Determination of Friendship Intensity between Online Social Network Users Based on Their Interaction

Online social networks (OSN) are one of the most popular forms of modern communication and among the best known is Facebook. Information about the connection between users on the OSN is often very scarce. It's only known if users are connected, while the intensity of the connection is unknown. The aim of the research described was to determine and quantify friendship intensity between OSN users based on analysis of their interaction. We built a mathematical model, which uses: supervised machine learning algorithm Random Forest, experimentally determined importance of communication parameters and coefficients for every interaction parameter based on answers of research conducted through a survey. Taking user opinion into consideration while designing a model for calculation of friendship intensity is a novel approach in opposition to previous researches from literature. Accuracy of the proposed model was verified on the example of determining a better friend in the offered pair

Determination of friendship intensity between online social network users based on their interaction

Društvene mreže su jedan od popularnijih načina komunikacije današnjice, a među najpoznatijim je Facebook koji prosječno ima milijardu aktivnih korisnika dnevno. Cilj ovog diplomskog rada je pratiti međudjelovanja korisnika na društvenoj mreži, otkriti kakav je njihov odnos u stvarnom životu i kvantificirati ga. Provedeno je istraživanje putem upitnika na temelju kojeg je dobiven uvid u pojedine komunikacijske parametre koji su korišteni, iz perspektive korisnika. Izgrađen je matematički model koji koristi važnost pojedinih parametara prema algoritmu nasumičnih šuma koji pripada skupu algoritama nadziranog učenja, raspodjelu temeljenu na odgovorima ispitanika istraživanja i eksperimentalno određene koeficijente u svrhu pridavanja veće važnosti pojedinim parametrima. Model je kroz rad verificiran i uspoređen s modelom postojećeg istraživanja.People today communicate through social networks. One of the most popular social networks today is Facebook which has one billion of daily active users. This thesis objective is to determine and quantify friendship intensity between users based on analysis of their interaction on social network. Inisight of individual communication parameters importance from users perspective was received based on research conducted through survey. Mathematical model that was built uses random forest, supervised learning algorithm, distribution calculated based on users answers and experimentally determined coefficients for the purpose of giving greater importance to individual parameters. The model is verified and compared with the existing model through thesis

Determination of friendship intensity between online social network users based on their interaction

Društvene mreže su jedan od popularnijih načina komunikacije današnjice, a među najpoznatijim je Facebook koji prosječno ima milijardu aktivnih korisnika dnevno. Cilj ovog diplomskog rada je pratiti međudjelovanja korisnika na društvenoj mreži, otkriti kakav je njihov odnos u stvarnom životu i kvantificirati ga. Provedeno je istraživanje putem upitnika na temelju kojeg je dobiven uvid u pojedine komunikacijske parametre koji su korišteni, iz perspektive korisnika. Izgrađen je matematički model koji koristi važnost pojedinih parametara prema algoritmu nasumičnih šuma koji pripada skupu algoritama nadziranog učenja, raspodjelu temeljenu na odgovorima ispitanika istraživanja i eksperimentalno određene koeficijente u svrhu pridavanja veće važnosti pojedinim parametrima. Model je kroz rad verificiran i uspoređen s modelom postojećeg istraživanja.People today communicate through social networks. One of the most popular social networks today is Facebook which has one billion of daily active users. This thesis objective is to determine and quantify friendship intensity between users based on analysis of their interaction on social network. Inisight of individual communication parameters importance from users perspective was received based on research conducted through survey. Mathematical model that was built uses random forest, supervised learning algorithm, distribution calculated based on users answers and experimentally determined coefficients for the purpose of giving greater importance to individual parameters. The model is verified and compared with the existing model through thesis

Determination of friendship intensity between online social network users based on their interaction

