NOC Montenegro organised a ceremonial send-off for Team Montenegro ahead of the 20th Mediterranean Games, which will be held in Taranto, Italy, from 21 August to 3 September 2026.
Montenegro will be represented at the Games by 55 athletes competing in 13 sports, while the honour of carrying the Montenegrin flag at the Opening Ceremony has been given to boxer Bojana Gojković and swimmer Miloš Milenković.
The ceremonial send-off was attended by members of the Montenegrin delegation, representatives of national sports federations, coaches and sports officials, partners of NOC Montenegro and representatives of institutions. Some members of the national team were unable to attend due to ongoing international competitions and final preparations for Taranto.
President of NOC Montenegro Dušan Simonović recalled that Montenegro has representatives at major multi-sport events almost every year, from the Olympic, European and Mediterranean Games to the Games of the Small States of Europe, European Youth Olympic Festivals and the Youth Olympic Games.
“In such a rich calendar, the Mediterranean Games have a special place. They are among the competitions with the longest tradition, bringing together countries from three continents around the Mediterranean, and they always carry a special significance. For us, this time they mean even more than that. We are in the cycle leading towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, while next year will also bring the European Games and the Games of the Small States of Europe, so for many of our athletes Taranto will be a real test ahead of everything that follows and a place where we will see how far we have come,” Simonović said.
Montenegro will compete at the Mediterranean Games for the fifth time since the restoration of independence, and our representatives have so far won a total of 22 medals.
Simonović emphasised that he is particularly pleased with the composition of the team, which includes experienced Montenegrin national team members as well as young athletes for whom Taranto will be their first major senior multi-sport test. “It includes our experienced national team members, who know very well what it means to wear the national emblem on their chest, but also young competitors for whom Taranto will be their first major test in senior competition. It is precisely this combination of experience and youth that characterises a sport with a future,” Simonović said during the send-off.
He thanked the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Sports and Youth, NOC Montenegro’s partners, national sports federations, coaches and professional teams who have worked over the previous months to ensure that Montenegrin athletes travel to Taranto fully prepared.
He told the athletes that competing in the national jersey represents both an honour and a responsibility, and that the whole of Montenegro will be behind them during the competition. “Compete with your hearts, leave everything you have on the field of play and represent our country in the way only you know how: with the pride and character by which we are remembered wherever we compete. But allow yourselves to enjoy it as well, because earning a place on this team is already an achievement you have secured yourselves,” Simonović said.
Minister of Sports and Youth Zoran Jojić wished the Montenegrin athletes successful performances, pointing out that the delegation includes competitors with extensive international experience as well as those for whom Taranto will be their first major senior multi-sport event. “That is precisely the beauty of sport: everyone has their own path, their own goal and their own story, but when you put on the Montenegro jersey you all have the same task: to give your very best and represent our country in the best possible way,” Jojić said.
He added that athletes’ success should not be measured exclusively by medals. “A medal is the crowning achievement, but behind every result are years of training, sacrifice, discipline, victories and defeats. Everything you have invested to be here today is already a great success. I believe you will bring back from Taranto not only good results, but also experience that will be valuable to you in the years ahead,” Jojić said.
During the ceremonial send-off, the members of the Montenegrin team who will compete in Taranto were presented, after which the Montenegrin flag was handed over.
Bojana Gojković and Miloš Milenković to carry the Montenegrin flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Mediterranean Games
President of NOC Montenegro Dušan Simonović and Minister of Sports and Youth Zoran Jojić handed the Montenegrin flag to boxer Bojana Gojković and swimmer Miloš Milenković, who will lead the Montenegrin delegation at the Opening Ceremony of the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto.
“It is a great honour and pleasure for me to carry the Montenegrin flag at the upcoming Mediterranean Games. This is a great responsibility and honour for me, as well as a source of pride, especially after so many years dedicated to sport. Thank you for your trust and support, and I will give my very best,” Gojković said.
Milenković added that it is “a great honour to carry the Montenegrin flag on my debut appearance at the Mediterranean Games. I wish all athletes the best of luck in achieving their results and hope that, through our shared energy and strength, we can surpass our limits and represent Montenegro in the best possible light.”
Our representatives will compete in 13 sports: athletics, bocce, boxing, judo, sailing, karate, padel, swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, shooting, taekwondo, tennis and water polo.
In the individual and doubles events, Montenegro will be represented by an almost equal number of female and male athletes, 20 women and 21 men.
In addition to the men’s water polo team, Montenegro will be represented by:
- athletics: Marija Bogavac (javelin throw) and Marija Vuković (high jump);
- bocce: Sanela Brkan (precision shooting), Ela Stjepčević (speed shooting), Ilija Belan (speed shooting) and Gracija Stjepčević (precision shooting);
- boxing: Bojana Gojković (up to 57 kg), Tomislav Đinović (up to 60 kg) and Miloš Roganović (up to 70 kg);
- judo: Novo Raičević (up to 90 kg) and Aleksandar Tomić (up to 100 kg);
- sailing: Milivoj Dukić and Ilija Marković (ILCA 7);
- karate: Helena Backović (up to 55 kg), Nađa Boričić (up to 61 kg), Jovana Damjanović (over 68 kg), Jovana Stojanović (up to 68 kg), Lana Vukčević (up to 50 kg), Nenad Dulović (up to 67 kg), Lazar Jovović (up to 75 kg), Nemanja Jovović (over 84 kg), Nemanja Mikulić (up to 84 kg) and Balša Vojinović (up to 60 kg);
- padel: Jelena Matijević, Ivanka Simonović, Đanluka Lamberto Pelonci and Luka Petranović (men’s, women’s and mixed doubles);
- swimming: Jovana Kuljača (50 m and 100 m freestyle) and Miloš Milenković (50 m and 100 m butterfly);
- rhythmic gymnastics: Nina Dragović (individual all-around);
- shooting: Ksenija Jukić (10 m air rifle), Kristina Popović (10 m air rifle and mixed team), Nevena Šaranović (10 m air pistol) and Miloš Božović (10 m air rifle and mixed team), while Jovica Marković and Ivo Stanišić will compete in the trap event;
- taekwondo: Anđela Berišaj (over 67 kg), Andrea Berišaj (up to 67 kg) and Enes Dushku (up to 68 kg);
- tennis: Tea Nikčević (singles and mixed doubles) and Petar Jovanović (singles and mixed doubles).
Montenegrin athletes were presented at the ceremonial send-off wearing NIKE apparel provided for Team Montenegro by Sport Vision. A unified national team kit is an important part of the team’s identity at major international competitions, as well as of the support that enables athletes to represent Montenegro in conditions and in a manner appropriate to the biggest sporting events.
Around 4,500 athletes from 26 countries across Europe, Africa and Asia are expected to compete at the 20th Mediterranean Games.
PHOTO Gallery – https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD2x32
