The President of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee (MOC), Dusan Simonovic, recently attended a high-level meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, which took place from the 13th to the 15th of October. The meeting, aimed at developing sport cooperation in Europe, brought together esteemed participants, including ENGSO President Stefan Bergh, Portuguese Sport Confederation President Carlos Cardoso, ENGSO Secretary General Sara Massini, and presidents and representatives of various National Olympic Committees (NOCs) from the region. During the meeting, President Dusan Simonovic shared insights into the work and extensive experience of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee in international and European projects. He emphasized the MOC's participation in four capacity-building projects funded by the Erasmus+ program, which address various critical topics, including grassroots values promotion, gender equality, and capacity-building for sports administrators and coaches. Mr. Simonovic also highlighted several other initiatives and projects undertaken by the NOC Montenegro, including promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles, efforts towards gender equality, creating a safe sport environment, and introducing the Olympic Values Education Program in Montenegro's elementary schools. He also touched upon the exciting developments of the Olympic House and Olympic Museum in Podgorica. Furthermore, President Simonovic addressed the importance of political advocacy and engagement at both the national and international levels. He emphasized that NOC Montenegro actively collaborates with governmental bodies and international sporting organizations to advocate for policies and initiatives that support their core objectives, which include athletes' well-being, gender equality, Olympic Games preparations, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Despite the MOC's significant achievements, President Simonovic acknowledged some challenges they face, particularly in terms of finances and capacity building. Adequate funding and resources are crucial for the effective implementation of programs, especially those related to athlete support and development. The high-level meeting was part of the Sport as Value EU co-funded project and took place during the European Sport Platform event, providing a valuable opportunity for sports leaders from across Europe to exchange ideas and explore possibilities for cooperation at the EU-International level. President Dusan Simonovic's participation in this meeting reinforces NOC Montenegro's commitment to enhancing the sports landscape in Montenegro and contributing to the broader European sporting community.