Društvene mreže su jedan od popularnijih načina komunikacije današnjice, a među najpoznatijim je Facebook koji prosječno ima milijardu aktivnih korisnika dnevno. Cilj ovog diplomskog rada je pratiti međudjelovanja korisnika na društvenoj mreži, otkriti kakav je njihov odnos u stvarnom životu i kvantificirati ga. Provedeno je istraživanje putem upitnika na temelju kojeg je dobiven uvid u pojedine komunikacijske parametre koji su korišteni, iz perspektive korisnika. Izgrađen je matematički model koji koristi važnost pojedinih parametara prema algoritmu nasumičnih šuma koji pripada skupu algoritama nadziranog učenja, raspodjelu temeljenu na odgovorima ispitanika istraživanja i eksperimentalno određene koeficijente u svrhu pridavanja veće važnosti pojedinim parametrima. Model je kroz rad verificiran i uspoređen s modelom postojećeg istraživanja.People today communicate through social networks. One of the most popular social networks today is Facebook which has one billion of daily active users. This thesis objective is to determine and quantify friendship intensity between users based on analysis of their interaction on social network. Inisight of individual communication parameters importance from users perspective was received based on research conducted through survey. Mathematical model that was built uses random forest, supervised learning algorithm, distribution calculated based on users answers and experimentally determined coefficients for the purpose of giving greater importance to individual parameters. The model is verified and compared with the existing model through thesis

6th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology: Integrative power of kinesiology : proceedings book

The Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb is organising the International Conference on Kinesiology for the sixth time. Everything began more than 15 years ago when the initiators – Prof. Milanović, still bursting with new ideas, and the late Prof. Mraković, started to advocate the idea of an international conference as a forum for kinesiologists or sport scientists, as a place where their research findings could be presented and discussed, as a meeting point of globally recognized scientists, or authorities in their field of research and research novices. In those days, in 1997, before the First Conference in Dubrovnik, it all seemed so surreal. However, this conference is alive; it grows and becomes ever more sophisticated. Therefore, it is feasible to expect that the forthcoming discussions, talks, dialogues, or whatever kind of idea exchange will result, as they have until now, with new research ideas, insights, research teams and projects the eventual outcome of which is further advances in kinesiology and the cognate and adjacent scientific areas. The motto of this year’s conference is the “Integrative Power of Kinesiology“. It indicates the close relationships among various scientific fields when they contribute to the promotion of physical exercise and various kinds of physical activities in the areas of kinesiological education, high performance sports, kinesiological recreation, health-enhanced kinesiology, kinesitherapy and rehabilitation, sport for physically and mentally challenged persons, school sports, military kinesiology, and many others. Simultaneously with the organisation of the 6th Conference, the Faculty of Kinesiology is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the publication of the scientific journal KINESIOLOGY. Nowadays it is a recognized international scientific journal with an IF of 0.525 for the year 2010. The Conference and the journal KINESIOLOGY have contributed considerably to the affirmation of the name “kinesiology” in the neighbouring European areas. Although both are focused on science, the Conference and the accompanying regular KINESIOLOGY International Editorial Board meetings have also been opportunities for scholars and institution delegates from all over the world to establish close personal contacts, thus opening doors for joint research projects. The basic scientific concept of the Conference, with the working sections that cover the fundamental and applicative disciplines of kinesiology, has been kept from the beginning. This year’s conference will have 12 oral and poster sections in the framework of which the delegates will present 220 full text contributions and abstracts written by 300 authors from 32 countries. Each presented and published paper or abstract has been subjected to a review process performed by at least two prominent referees. For the first time the Conference is hosting a satellite symposium HEPA (Health Enhanced Physical Activity). The purpose of the symposium is to inform delegates from the neighbouring countries, which have not yet become HEPA association member countries, with the basic principles and directives of the movement and to encourage them to become promoters of the idea of health-oriented physical activity in their communities. The World Health Organization has stimulated the design of the Croatian National Action Plan for the implementation and improvement of HEPA in the Republic of Croatia. A presentation of the Action Plan and the planned round table should also be stimulating to colleagues to undertake similar steps in their communities. From the very beginning the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts has given its highly respected patronage to the Conference, thus underpinning the recognition of kinesiology in the structure of sciences. The organisation of such conferences would not be viable without the powerful support from the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sport and the University of Zagreb. The patronage and support are indicators of a notable position the Conference and its organiser, the Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb (established in 1959), have in the Croatian academic and research community. We wish to express much gratitude to all the authors of the papers, reviewers, conference participants, members of the Organisation Committee, Section Leaders, Section Secretaries, technical support staff, and sponsors for their contributions, time and effort inbuilt in the quality of the 6th Conference on Kinesiology and its Proceedings. Our special gratitude goes to the Croatian Office of the World Health Organization. We wish success in the conference work to all the participants and enjoyable time in Opatija. We are convinced the Conference will give the expected impetus to further cooperation between scholars and institutions. Looking forward in advance to meeting you again at the 7th International Conference on Kinesiology in 2014

