International Day of Sport

At the opening ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium, the Olympic Anthem, a choral cantata by opera composer Spyridon Samaras and written by Greek poet Kostis Palamas, was presented. The lyrics: "Olympian flame immortal, whose beacon lights our way/Throw wreaths of fadeless flowers to the victors/Create in our breasts, hearts of steel", 119 years later, still emblaze our hearts with the fires of hope.

   By celebrating the Olympic spirit and insisting on its humane and noble characteristics, the International Year of Sport is dedicated to recognizing the transforming power of sport and its huge potential when it comes to positive social changes.

   “In no way can sport be considered a luxury object” – said Pierre de Coubertin – “For each individual, sport is a possible source for inner improvement. Sport must be the heritage of all men and of all social classes.”

   Emphasizing the indispensable role of sport in society, we also want to promote healthy lifestyles, understanding the need that sport must be universally accessible since it has numerous benefits, especially as a mean of development in the parts of the world where there is conflict, poverty and evident inequality.

   Respecting the influence and position of the International Olympic Committee, its dedication to promoting peace, respect and tolerance, the UN has given the International Olympic Committee (IOC) the observer status at the General Assembly, in 2009. The link between the two organizations were deepened and further strengthened on April 28 2014, when International Olympic Committee's (IOC) President Thomas Bach and United Nations’ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon signed a historic agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two organizations at a highest level. The agreement underlined that the IOC and the UN “share the same values of contributing to a better and more peaceful world through sport". The agreement recognizes the goal of the IOC and the Olympic Movement to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating young people to avoid discrimination of any kind, by using sport.

   “Sport is a universal language which knows no boundaries and can be a powerful tool to promote progress and development” – the paraphrased words of Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

   The Montenegrin Olympic Committee, deeply respecting this day, has celebrated the International Day of Sport on this day. Through numerous ways, MOC wants to remind people that the Olympic spirit is a part of our culture, that sport should be open to everybody, that is has enormous potential when it comes to personal and the development of a society as a whole, and all of these elements show MOC is looking into the future.

   Representatives of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee visited and gave a present to our first and the oldest Olympic athlete, Mirko Vujačić, who is 91, and who was our javelin thrower on the Olympic Games in London in 1948, finishing in seventh place overall.

   In a primary school in Podgorica, “Vladimir Nazor”, MOC held an Open Class. Our distinguished athlete, Srđan Mrvaljević, who was Montenegrin's flag bearer at the opening ceremony on the 2012 London Olympic Games, and President of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, Dušan Simonović, both gave their speeches during this class. Former world’s number two and world's silver medalist was talking about his rich experience and pointed out the importance of sport. President of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee was talking about fundamental elements of the Olympic spirit and its values, paying particular attention to the value of sport when it comes to culture and education.

   Furthermore, on Trebjesa hill near Nikšić, the cycling club “Perun”, together with the Montenegrin Olympic Committee and “Petrović Njegoš” foundation, jointly organized activities of cleaning the area called Eco Activity. Through this concrete example, MOC has sent the message to numerous citizens that sports and athletes contribute to a better, healthier environment, as well as to the integration and development of our community.

   As a small and a proud sport nation Montenegro is dedicated to the Olympic spirit and promotion of the essence of sport – which are: the power to inspire, promote diversity and contribute to a more tolerant society.