A special closing program was held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Pazin Sports Hall as part of the fifth Krešimir Ćosić Association basketball camp, jointly organized by the Krešimir Ćosić Association and Basketball Club Pazin.
The program brought together this year's camp participants, their parents, coaches, and interested members of the public, and was dedicated to sport, education, health, and the values that Krešimir Ćosić promoted throughout his life and work – the world's best basketball player and a visionary of the game, as well as a diplomat who played a major role in Croatia's recognition in the United States as Deputy Ambassador of Croatia in Washington.
The program was opened by Ana Ćosić Pajurin, President of the Krešimir Ćosić Association, who presented the Association's work and the role of its free camps to involve kids in sports for a healthy lifestyle. She spoke about the Association's development and activities over the past year, including last year's event in Zadar and this year's presentation of Krešo's autobiography "The Smile" in the United States – at the World Bank and the Croatian Embassy in Washington, where she took part as a panelist. Of particular note was the participation of World Bank Vice President Akihiko Nishio, a Japanese long-time admirer of Krešimir Ćosić dating back to his playing days.
Stanislav Peharec spoke about the importance of sport in preserving children's health, introducing the young athletes to the significance of physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits, and emphasizing a responsible approach to one's own health.
A special part of the program was dedicated to Mladen Mohorović, a former national team player from Labin and a player for Lokomotiva, Cibona, and Kvarner, who was actively involved with the participants throughout the entire camp, sharing experiences from his rich sporting career. He also spoke about the importance of education, telling the young athletes that alongside dedication to basketball, they must also work on their schooling and prepare for life after their sporting career. He identified five to six standout talents among the participants, but stressed that school must remain their priority, and recommended they continue training in Pazin, alongside their friends and family, in a hall with excellent conditions and quality coaches.
The program concluded with a particularly moving moment – Davor Peharac, a great admirer of Krešimir Ćosić, presented Ana Ćosić Pajurin with a painting of Krešimir Ćosić from 2000, created by academic painter and sculptor Eros Čakić, symbolically connecting sport, art, and the lasting memory of one of the greatest basketball players and visionaries.
The young basketball players pleasantly surprised everyone present by reciting, in unison, the "five commandments of Krešo": never give up, always try something new, always share, I want to be educated, and I love my home.
Alongside the basketball knowledge and experience gained through training, participants also had the chance to hear important life messages about health, education, work, discipline, and perseverance – one of the defining features of Krešo's camp: introducing young people to basketball while encouraging them to build, through sport, values that serve them beyond the basketball court. All participants received certificates of participation.
Damir Ćus served as head coach and lead of all five free camps, which ran daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a hot meal provided for participants. On behalf of KK Pazin, he thanked Ana Ćosić Pajurin, President of the Krešimir Ćosić Association, noting that Pazin is the only city in Croatia to have held all five camps continuously – something they are especially proud of. Each year the camps have brought together between 50 and 90 participants, with the hope that basketball will remain a lifelong passion for many of them.