7th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology: Fundamental and applied kinesiology - steps forward : proceedings

It is our pleasure to greet you on behalf of the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb. Quite a number of significant anniversaries in this year are related to sport, physical education and kinesiology in Croatia. The most important anniversary is the 55th birthday of the College of Physical Culture/Faculty of Physical Culture/Faculty of Kinesiology establishment in 1959. However, the tradition of physical education teachers’ education in Croatia is much longer than that. Namely, in 1874, the Croatian Falcon (Hrvatski sokol) was founded and in 1894, first course for gymnastic teachers was organised as the first higher education course in the field of kinesiology in Croatia. Along with these important anniversaries, this year we are marking the 17th birthday of our Conference on kinesiology, dear Reader, and you are one of the most important reasons why is this so. From the first Conference in Dubrovnik in 1997 up nowadays, many changes in our science have occurred as well as in the practice of physical exercise and sports along with innumerable changes in political and social dimensions of modern life. However, we are deeply convinced that one thing has remained unchanged; that is the passion for investigation and knowledge acquisition, the need for new discoveries and love for kinesiology as the main field of our research. Also, we are assured that our ideas about the conference as a meeting point of distinguished scientists, leading researchers in different fields of our science and young investigators have become reality. We expect discussions and exchange of ideas that should result, as they have before, in new research ideas, insights, and research teams and projects the eventual outcome of which would be further advances in kinesiology and in cognate and adjacent scientific areas. The Conference will work under the motto “Fundamental and applied kinesiology - steps forward” in usual plenary and parallel sessions addressing ten comprehensive kinesiological topics: adaptation of human organism to disuse and ageing; adapted physical activity and kinesitherapy; biology and medicine of sport and exercise; biomechanics and motor control; physical education; kinesiological (sports) recreation; kinesiology of top-level sport; management of sport; kinesiology and social sciences (sociology, psychology, history, philosophy) and kinesiology in physical conditioning. Certain areas will be addressed at the Conference for the first time, like adaptation of human organism to disuse and ageing. All the papers that have got positive reviews, performed by at least two respectable referees, are published in these proceedings. The best papers, so recognized by the peer reviewers, will be published in the journal Kinesiology supplement. Two significant satellite symposiums are going to be held during this year Conference under the titles: University Sport and Health Kinesiology. Both symposia are aiming at provoking experts from these areas to find solutions and answers to recent problems in these specific fields From the very beginning, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts has been giving its high patronage to the Conference, thus underpinning the recognition of kinesiology in the structure of different areas in science. We are proud to have partners and cooperating institutions like Beijing Sports University (China), Faculty of Sport Studies Masaryk University, Brno (the Czech Republic), Science and Research Centre, University of Primorska (Slovenia) and Lithuanian Sports University. Also, our conference is supported by a number of important organisations in the field of kinesiology such as: the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), International Federation of Physical Education (FIEP), and International Network of Sport and Health Sciences (INSHS). This year the assembly of kinesiologists from 32 countries will discuss diverse aspects of a variety of kinesiological issues presented in 220 papers and abstracts written by 514 authors. The Proceedings and Abstract Book is a reminder of the research findings accomplished in the field of kinesiology, or sport sciences, or kinetics, or kinanthropology throughout the past three years. The presented papers are a basis and a probable starting point for future findings and inferences since they cover a wide range of anthropological (understood in the widest sense), methodological and didactic investigations in the areas of physical education, competitive sport, kinesiological recreation, and kinesitherapy. We wish to express exceptional gratitude to all the authors of papers, reviewers, conference participants, members of the Organising and Programme Committee, Section Editors and technical support staff for their contributions, time and effort inbuilt in quality of the 7th Conference on Kinesiology and its Proceedings. Looking forward to meeting you again at the 8th International Conference on Kinesiology in 2017. Organising Committe

6th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology: Integrative power of kinesiology : proceedings book

The Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb is organising the International Conference on Kinesiology for the sixth time. Everything began more than 15 years ago when the initiators – Prof. Milanović, still bursting with new ideas, and the late Prof. Mraković, started to advocate the idea of an international conference as a forum for kinesiologists or sport scientists, as a place where their research findings could be presented and discussed, as a meeting point of globally recognized scientists, or authorities in their field of research and research novices. In those days, in 1997, before the First Conference in Dubrovnik, it all seemed so surreal. However, this conference is alive; it grows and becomes ever more sophisticated. Therefore, it is feasible to expect that the forthcoming discussions, talks, dialogues, or whatever kind of idea exchange will result, as they have until now, with new research ideas, insights, research teams and projects the eventual outcome of which is further advances in kinesiology and the cognate and adjacent scientific areas. The motto of this year’s conference is the “Integrative Power of Kinesiology“. It indicates the close relationships among various scientific fields when they contribute to the promotion of physical exercise and various kinds of physical activities in the areas of kinesiological education, high performance sports, kinesiological recreation, health-enhanced kinesiology, kinesitherapy and rehabilitation, sport for physically and mentally challenged persons, school sports, military kinesiology, and many others. Simultaneously with the organisation of the 6th Conference, the Faculty of Kinesiology is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the publication of the scientific journal KINESIOLOGY. Nowadays it is a recognized international scientific journal with an IF of 0.525 for the year 2010. The Conference and the journal KINESIOLOGY have contributed considerably to the affirmation of the name “kinesiology” in the neighbouring European areas. Although both are focused on science, the Conference and the accompanying regular KINESIOLOGY International Editorial Board meetings have also been opportunities for scholars and institution delegates from all over the world to establish close personal contacts, thus opening doors for joint research projects. The basic scientific concept of the Conference, with the working sections that cover the fundamental and applicative disciplines of kinesiology, has been kept from the beginning. This year’s conference will have 12 oral and poster sections in the framework of which the delegates will present 220 full text contributions and abstracts written by 300 authors from 32 countries. Each presented and published paper or abstract has been subjected to a review process performed by at least two prominent referees. For the first time the Conference is hosting a satellite symposium HEPA (Health Enhanced Physical Activity). The purpose of the symposium is to inform delegates from the neighbouring countries, which have not yet become HEPA association member countries, with the basic principles and directives of the movement and to encourage them to become promoters of the idea of health-oriented physical activity in their communities. The World Health Organization has stimulated the design of the Croatian National Action Plan for the implementation and improvement of HEPA in the Republic of Croatia. A presentation of the Action Plan and the planned round table should also be stimulating to colleagues to undertake similar steps in their communities. From the very beginning the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts has given its highly respected patronage to the Conference, thus underpinning the recognition of kinesiology in the structure of sciences. The organisation of such conferences would not be viable without the powerful support from the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sport and the University of Zagreb. The patronage and support are indicators of a notable position the Conference and its organiser, the Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb (established in 1959), have in the Croatian academic and research community. We wish to express much gratitude to all the authors of the papers, reviewers, conference participants, members of the Organisation Committee, Section Leaders, Section Secretaries, technical support staff, and sponsors for their contributions, time and effort inbuilt in the quality of the 6th Conference on Kinesiology and its Proceedings. Our special gratitude goes to the Croatian Office of the World Health Organization. We wish success in the conference work to all the participants and enjoyable time in Opatija. We are convinced the Conference will give the expected impetus to further cooperation between scholars and institutions. Looking forward in advance to meeting you again at the 7th International Conference on Kinesiology in 2014

7th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology: Fundamental and applied kinesiology - steps forward : proceedings

