The Award, presented by the Slovenian Marketing Association, provides direct access to the contest for the European Sponsorship Association's "Best of Europe" prize, due to take place in London in January 2015.

The project, entitled "Wholehearted coaches", started in October 2013 and is the first in Croatia aimed at local level sports development for children with disabilities.

Based on specially developed swimming and athletics programmes, the Wholehearted coaches' schools have opened their doors to children in 13 cities across Croatia, with two more scheduled to be opened before the end of the year.

The ultimate goal is to include the majority of Croatian cities and ensure that all children have equal opportunity to do sports.

The project brings together local authorities, Non-Governmental Organisations' associations of people with disabilities, as well as managers of the sport facilities.

Through cooperation and dialogue, they work to ensure continuous allocations for the project and thus ensure its sustainability.

Allianz are working in collaboration with the Croatian National Paralympic Committee
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"There are local Governments who are very friendly and encourage sports programmes for people with disabilities, but there are also areas in which such support and funding are systematically refused," said Ratko Kovačić, President of the Croatian NPC.

"In general, the trend shows a stagnation in the funding of such activities

"On one hand we have a deep and prolonged economic crisis, but on the other we are faced to lack of awareness and insensitivity of individuals.

"But we are lucky to have a partner who shares our vision and this is the best way to build a perspective future, hand-in-hand with companies like Allianz."

Boris Galić, chief executive of Allianz Zagreb, added: "We strongly believe access to sports should be equally available to all members of our society, especially to those members whose physical development and well being depend on it.

"We hope to lead by example in using our sponsorships to contribute to the society and serve as a catalyser in connecting stakeholders at all levels in order to achieve sustainable change."

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