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image by Željko Heimer, 31 March 2001
image by Željko Heimer, 31 March 2001
At <www.hoo.tel.hr>,
there is an official text concerning the flag and the emblem of
the Olympic Croatian Committee, but I didn't understand the text.
. I don't know how the flag looks like, probably white with the
logo at the top of the page.
Pascal Vagnat, 8 December 1998
Usually they call themselves in English "Croatian Olympic
Committee" - COC in short. Let me see what is there to
provide some translation. It is "Pravilnik o zastavi i znaku
Hrvatskog olimpijskog odbora" - Rules on flag and symbol of
COC.
Art. 6 detrmines the flag: "The flag of COC is determined
with COC Graphic Standards Manual. The flag background is white
with centrally set COC symbol. The flag format [i.e. size, ratio.
ZH] is defined by standards set for the flags. The flag colour is
also determined by the COC Graphic Standards Manual."
Art. 7 prescribes that COC flag should always be used with the
flag of the Republic of Croatia.
Art. 8. defined the COC symbol: "The basic graphic standard
of COC visual identity is COC symbol approved by the
International Olympic Commettee on 24-APR-1992 (letter no
2110/92/jm9). The symbol is unique grapic presentation of five
olympic rings, six red and three white squares and text
"Hrvatski olimpijski odbor" on white background
bordered in shape of a shield."
I'll check the flag on COC building in next few days, I use to
pass over there often and the flags are always hoisted on it
(left to right IOC, HR, COC). It seems that national olympic
symbols (or any other using olympic rings) should be approved by
IOC.
Another point that I have regarding this article is "three
white squares", which are very often wrongly made
transparent, so to say, and symbol under rings consists only of
six red squares. The same error is made also on the COC page with
this Rules (sic!).
Art 15. determined that this Rules becomes vaild with the day of
their acceptance, and that is 10-SEP-1993. Possibly similar set
of rules was adopted earlier, and these rules did not chance the
essence of it, regarding the look of the flag and symbol. In any
case, I believe that the symbol is in use from 1991, but this is
based on my memory.
Željko Heimer, 8 December 1998
I was talking recently with some people involved with the work
on the Croatian Olympic Commeette logo (and flag) almost a decade
ago. I was told some things that might be of interest and maybe
worth of further investigation.
The story is so: the logo of COC that was initially adopted
consisted of the five Olympic rings above the red sqaures in
three rows 3, 2, 1. When this logo was sent to International
Olympic Committee for approval, it was turned down, with
explanation that the Olymipc rings should not be bigger then one
third of the national Olympic logo. After that the logo was
enclosed into red bordered white shield with blue inscription
reading the name of the COC, and such was adopted and approved.
As the flag is a white sheet with the logo in the middle, the
consequences to the COC flag are obvious.
Željko Heimer, 21 October 2000
The "de facto" flag that is used much more often
(and hoisted dayly on the COC headquarters in Zagreb) is a
variation which is, I believe the design turned down by IOC (due
to the size of the Olympic logo). HOO stands for "Hrvatski
olimpijski odbor" - Croatian Olympic Committee.
Željko Heimer, 31 March 2001
image Zachary Harden and Željko Heimer, 17
August 2004
Flag that was used by the Croats when they walked into Athens
last Friday night.
Zachary Harden, 17 August 2004
image by Željko Heimer
Chequy flag with one cheque being chequed again was used by
football supporter during European chapionship England 1996.
Željko Heimer
image by Željko Heimer
On the TV there were reportages from everywhere that our team
was moving around, and that special one I saw when they came back
from a game (3:0 win over Germany) to the city that was host them
during the World Cup 98 - Vittel. The city organized magnificent
recepion, and the players were driving with turist train arround
the city celebrating. On the train, and on some other places
arround, there was a remarkable flag, obviously used as
decoration rather then supposed to be real national flag. I
consisted of 5 stripes, the inner three being the Croatian
national flag, while
the outer two were made of chequy fields.
Željko Heimer , 9 July 1998
.I might add that this same flag pattern was used soon
afterwards, as Croatia gained the thrid place at the Cup, also
there were post stamps (small sheet of 4) showing the victorious
team holding such flags . It was used again, I believe in several
other sporting events as a flag that the supporters used.
Željko Heimer , 9 August 1999
The footbal (soccer) frenzzy is epidemic in Croatia and even
more so with the initial good results against Austria and
Germany.