It is our pleasure to greet you on behalf of the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb. Quite a number of significant anniversaries in this year are related to sport, physical education and kinesiology in Croatia. The most important anniversary is the 55th birthday of the College of Physical Culture/Faculty of Physical Culture/Faculty of Kinesiology establishment in 1959. However, the tradition of physical education teachers’ education in Croatia is much longer than that. Namely, in 1874, the Croatian Falcon (Hrvatski sokol) was founded and in 1894, first course for gymnastic teachers was organised as the first higher education course in the field of kinesiology in Croatia. Along with these important anniversaries, this year we are marking the 17th birthday of our Conference on kinesiology, dear Reader, and you are one of the most important reasons why is this so. From the first Conference in Dubrovnik in 1997 up nowadays, many changes in our science have occurred as well as in the practice of physical exercise and sports along with innumerable changes in political and social dimensions of modern life. However, we are deeply convinced that one thing has remained unchanged; that is the passion for investigation and knowledge acquisition, the need for new discoveries and love for kinesiology as the main field of our research. Also, we are assured that our ideas about the conference as a meeting point of distinguished scientists, leading researchers in different fields of our science and young investigators have become reality. We expect discussions and exchange of ideas that should result, as they have before, in new research ideas, insights, and research teams and projects the eventual outcome of which would be further advances in kinesiology and in cognate and adjacent scientific areas. The Conference will work under the motto “Fundamental and applied kinesiology - steps forward” in usual plenary and parallel sessions addressing ten comprehensive kinesiological topics: adaptation of human organism to disuse and ageing; adapted physical activity and kinesitherapy; biology and medicine of sport and exercise; biomechanics and motor control; physical education; kinesiological (sports) recreation; kinesiology of top-level sport; management of sport; kinesiology and social sciences (sociology, psychology, history, philosophy) and kinesiology in physical conditioning. Certain areas will be addressed at the Conference for the first time, like adaptation of human organism to disuse and ageing. All the papers that have got positive reviews, performed by at least two respectable referees, are published in these proceedings. The best papers, so recognized by the peer reviewers, will be published in the journal Kinesiology supplement. Two significant satellite symposiums are going to be held during this year Conference under the titles: University Sport and Health Kinesiology. Both symposia are aiming at provoking experts from these areas to find solutions and answers to recent problems in these specific fields From the very beginning, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts has been giving its high patronage to the Conference, thus underpinning the recognition of kinesiology in the structure of different areas in science. We are proud to have partners and cooperating institutions like Beijing Sports University (China), Faculty of Sport Studies Masaryk University, Brno (the Czech Republic), Science and Research Centre, University of Primorska (Slovenia) and Lithuanian Sports University. Also, our conference is supported by a number of important organisations in the field of kinesiology such as: the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), International Federation of Physical Education (FIEP), and International Network of Sport and Health Sciences (INSHS). This year the assembly of kinesiologists from 32 countries will discuss diverse aspects of a variety of kinesiological issues presented in 220 papers and abstracts written by 514 authors. The Proceedings and Abstract Book is a reminder of the research findings accomplished in the field of kinesiology, or sport sciences, or kinetics, or kinanthropology throughout the past three years. The presented papers are a basis and a probable starting point for future findings and inferences since they cover a wide range of anthropological (understood in the widest sense), methodological and didactic investigations in the areas of physical education, competitive sport, kinesiological recreation, and kinesitherapy. We wish to express exceptional gratitude to all the authors of papers, reviewers, conference participants, members of the Organising and Programme Committee, Section Editors and technical support staff for their contributions, time and effort inbuilt in quality of the 7th Conference on Kinesiology and its Proceedings. Looking forward to meeting you again at the 8th International Conference on Kinesiology in 2017. Organising Committe

8th international scientific conference on kinesiology: 20th anniversary : proceedings

