A thousand schools in small communities throughout Croatia, which do not have gyms, have been provided with training grounds for physical activity within the "Live a Healthy Life" project of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), Sanja Music-Milanovic of the HZJZ said on Monday.

Data show that 88% of preschool children are physically active at least an hour per day, however, upon completion of primary school, this share drops to a mere 17%, she said while presenting the results of the “Live a Healthy Life” project, which is in its tenth year.

Musić Milanovic said that HRK 7.05 million had been provided from the European Social Fund to finance the project.

During today’s ceremony in the HZJZ, pupils of the “Ceško Selo” primary school in Petrinja presented the use of the playgrounds and amenities. They were supported by distinguished athletes: female boxer Nikolina Cacic, former professional basketball player Dino Radja, rowers Martin and Valentin Sinkovic, former water polo player Dubravko Simenc, and former footballer Dario Simic.