Anyway, the novelty flags that are attached from the car windows
on a small staff are in this year for the first time in Croatia -
they have not been usual until now. They are produced by several
companies, apparently, since there are several designs to be
seen, on which I shall report below. I would guess that they were
produced somewhere in the far east as the designs of the national
Coat of Arms in the flag are rather poor quality and
misplaced/oversized...
Basically there are two general designs that are being used as
the car (window) flags, each with several variants:
A) national flag
- in ratio 2:3, rougly sized 30x45 cm, with oversized Coat of
Arms (entering the blue stripe with 1.5 rows of
"squares" in the chequy shield)
- similar, but with some comercial message printed on the white
heading on the staff (I was unable to see the commercial up
close)
- similar, but with some kind of commercial ad printed in the
middle of the fly part of the blue stripe (kind of red oblong
rectangle with white letters, but I could not make it out what).
Such defacing of the national flag is against all the Croatian
laws* and good practice, but it seems that none have publicly
objected.
- also similar, but in size ca. 15x22 cm, apparently with better
looking Coat of Arms
B) supporters flag (as it is being advertised in media)
- in ratio ca. 2:3, roughly sized 30x45 cm in chequy patern (i.e.
the banner of arms) in several varinats of the number of squares:
- 4x6 squares, staring with red in the canton, the first square
also including the logo of the newspapers Ve?ernji list
- 6x10 squares, starting with white, although I have possibly
miscounted the number of cheques
- somewhat different variant, being wite flag with chequy border
of two rows of squares around the edges, haven't had chance to
count the squares exactly, but I estmate some 10x20, with blue
"3D" effect letters reding HRVATSKA over the top chequy
border and CROATIA over the bottom
- the same flag seems to have been printed with some aditional
logos in the white central panel, one i noticed including the
logo of the national footbal association
Also, larger flags for hoisting from the houses are being sold,
in size 50x100 cm, again in two variants - the national flag and
the "supporters" flag. I had no chance to see them in
reality, but judging from the drawings in the newspaper ads for
those
- the national flag has badly centered Coat of Arms of poor
drawing (the "crown" being partiall in white and
partially in red stripe, and again entering blue stripoe too much
- as if someone centered Coat of Arms outscribing rectange in the
middle of the flag - a common mistake of the poor Corel users
pasting the Coat of Arms drawing in the middle fo the stripes)
- the supporters flag consists of 9x14 squares, the canton one
being white
The previously popular flags of pattern with the national flag
along the horizontal center and having several rows of chequy
squares atop and in the bottom of it does not seem to have been
used much in regard with this Euro, although I am sure that a
number of suporters owning such flag would take it along as well
as that such is being sold where it was being sold before (flag
maker's shops and kiosks selling supporters items)
The firstly mentioned car window flags are extremly popular and
it seems (based on my rough estimate and not by any serious
study) that almost each 3rd or 4th car in Zagreb in the streets
is being equipped with at least one (and usually two, less
frequently even with four) of them, more on the days when Croatia
is playing, of course.
* Such flags are, at least by the letter of the law illegal and the police, if they would bother, might take action against them. Such offence is in Croatia finable, depending upon a law unto which the jugde may find it offences, up til 300 DEM (Law on Coat of Arms, flag etc.1990, with fines ammended in 93 and 94) or by jail between 3 month and 3 years (Penal Code, 1997 with numerous amendments). Some other counties having rugh fines against such that comes to mind is Portugal (Penal Code 1982, amended 2007) with fines up to 2 years imprisonment or 240 day of financial fine, and Germany (Penal Code, 1998, amended 2007) providing 3 years inprisonment. However, I doubt that any of this would be used much in this sence.
Željko Heimer, 15 June 2008
image by António Martins-Tuválkin and Željko
Heimer, 2 July 2008
"RESPECT" flags distributed by UEFA to the
supporters. Those "RESPECT" national flags have a
vertical white stripe added along the hoist, charged with the
emblem of the Championships and "RESPECT". The emblem
can be seen in full colours on the Euro2008 official
website.
Ivan Sache, 28 June 2008
2nd Military World Games (MWG)
image by Željko Heimer, 20 August 1999
The International Military Sports Council (CISM) is a military
organization comaprable with the Olimpic organization. Their flag
consist of a white, blue bordered flag with the CISM logo in the
middle. The logo consists a globe surounded with a band bearing
the name of the organization, behind is is a composition
consisting of five red rings, a downpointing sword, a golden
laurel wreat and shord points. It seems that only the vertical
version is used.
