When national institutions carrying responsibility for the development of Montenegro recognise a shared mission, partnerships emerge with the power to transform the system. That is precisely the message sent today by NOC Montenegro and EPCG through the signing of a new general sponsorship agreement and the continuation of a cooperation that has for years provided stability to Montenegrin Olympic sport.
The agreement was signed in Podgorica by NOC Montenegro President Dušan Simonović and EPCG Chief Executive Officer Zdravko Dragaš, officially confirming the continuation of a partnership that goes beyond the framework of traditional sponsorship and represents a strategic investment in athletes, expert teams, development programmes and the long-term competitiveness of Montenegro on the international sporting stage.
During the press conference, it was emphasised that Montenegro does not compete with major nations through the number of athletes or the size of its budget, but through organisation, programme quality and the ability to maximise every invested resource. This requires partners who understand the long-term logic of investment rather than short-term visibility — and EPCG is precisely such a partner for NOC Montenegro as the umbrella sports organisation.
The President of NOC Montenegro, Dušan Simonović, highlighted that this partnership goes beyond a conventional sponsorship relationship. “The Electric Power Company of Montenegro is a company that supplies energy to every home, every school and every sports hall where our young athletes train. When such a company decides to stand behind Olympic sport, it is not a marketing transaction — it is an institutional commitment. Sport does not begin on the day of competition. It begins much earlier: in preparation, in recovery, in the work with expert teams, in the days when results are not yet visible but character is already being built. That is why the partnership with EPCG has real value: it does not only support participation — it creates the conditions that make participation possible in the first place. I am confident that together, from Taranto and Dakar, through Istanbul to Los Angeles, we will demonstrate what Montenegro can achieve when its institutions work together,” Simonović stated.
EPCG Chief Executive Officer Zdravko Dragaš said that EPCG sees in the Olympic Committee a partner that upholds the same values, founded on responsibility, dedication and a long-term vision for Montenegro. “NOC Montenegro builds the country’s reputation every day through results, commitment and elite sport. EPCG recognises that mission, because we ourselves build stable systems designed to endure for generations. This partnership is not about visibility, but about a clear commitment to being a pillar of support for Montenegrin athletes on their journey towards the highest achievements and proud representation of Montenegro. We believe that both a strong sports system and a stable country are built through the same energy — responsible investment, long-term vision and trust in people,” said Dragaš.
The continuation of cooperation between NOC Montenegro and EPCG comes during one of the most demanding and strategically important periods for the Montenegrin Olympic movement. The Montenegrin Olympic team faces a year of intensive international commitments, major multi-sport events and significant investment in preparation programmes, the development of young talent, athlete health, education, sports integrity and the strengthening of the overall capacity of the sports system.
This year, the Montenegrin Olympic team will participate in two major international multi-sport events: the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, taking place from 21 August to 3 September, with an expected delegation of around 100 members, and the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, from 31 October to 13 November. Alongside the already completed participation at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, 2026 represents one of the most organisationally, logistically and financially demanding years for Montenegrin sport in the current Olympic cycle.
This year also carries particular strategic importance, representing a significant stage in the long-term preparation and development programmes on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. For this reason, the support of a general sponsor such as EPCG carries meaning far beyond financial backing. It represents continuity of preparation, security in planning, investment in athlete health, the development of young talent, modern performance monitoring methods, expert support and the strengthening of the overall sports system.
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