Antun Vrdoljak

Antun Vrdoljak studied at the Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Art and became one of the best known actors in Croatia. His film début was in 1957 in the Nikola Tanhofer movie, Nije Bilo Uzalud (It Was Not in Vain). In 1958 he received praise for his role in Tanhofer’s film, H-8. Vrdoljak later switched to directing in the late 1960s receiving critical acclaim for two early films on which he was director and screenwriter, Kad čuješ zvona (When You Hear the Bells, 1969) and U gori raste zelen bor (A Green Pine Tree Grows on the Mountain, 1971). “When You Hear the Bells” was entered into the 6th Moskva International Film Festival, at which it won a Silver Prize.

Vrdoljak later entered politics as a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). In May 1990 his close friend Franjo Tuđman was elected President of Croatia, and Vrdoljak received an appointment as a Vice-President of Croatia. The HDZ lost power in 2000 and Vrdoljak returned to filmmaking.

In sports Vrdoljak was President of the Organising Committee for the 1990 European Athletics Championships in Split, and was President of the Croatian Olympic Committee from 1991-2000. He was made a member of the IOC in 1995, serving until 2012, at which time he was made an Honorary Member. During his term on the IOC he served on commissions for Radio and Television, and Culture and Olympic Education.