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi.During a meeting at the presidential residence, the President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, stressed the important role of sport for her country. President Bach was accompanied by NOC President Mateša and Sara Kolak, javelin gold medallist at Rio 2016. Spotlight on… CROATIAN NOCIn September, on the occasion of its 70th anniversary, the NOC of the Dominican Republic hosted its traditional Olympic gala to pay tribute to the country’s top athletes. Particular congratulations went to double Olympic 400m hurdles champion Félix Sánchez (pictured right), who received a commemorative plaque for his exceptional performances and for his contribution to Dominican sport.Sánchez was joined by other Dominican athletes who had won medals at the Olympic Games, the Central American Games, the Pan-American Games and world championships, while the former president of the Dominican Boxing Federation, Bienvenido Solano, was also rewarded for 40 years’ service to his sport and the Dominican sports movement. On 7 October, just ahead of Japanese National Sports Day, the Japanese Olympic Committee held a special Olympic award ceremony and concert at the Tokyo International Forum. The event was held to commend Japan’s gold, silver and bronze medallists from the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Four-time freestyle wrestling gold medallist Kaori Icho and 400m individual medley swimming champion Kosuke Hagino were among 41 Rio 2016 medallists in attendance.DOMINICAN NOC HONOURS ITS STARSJAPANESE NOC CELEBRATES RIO 2016Left Kosuke Hagino was one of 41 Rio 2016 medallists in attendance at the ceremony in TokyoOLYMPIC REVIEW 23