The Montenegrin Olympic Committee (MOC) and the COC Athletes’ Commission, with the support of the International Olympic Committee and the European Olympic Committees, organised the first Montenegrin Athlete Forum – a national event dedicated to improving the position of athletes and building a modern sports system in Montenegro.
The Forum was officially opened with remarks by Dušan Simonović, President of the MOC, Dragoslav Šćekić, Minister of Sports and Youth, and Milivoj Dukić, President of the MOC Athletes’ Commission, accompanied by a video message from Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
In his opening address, the President of the MOC stated that sport must be recognised as a value of national importance: “Sport is a school of life and a reflection of society. On the success of our athletes, we build the confidence that through joint efforts we can create better conditions for future generations.”
Minister Šćekić emphasised that the state must remain a consistent partner to athletes: “This Forum demonstrates that Montenegro has the knowledge, capacity, and will to provide athletes with a system that supports them at every step – from career development to the protection of their rights.”
Four-time Olympian Milivoj Dukić highlighted the importance of athlete involvement in decision-making processes: “This Forum was created to show that we want to be part of the solution. Because only when athletes have a voice – sport has a future.”
In Focus: International Approaches and the Development of Sports Systems
Three presentations at the core of the Forum drew great attention:
- Ayako Ito, representative of the IOC, presented the global consultation process FIT FOR THE FUTURE, aimed at strengthening the voice of athletes in shaping the future of the Olympic Movement.
- André Lachance, a globally recognised expert in long-term athlete development, spoke about building sports systems that equally foster performance and human values.
- In the presentation on preparations for Los Angeles 2028, Marko Marjanović (ARTIFIT) and Igor Ognjenović (FITREVOLUTION) introduced an advanced model of individualised preparation based on science, technology, and precise performance tracking.
Panels Address Key Issues in Contemporary Sport
The Forum also featured panel discussions on athletes’ rights, mental health, psychological preparation, and dual careers, which opened up important questions about safety, equality, and support for athletes throughout their developmental and competitive journey.
A special value of the Forum came from the participation of prominent Montenegrin athletes. Milena Raičević, Stefan Vidović, Jovana Peković Raičević, Sonja Barjaktarović, Andrija Popović, and Milivoj Dukić shared personal stories about the pressures, expectations, and challenges of professional careers. Their testimonies on mental health, motivation, transitions, and attitudes towards sport helped bring attention to topics that had previously been underrepresented in public discourse.
In addition to athletes, the Forum included sports psychologists and experts such as Prof. Dr Ljubica Bačanac and Nikola Mijušković, who spoke about the importance of psychological preparation, mental wellbeing, and the creation of a supportive culture in sport.
Participants from academia and coaching – Ksenija Božović Ivanović, Damjan Danilović, Denis Čekić, and Krsto Vukadinović – shared perspectives on athlete rights, dual career development, the role of education, and athlete transition after competitive careers.
The distinct value of this Forum was reflected in its open discussions, where athletes spoke from personal experience, highlighting systemic shortcomings while offering concrete proposals for improvement. It is precisely in this exchange of ideas that the Forum’s core mission became clear: to create a space where the voice of athletes is not only heard but respected.
Athletes’ Rights Declaration Adopted
The highlight of the event was the adoption of the Athletes’ Rights Declaration and the Development of Montenegrin Sport, a document prepared by the COC Athletes’ Commission in collaboration with athletes. The Declaration clearly outlines athletes’ rights to: Safety and mental health, Dual careers, Equality and participation in decision-making, Fair competition conditions, Protection from violence and discrimination. The document obliges sports organisations and institutions to improve protection systems, establish clear reporting procedures, and enhance transparency in their operations.
The Forum Becomes an Annual Platform
The first Montenegrin Athlete Forum concluded with the message that this is just the beginning of a continuous process of building a fair, resilient, and modern sports system. The Forum will now become an annual platform, bringing together athletes, institutions, and experts to strengthen sport and promote athlete wellbeing in Montenegro.
This event gathered an impressive number of participants from across the sports sector – including elite Montenegrin athletes, Olympians, and national team members. Also present were renowned sports psychologists, coaches, academic experts, and representatives of sports organisations, giving the event a multidisciplinary character and enabling high-level knowledge exchange. Attendees also included representatives of government institutions, international sports bodies, and partners from the fields of science, medicine, and education – affirming a shared commitment to the long-term development of Montenegrin sport.
Educational Workshops Held the Day Before
Ahead of the main Forum day, two important educational sessions were held:
- At the anti-doping workshop, organised in cooperation with the Anti-Doping Commission, athletes and coaches learned about rules, rights, and how the Commission operates, through an interactive lecture by Dr Stefan Mikić.
At the safeguarding in sport workshop, 50 athletes and sports professionals had the opportunity to learn how to recognise, report, and prevent forms of interpersonal violence through presentations by Maja Peković (Montenegrin Olympic Committee) and Nikola Prentić (Football Association of Montenegro).
