With less we achieved a lot

Yesterday was the day in Montenegro dedicated to winners of Mediterranean Games in Pescara, as well as to all participants who had their debue at the Games and made positive impression and with golden letters wrote another page in the history of Montenegrin sport. In total, 108 athletes, competed for 12 days in Italy with much experienced opponents who came to Pescara with very clear ambitions. Our team, Montenegrin Olympic Committee led by its president Dušan Simonović, wanted the most, the best and showed how small state, with not enough quantity as other Mediterranean countries, can achieve lot with less.

Seven medals, out of which two gold – in bowling by Petković and in boxing by Drašković, silver in tennis by Tošić and Danilović, bronze in boxing by Beganović and handball team, won in six different sport disciplines, show that Montenegrin sport has potential, and gives hope for the future, and for sure London 2012 will be very successful for some.

For that reason and for extraordinary results, and only two days after the end of the Games in Pescara, Montenegrin Olympic Committee held a press conference where, besides the president Simonović, vice president Zorica Kovačević and Andrija Popović, as well as Chef de Mission at the Mediterranean Games, Miodrag Ivanović, also were present winners of medals in Pescara.

– We gathered here for two reasons. First one is reocgnition of MOC by the International Olympic Committee two years ago. I hope it won’t sound pretentious and immodest, but in last two years we done a lot of good things and I am sure that we will continue to work in that direction. Second, and most important reason is that today with us are winners of medals on Mediterranean Games in Pescara – said Simonović. – I greet them all and I would like to wish them lots of luck in future activities. In Pescara we had an extraordinary appearance, seven medals for small Montenegro is not something we expected in this moment, at least not in our first participation at the Mediterranean Games. We expected medals in some sports, but medals were won by those unexpected. It was great success for sports not included in the Olympic programme, but of very popular sports in Mediterranean. We achieved big success in some Olympic sports, but in some we expect great appearance in London at the Olympic Games. I am glad because these seven medals were won in six different sports which gives hope for more quality participation of our athletes in future competitions. Now we have new hope in team sport and we have experience that enriched us by participation of all 108 athletes, who were real examples and presentors of sport and our country.

President of MOC Simonović, reminded that after all these competitions, from world championships, european championships and Mediterranean Games, conditions are created for quality analysis which will be perforemd by all national federations, and afterwards presented to the Ministry of culture, sport and media, and based on that analysis will be valued individual sport branches.

– This will be the time, since we are seriously preparing for London, to give chance to those who are are real candidates for the OG, and through financial support help them in order to more quality preparations for the Games. I think we will need time for this. In particular, in Pescara there weren’t unsuccessful athletes, because every one of them gave their contribution, but also, we have to be realistic and look into the facts and see which sports are those where results can be achieved in big competitions and support those sports, but at the same time, keep attention to other sports too.

President of MOC thanked the Assembly of MOC which supported this mission in all aspects, as well as Executive Board that supported the team with timely and brave decisions. Simonović also thanked specialised department of MOC that finished its job in most quality way, and especially thanked small team lead by Miško Ivanović, Chef de Mission in Pescara.

– Italian Embassy and Consulate in Montenegro helped a lot, and from their side they did everything they could in order for us to travel to the Games without any problems. I would like to thank hosts of the Games, all media that broadcasted everything that happened in Pescara.

Montenegrin Olympic Committee brought the decision to award winners of medals, in accordance to their possibilities.

Vice president of MOC, Andrija Popović, congratulated winners of medals and participants of Mediterranean Games in Pescara.

– Impressive results arer achieved. In 1983. as member of water polo national team I was winner of gold medal in Morocco, and that was the first medal on some big competition. I know how much I was excited, so I can understand how medal winners are feeling right now.

On behalf of Ministry of Culture, Sport and Media, deputy Dragan Drobnjak addressed medal winners and other participants.

– I wish you to continue in this pace and quality. Especially, I would like to congratulate medal winners and all participants of Mediterranean Games for their right behaviour, attitude and extraordinary promotion of Montenegro and themselves, as well. Ministry will organise reception for medal winners and in accordance to regulations deliver appropriate awards for winners.

Hosts of next Mediterranean Games will be Greece. At these Games will participate 24 Mediterranean countries. In Italy, Montenegro was youngest participant. Seven medals on its debue. Just a step from other medals by other athletes. In Greece 2012. is expected more.

Golden debue

Our bowler Petković won first, out of two gold medals, on Mediterranean Games.
– I would like to thank all for the support and greetings for this medal. I won first gold medal for Montenegro which was great success for me and for sport, still classified as non professional. We proved everybody that we have potential and quality. It is nice to be first, the feeling is just great!

Boško Drašković thrilled

Boxer Boško Drašković is winner of second gold medal at the Games. Besides the fact he surprised us, he also showed he has potential for better results. His wish and his dream is London, and he promised to work harder and with all his efforts.
– I would like to thak all for their greetings. My mission was medal, and until golden one I had three difficult fights. It was hard, but I wanted to give my best, and with this result I think I achieved great success for boxing, for our federation.
We put big efforts, almost six months we were on preparations, and all with aim to participate on Mediterranean Games in best possible way. I hope I will progress even more until London, and that is exactly my big dream.

Radosavljević: It will be much better

First medal winner for Montenegro was wrestler Radosavljević. He made happy everybody in Mediterranean Village. He was example, besides winning first medal for our country, it was first medal for Montenegrin wrestling sport.
– I would like to thank MOC who managed to send us all to the Games. I won first medal for Montenegro, for wrestling sport and I hope by this medal we will manage to rise wrestilng to higher level. I hoped that tgis medal won’t be the only one and we managed to success in Pescara.