We are exceptionally happy that we can greet you once more on this occasion. The Faculty of Kinesiology, as a proud member of the University of Zagreb and a higher education institution that is 57 years old, is organizing The International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology for the 8th time. Identically as three years ago, this is a good opportunity to remember some important anniversaries. First of all, this year we celebrate 160 years since Nicolas Dally published his work in 1857 under the title “Kinesiology – Science of Movement in Relation to Education, Hygiene and Therapy”. This was the first book that introduced Kinesiology as a science of movement. The second important anniversary is 20 years since the establishment of our Conference. In 1997 the first International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology was held in Dubrovnik. Until today a great number of leading experts in the field of contemporary kinesiology were keynote lectures and presenters of the most important scientific breakthroughs in the field. Once again, the Conference will be a great opportunity for broadening of scientific insights into this miraculous, beautiful phenomenon of physical activity and its effects – its perfection when performed by sport artists, as seen at the XXXI Olympic Games, its joyfulness when happy children enjoy being competent to be in motion, or when we see eager people who enjoy life and nature because they have enough energy and they are healthy thanks to an active lifestyle. We are especially proud of the 17th place on the medal list thanks to the ten Olympic medals won by Croatian athletes. All fundamental and applied fields of our science will be discussed within 10 tentative sessions and 3 Satellite symposiums. The ultimate purpose of papers or abstracts published in this Proceedings book is to know and understand human beings and to apply the findings in everyday practice of education, sports, health promotion, recreation, sports management and kinesitherapy. The Proceedings Book contains 249 contributions, which were submitted by the submission deadline, written by 557 authors from 30 countries from all over the world. We expect a number of graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral students from Croatia and abroad for whom the Conference School of Kinesiology for Postgraduate and Doctoral Students will be organised during the Conference. From the very beginning the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts has given its highly respected patronage to the Conference, thus underpinning the recognition of kinesiology in the structure of sciences. Special thanks go to our partner institutions: Beijing Sports University, China and the Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, to our collaboration institutions: the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, Lithuania, the Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany and the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. We wish to express much gratitude to all the authors, reviewers, participants, members of the Organisation and Program Committee, Section Editors, technical support staff, and sponsors for their contributions, time and effort inbuilt in the quality of the 8th International Conference on Kinesiology and its Proceedings. We wish success in the conference work to all the participants and a pleasant time in Opatija. Convinced that the Conference will give the expected impetus to further cooperation between scholars and institutions, we are looking forward in advance to meeting you again at the 9th International Conference on Kinesiology in 2020. Organising Committe

8th international scientific conference on kinesiology: 20th anniversary : proceedings

We are exceptionally happy that we can greet you once more on this occasion. The Faculty of Kinesiology, as a proud member of the University of Zagreb and a higher education institution that is 57 years old, is organizing The International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology for the 8th time. Identically as three years ago, this is a good opportunity to remember some important anniversaries. First of all, this year we celebrate 160 years since Nicolas Dally published his work in 1857 under the title “Kinesiology – Science of Movement in Relation to Education, Hygiene and Therapy”. This was the first book that introduced Kinesiology as a science of movement. The second important anniversary is 20 years since the establishment of our Conference. In 1997 the first International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology was held in Dubrovnik. Until today a great number of leading experts in the field of contemporary kinesiology were keynote lectures and presenters of the most important scientific breakthroughs in the field. Once again, the Conference will be a great opportunity for broadening of scientific insights into this miraculous, beautiful phenomenon of physical activity and its effects – its perfection when performed by sport artists, as seen at the XXXI Olympic Games, its joyfulness when happy children enjoy being competent to be in motion, or when we see eager people who enjoy life and nature because they have enough energy and they are healthy thanks to an active lifestyle. We are especially proud of the 17th place on the medal list thanks to the ten Olympic medals won by Croatian athletes. All fundamental and applied fields of our science will be discussed within 10 tentative sessions and 3 Satellite symposiums. The ultimate purpose of papers or abstracts published in this Proceedings book is to know and understand human beings and to apply the findings in everyday practice of education, sports, health promotion, recreation, sports management and kinesitherapy. The Proceedings Book contains 249 contributions, which were submitted by the submission deadline, written by 557 authors from 30 countries from all over the world. We expect a number of graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral students from Croatia and abroad for whom the Conference School of Kinesiology for Postgraduate and Doctoral Students will be organised during the Conference. From the very beginning the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts has given its highly respected patronage to the Conference, thus underpinning the recognition of kinesiology in the structure of sciences. Special thanks go to our partner institutions: Beijing Sports University, China and the Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, to our collaboration institutions: the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, Lithuania, the Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany and the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. We wish to express much gratitude to all the authors, reviewers, participants, members of the Organisation and Program Committee, Section Editors, technical support staff, and sponsors for their contributions, time and effort inbuilt in the quality of the 8th International Conference on Kinesiology and its Proceedings. We wish success in the conference work to all the participants and a pleasant time in Opatija. Convinced that the Conference will give the expected impetus to further cooperation between scholars and institutions, we are looking forward in advance to meeting you again at the 9th International Conference on Kinesiology in 2020. Organising Committe