The flag was used in Zagreb lately, in connection with the 2nd
Military World Games (MWG), held from 8 to 17 August 1999. The
blue bordered flag seems to be official, but as far as I have
noticed, it was only used on opening and closing ceremonies,
while on other places (stadiums etc. and in city) the simple
white "logo on bedsheet" flags were used.
The 2nd MWG used a white "logo on bedsheet" is
consisting of two red squares and five "3D" rings. Read
more about CISM and 2 MWG on thier site <www.2svi.hr> and <www.2svi.hr/eng/02-cism.htm>.
Željko Heimer , 20 August 1999
See also: Conseil International du Sport Militaire - International Military Sports Council (CISM)
image by Željko Heimer , 29 December 2000
A football (soccer) club from Osijek, Croatia - NK Osijek. (NK
means "nogometni klub", i.e. FC). The club emblem is
obviously based on the Coat of Arms of Osijek
and Baranja County, probably a bit overmuch according to some
heradical tastes, but such practice seem not to be unusual in
Croatia (many sport clubs have emblems very similar or equal to
the city or county they are from). The flag is BWB tricolour. The
colour combination of blue-white is the club colours. Not
unexpected, the supporters use the two colours in unnumerable
combinations as flags and weavers used on stadium.
Source: Croatian TV news, 28 December 2000, report from
the annual assembly of the club. Emblem taken from Kohorta
(supporters) pages at <www.nogomet.com/kohorta>.
Željko Heimer, 29 December 2000
image by Pavel, 3 August 2006
Do you have information about this flag seen in a photo of
"Istra" (Pula,Croatia) football fans?
Pavel, 3 August 2006
It is definitely green and yellow, and probably have some
aditional emblems in the yellow part. This is (one of the) flag
of the supporters of the footbal (soccer) club from Pula named
nowdays NK Pula Staro Ceško (previously known as NK Pula
1856, NK Pula, Nk Istra, NK Uljanik etc.), since 2004 in the
First Croatian League. The supporters group is named Demoni Pula.
Obviously other flags are in use including green yellow and black
combinations, as is visible on the same photo.
Željko Heimer, 3 August 2006
The flag of the swim club "plivacki klub JADRAN"
from Split can be seen at <www.pk-jadran.hr>
.
Dov Gutterman, 22 January 2002
I don't see any connection to civic (or other) symbols. Of
course, choice of colours red-white-blue is not coincidence. The
flag looks much like sailing club burgee, and I would almost
think that there must be some such yacht club around. (On the
other hand, there is YC Split, using entirely different flag)
Željko Heimer, 31 January 2002
![[Danger flag]](../images/h/hr@tunera.jpg)
image from <www.panoramio.com>
The (possible) flag of TUNERA - Sea-related sports
association, located in Supetarska Draga, Island of Rab, Croatia.
From Association website
which also shows the association flags as a background: "The
organization for promotion of all sport recreational sea
activities and the protection of coastal flora and
fauna like fishing,diving,sailing,rowing,beach volleyball,
ecological actions of brushing the coast and the sea etc."
The same flag with English text is shown at <www.panoramio.com>.
Valentin Poposki, 26 February 2009
While visiting Croatian coast these days I noticed that there are many red over yellow flags hoisted on various beaches (and I visited a few in the last few days). I wandered what these are and finally found in a security brochure here:
![[Danger flag]](../images/h/hr_dange.gif)
image by Marcus Schmöger, 24 September 2001
- red flag - "don't enter the water - danger"
![[Bathing flag]](../images/h/hr_bathi.gif)
image by Marcus Schmöger, 24 September 2001
- red-yellow flag - "between two red-yellow flags is area under lifeguards surveillance - the area safe for swimming"
I am sure that the exact "names" of this flags would
be a bit simpler - as this seems to be educational brochure
rather then normative.
Of course, one would ask where these flags come from and what's
the use of them if nobody knows what they are - I have searched
quite extensivly around beaches and in hotel lobbies if there is
somewhere a poster explaining these flags, but I found nothing.
Also, I am not aware of any regulation requiering this flags in
Croatia (but maybe there is?), in any case, it seems to me that
this is a news from this summer - at least I noticed these not
before.
It seems that they are related to the flags
used in Britain. The last paragraphs on that page suggest
that they may be some EU directive standardizing this two flags
in the whole EU!?
Željko Heimer, 16 August 2007
Flags are not a frequent thing to spot in Croatia, apart from
the FEEE blue flag indicating the
quality, that is present on very many beaches in Croatia.
Željko Heimer, 11 September 2007
See also: Beach flags
