Medals with golden shine

Another Mediterranean Games are over. For Montenegro they were very important because for the first time Montenegro participated independently with 108 athletes in 18 sports, in competition that gathered 23 Mediterranean countries.

Montenegro won seven medals, out of which two golden, two silver and three bronze.

Bowlers, boxers, wrestlers, handball players, karate players and tennis players made us very happy. We were very close to winning some more medals. Some of them delighted us, some achieved average results, some disappointed… still, final impression is that our team in Pescara didn’t go just to participate. Ours have played, competed, and won.

First medal was won by wrestler Vladimir Radosavljević. First bronze made everyone in the Village very happy. Last in the row was gift from our female handball players. All in all, our athlete broadcasted beautiful picture in Pescara. This is how the president of Montenegrin Olympic Committee, Dušan Simonović saw participation of our athletes in Pescara :

– This was first participation of Montenegro in Mediterranean Games, organized under patronage of the International Olympic Committee. In preparation period we have done big job, very carefully, we chose the team which will be able to realize all of this, and I think we succeeded. We gave the chance to large number of athletes to participate at the Games. We simply wanted to enable all of those who have ambition for big results and those who, objectively, can achieve results to participate in this big competition, and now definitely we have clear picture of everyone’s capabilities. As for results in Pescara, they were expected, maybe even a bit more than expected. I am happy for this, as well as for overall atmosphere in our team, i.e. group which represented Montenegro at the Games.

In general, in which way results from Pescara can encourage and what are the sports or teams which imposed themselves for some future competitions?

– In general, results achieved at the Games are very encouraging. Through this competition profiled five, six sports which Montenegro can count on for future competitions. I am very happy for everything that happened in Pescara not only in area of sport, but in organizational and every other way, I am satisfied for behavior of whole team and that is something what serves as honor to Montenegro. I would like to thank all for their efforts, I think that all athletes wanted success and they all achieved it in some way. I am sure that all of them gave their best, and I am really happy for two gold medals and all other medals who have golden shine.

Who was most pleasant surprise?

– Truth is we won medals in individual sports which we could only dream about some time ago. Because of that, and for all other results, medals and relations on future of Montenegrin sport we should look with optimism. I am sure that there will be more similar or even better results. Our strategic, main and most important goal are the Olympic Games in London. For that occasion we should make specific strategy, and results achieved in past two years are important indicator of all happenings in Montenegrin sport. This is the reason why we must support teams, sports that are imposing and I believe that in that way we can achieve good results at the OG.

How much was important support from the side. Sponsors, supporters, volunteers, people from Rome and other places in Italy and from Montenegro who were in Pescara in order to morally support success of our athletes?

– I would like to use this opportunity to thank our sponsors, people from Montenegro who supported us. Great honor for us was arrival of the Prime Minister of Montenegro to the opening ceremony of the Games, and overall support we got from the State, which was really necessary and important for all of us.

You acted in several fields at the same time. Preparations for Mediterranean Games, Universiade, soon will be organized another competition, how and in which way you managed to organize and choose team that, particularly in Pescara, was available to all athletes?

-It is demanding job particularly because we were active in several directions, and everything we achieved was because of good cooperation with our national federations. We managed to agree about everything, of course there were some other requests, but I think that we found optimal solutions with understanding of federations. As for other things, we had maximal support from the Assembly of MOC, including right and timely decisions of the Executive Board of MOC. I thank them for that, because without those decision, sometimes brave ones, there are no good results. So, we choose the team that was operational, it could have been wider, in that way we could train more people for such important and complex job, but as you know, we didn’t have enough money and we wanted to bring more athletes to the Games. I think that we didn’t make wrong decision.

How did you function with other federations in Pescara. What was cooperation?

– As you know, there were annual, electoral conference of Mediterranean Association. I had lots of contacts with my colleagues, presidents of federations with whom we have regular contacts. What is really important is that all of them look at us with special kindness, and recently we were accepted into association of small countries.

Next stop Finland

What are the future activities of MOC?

– In two weeks we will go to another new competition. It is EYOF, summer edition which will be held in Finland. Ten to twelve our young athletes will be competing in Finland and I hope they will make us happy too.