Karte player Nenad Dulović, the best Montenegrin athlete in 2023, stated that he lives for the day when he will make Montenegro proud, when the national anthem is played in his honor, and when the flag will raise to the highest point on the flagpole at a major competition. The Montenegrin Olympic Committee declared Dulović the best athlete of Montenegro in 2023. Dulović is the vice-world champion who achieved the most significant result in Montenegrin karate since the country's independence, winning a silver medal in the 67-kilogram category at the championship in Budapest. At the global karate event in the capital of Hungary, he was a member of the fifth-placed team in the team competition. In 2023, he won a gold medal at the Balkan Championship in Tirana, making it a memorable year for the Omladinac karate club member. Dulović is the third karate player to be named the most successful athlete of Montenegro, following Marina Raković in 2016 and Mario Hodžić in 2019. "It is a great honor for me that my name will be written in the history of Montenegrin sports and karate today, among great sports names, which was also my childhood dream," Dulović said at the solemn ceremony at Villa Gorica. He thanked the Montenegrin Olympic Committee and its President, Dušan Simonović, for choosing him as the best athlete and appreciating his achievements. "I would like to say that this is a great year for me, as well as for my colleagues in karate and my friends from karate, most of whom have won awards for the best athletes in their cities. I am grateful that Montenegro sees karate as a beautiful and successful sport and values our results, making us better people, better athletes, and giving us great confidence for further work," Dulović said. He thanked his family, friends, club "Omladinac," coach Žarko Raković, selector Almir Cecunjanjin, the Karate Federation, and its President, Predrag Perković. "I would like the entire Montenegrin public to hear and know. The day when I climb the podium, when the flag is above me, and the anthem is heard, and the whole of Montenegro is proud of me, that is the day I live for, for which I fight with all my heart, body, and soul," Dulović said. After an excellent performance at the World Championship in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway and reaching the quarterfinals, the women's handball team received recognition as the most successful national team. By finishing seventh in the tournament's final stage in Herning, the Montenegrin handball players became the best women's national team for the seventh year in a row in the Montenegrin Olympic Committee's selection. With their excellent results, Bojana Popović's team secured a spot in the Olympic qualifying tournament, where they will compete against Germany, Slovenia, and Paraguay in April 2024, while in 2023, they opened the qualifications for the 2024 European Championship in Hungary in the right way. The President of the Handball Federation, Petar Kapisoda, said that the award confirms that the girls had the right attitude towards the national team this year. "I would like the next year, which will be particularly challenging, to be even more successful. We aim to qualify for the Olympic Games, which would be a great success. In Tokyo, we were the only representative of our sport in men's and women's competitions in the former Yugoslavia. Considering the size of our country, this is a feat. I wish the boys much success at the European Championship. I hope we will see each other in the same place next year," Kapisoda said. The Montenegrin basketball players also had a brilliant performance on the world stage this year, coming close to the quarterfinals of the World Championship in Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Boško Radović's team impressed the world with their excellent performance against the United States, and by defeating Greece in the second stage of the World Cup, they achieved the best placement in the history of Montenegrin basketball – 11th place at the World Championships. In this way, Montenegrin basketball has reached the opportunity to compete for an Olympic spot for the first time, so the players will face Olympic qualifying in Riga in July 2024. "It has been a good year for us, and the good performances have continued - last year at the European Championship and this year at the World Championship. What is up to us is to continue with good games and representing our country. Qualifications for the 2025 European Championship are starting, and we will try to secure another major competition. We will also participate in the Olympic Games qualifications for the first time," said coach Radović. European vice-champion in boxing in the under-22 category, Bojana Gojković, once again proved to be a great talent in Montenegrin sports. With her outstanding performance at the European Championship in Budva and Podgorica, a member of BC Budva, she continued to win the highest medals, with the silver from Podgorica being the most significant result of the super-talented girl from Budva in 2023. Bojana Gojković, without whom no MOC awards ceremony has passed since she was 15, was again named the most successful young athlete. This is her 6th MOC award. "Next year, I have two qualification tournaments for the Olympic Games and the European Championship in April in Belgrade ahead of me. I will do my best to prepare well and win a ticket to Paris," Gojković said. She mentioned that this year has been successful for her and reminded everyone that she finished the year by winning a European silver medal. Gojković noted that she is pleased that there are more and more boxers in the awards. "Boxing is now already at the center of the sport, and I am glad about that," said Gojković. The Executive Board of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee decided to award the title of the most successful young athlete of Montenegro to boxer Mirko Šarčević and bocce player Gracija Stjepčević. Šarčević defended his title with a brilliant performance at the youth European Championship in Armenia, where he won the gold in the 71-kilogram category. The talented player from Bijelo Polje made a step further in his career, as after the European bronze last year, he won the title of the continental champion and another award for the best young boxer of Montenegro in the selection of the Boxing Federation. Stjepčević had another memorable year. The young Tivat player, this year's world champion in the under-23 category in speed bocce, won gold at the Youth World Championship in Algeria in the individual discipline and also made progress at the senior level by winning the bronze at the European Championship in "approach and hit in a circle" in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dušan Simonović, the President of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, said that looking towards the summer and the Paris Olympics, they are aware of the complexity of the challenges ahead, but they are confident that they will use their nearly two-decade experience, knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to ensure the best possible conditions for Montenegro's sports delegation to showcase their talent and quality. "We expect a respectable