Students of the School of Economics and Business visited the Burja Izola Sailing Club on Thursday, April 9, 2026, where they were welcomed by Vasilij Žbogar, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Izola, one of the greatest Slovenian athletes and the most successful Slovenian sailor. The visit took place as part of the project Entrepreneurial Knowledge for Recognition (Problem-Based Learning of Students in the Workplace), mentored by Prof. Dr. Boštjan Antončič and Eldina Domazet.

Vasilij Žbogar presented the functioning of the Burja Izola Sailing Club, one of the most recognizable Slovenian sailing clubs, to the students and shared with them valuable insights from his exceptional sporting career. As a five-time Olympian and three-time winner of Olympic medals and numerous other top achievements in the Laser and Finn classes, he introduced the students to what lies behind top sporting success, from discipline, perseverance, and systematic work to strategic planning and environmental support. In addition to his personal sporting experiences, he also paid special attention to the broader development of sailing on the Slovenian coast. He highlighted the importance of high-quality organization of sailing competitions, and above all, the possibilities for their further optimization and more effective promotion. He emphasized that the Slovenian coast represents an exceptional natural resource for sailing, which is attractive not only to domestic sailors but also to numerous athletes from abroad.

One of the main topics of the meeting was also cooperation between sailing clubs. Vasilij Žbogar emphasized that Slovenia has excellent conditions for the further development of sailing, but that full utilization of this potential requires networking, coordinated action, and joint promotion. He sees cooperation between clubs, organizers, and the wider environment as the key to even greater recognition of Slovenian sailing at home and internationally. The visit was a valuable experience for the students, as it enabled them to have direct contact with a top athlete and an excellent expert in the sports system, who understands the importance of organization, promotion, and cooperation in the development of sports industries.