Olympic team to compete under our flag, as in the previous few editions of the Games, and we are confident that in the City of Light, they will shine, making us proud once again. Just as the essence of sport is not limited to winning and breaking records, so does the work of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee not end with organizing our athletes' participation in the Olympic Games, no matter how much it is the culmination and the most visible part of a four-year hard work," Simonović said. He emphasized that in 2023, the Montenegrin Olympic Committee made efforts to strengthen the role of the National Olympic Committee in Montenegrin society, which is not merely symbolic but crucial for enhancing the integrity and progress of the sports community. "As the umbrella sports organization in the country, we have the right and obligation to represent the interests of sport and the Olympic movement, ensuring our voice is heard in decision-making processes. We would be happy - let it be our New Year's wish - if the awareness of how much the Montenegrin Olympic Committee contributes not only to sporting success but also to the general well-being of the state deepens, representing the fundamental link in the chain of support for sports development, a link whose strong presence and sustainability are of essential importance for creating a favorable environment in which national federations and sports organizations can progress," Simonović said. According to his words, the Ministry of Sports and the Montenegrin Olympic Committee (MOC) continue to cooperate closely to improve the sports scene in Montenegro. He emphasized that this collaboration is an example of a partnership between the National Olympic Committee and the state and a successful synergy between the state, the National Olympic Committee, sports associations, and athletes. "As a result of this excellent cooperation at the national and international levels, I would like to highlight two exceptional projects ahead of us. The first one is of significant importance as it represents the meeting point of the history, present, and future of Montenegrin sports: the long-awaited start of the construction of the Olympic House, which, through its components - the Olympic Museum, the Olympic Academy, the Olympic Center, and the Olympic Administration - will combine the expertise of MOC and direct its creativity toward creating a better environment for athletes and sports workers," said Simonović. He announced that in September, MOC will organize an EOC (European Olympic Committees) seminar in Budva, gathering around 200 participants from the European Olympic sports system and serving as a platform for discussions and education on critical topics shaping the future of European Olympism. "Today is an opportunity to remind ourselves that exactly 30 years ago, a group of sports enthusiasts embarked on the project of establishing the Montenegrin Olympic Committee. Some of them are with us today, so please greet them with strong applause, hoping their efforts will never be forgotten," said Simonović. He wished Montenegrin athletes to follow their dreams passionately in 2024 and emphasized that the Montenegrin Olympic Committee is their home, always ready to support them at every step. The President of Montenegro, Mr. Jakov Milatović, congratulated the awardees on their outstanding achievements in the past year. "You know how much effort, tears, and sweat it takes to embark on this journey, achieve your dreams, and be an inspiration to all of us who follow and support you. Athletes promote themselves, their team, family, community, and country. Montenegrin athletes are our best ambassadors, presenting the virtues, talent, and chivalry that characterize the Montenegrin people to the world through their successes and their attitude towards sports and the state," said Milatović. He emphasized that athletes serve as motivation and the best examples for the youth, who see them as role models to one day make their generations proud. "The state must create an environment where athletes compete only with each other, where quality work, responsibility, and dedication are the path to success, and where decision-makers in sports recognize and appreciate these qualities," Milatović said. The Montenegrin president stressed the state's obligation to improve further sports infrastructure and conditions for sports development to provide better opportunities for current and future athletes to engage in sports easily and without hindrance. "Behind every achievement, medal, or trophy lies a lot of hard work, sacrifices, and emotions. Therefore, I congratulate all award recipients, believing the upcoming Olympic year will be even more successful for Montenegrin sports. Long live our sports, and long live Montenegro," concluded the President of Montenegro. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Sports and Youth, Mr. Dragoslav Šćekić, stated that the exceptional collaboration between the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Montenegrin Olympic Committee (MOC) forms the foundation of their common goal - to improve sports in Montenegro. "As the next year is an Olympic year, I want to emphasize the strong support of the Government and the Ministry of Sports and Youth for the Montenegrin Olympic Committee. The culmination of our collaboration will be the completion of the Sports Development Strategy, which, in cooperation with our international partner UNICEF, is near its conclusion," Šćekić said. He highlighted a significant aspect of their collaboration: the construction of the Olympic House in the capital. "Montenegro, as a small country, enriches its sports history daily. Our athletes achieve top results, and our intention is clear - to provide support that increases year by year," Šćekić said. He noted that the budget for sports associations and organizations has increased by over 50% compared to this year's budget. "I am grateful to all those who contributed to this increase, and we are certain that it will be a stimulus and support for even greater effort and better results. Dear friends, on this occasion, we must acknowledge that our sports infrastructure is unsatisfactory," Šćekić said. He announced that the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Sports and Youth would specialize in improving conditions, building national sports centers for football, basketball, tennis, combat, and other sports, and strengthening school sports. "It is a pleasure to be part of today's atmosphere. Whether we are players, coaches, or passionate spectators, the world of sports teaches us invaluable lessons about determination, discipline, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence," Šćekić said. He congratulated the outstanding individuals and teams - Nenad Dulović, the Montenegrin women's handball team, the Montenegrin men's basketball team, Bojana Gojković, Mirko Šarčević, and Gracija Stjepčević. "Your results are a source of pride and commitment. They give all of us the obligation that we can and must do better and more. Because we have someone to look up to. Ultimately, I wish everyone a happy New Year and Christmas holidays and an even more successful year ahead," Šćekić concluded.
