Laureates of Montenegrin Sport for 2019: Everything about Montenegrin Sport in One Place
Recently, the latest book from the popular multi-volume edition "Laureates of Montenegrin Sports" for 2019 was published by the Montenegrin Sports Academy and the Homeland from Danilovgrad. With this exclusive work, Montenegrin sports and sports literature are richer for another in a series, a great achievement, which in an original and unique way represents the greatest achievements of Montenegrin sports to general public.
Authors of the Laureate of Montenegrin Sports, a unique edition on Montenegrin sports are Dusko Bjelica, PhD, Professor at the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education from Niksic, Zdravko Gavrilovic, sports journalist and publicist and Todor Brajkovic, sports journalist of the daily newspaper Dan. A special chapter in this edition consists of student university competitions and activities at the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education of the University of Montenegro. In this latest edition of the Laureate, authors have placed special emphasis on international sports competitions, the results achieved and the awards won by our athletes and national teams in 2019. The national championships also deserved attention, especially in those sports where our competitors record successes, win medals, and where they are recognized for the attention they pay in their work and competitions and work with young people.
The national teams were presented on the international scene, as well as clubs and individuals, as the best promoters of domestic sports, who gave their stamp with their results and thus marked this 2019. The first pages of "Laureates of Montenegrin Sports" bring traditional selections of the best athletes of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee and the Association of Sports Journalists of Montenegro, who this year unanimously awarded the young Mario Hodžić, karate players from Omladinac from Podgorica. Hodzic was really the most successful this year and there was no dilemma about the election and awarding of the highest recognition. The traditional selection of the best athletes in sports federations is a continuation of the story of the laureates. After that, in the second part, the elections of the best in the municipalities follow, and the portraits of the best athletes continue, followed by the results of our national teams and athletes, winners of medals from the biggest competitions. There are stories about state competitions, records, champions, but also university, school competitions and other sports events that marked 2019.
Neither 2019, nor the previous two years, had been successful for Montenegrin sports, because medals of our athletes and national teams from major European and world competitions were missing. Mario Hodžić, a karate player from Podgorica's Omladinac, tried not to be overshadowed by oblivion this year. By winning silver medals at the European Championships in Guadalajara and the European Games in Minsk, he brought the greatest joy to all sports fans in Montenegro and quite deservedly took the epithet of the best athlete last year. Mario was chosen as the best athlete in the selection of the MOC, he was also the best in the traditional selection of the Association of Sports Journalists of Montenegro, he was chosen as the best athlete in Podgorica and in the selection of the Karate Federation of Montenegro.Last year's sports year was also marked by the boxer from Budva, Bojana Gojković, who for the second time in a row won the title of European champion in the junior competition. Bojana defended her title at the European Championships in Romania, last year she won all the tournaments in which she participated and ended the year undefeated. Success was also achieved by Predrag Nikač, who became the world chess champion for the visually impaired in Cagliari. Table tennis player Filip Radović won a gold medal at the European Games of Young Paralympians in Finland. Judoists, kick boxers, karate players have had success… The handball players made an unexpected feat by qualifying for the European Championship, inflicting the first defeat on the Danish national team in official matches after 15 victories. On the other hand, the handball players achieved a result worthy of attention. By winning the fifth place at the World Cup in Japan, they achieved the best placement in this competition in the history so far. The basketball players of Buducnost Voli, failed to repeat the success from 2018, were defeated in the final series of the ABA league by the Red Star, and did not qualify for the Euro League, but won the domestic Cup. The women handball players of Buducnost were disappointing, neither last year nor the previous year they failed to place in the finals of the Champions League, i.e. in the final four in Budapest. Jadran-Carina water polo players will also have to wait for a new chance for a successful return to the European scene. When it comes to football, this 2019 will be remembered for the worst result of the Montenegrin national football team. The qualifiers finished last in the group, with three draws and seven defeats. The historical result of the 1.000th match of England will be remembered, which declassified our national team with 7: 0 at Wembley, inflicting the heaviest defeat in history.
Special attention is paid to athletes who marked 2019 on the domestic and international scene with their results. The solemn celebration of the century of football in Bjelopavlići and the great jubilee of FC Iskra, from Danilovgrad, was presented. The Jubilee of 70 years of existence and successful work in 2019 was celebrated by the Basketball Club Budućnost, which gives great importance to Montenegrin sport, its further valorisation and popularization. Ten years of membership in international associations were marked by the Paralympic Committee of Montenegro.
This year as well as in previous years, authors paid significant attention to activities of the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education in Nikšić, with a special emphasis on activities of professors and students on domestic and international scene, as well as their sports activities. University sports deserved attention, through traditional league competitions in several sports disciplines. Also, the activities of the School Sports Association from state competitions were presented.
Special attention was paid to scientific achievements in sports, which were presented through the work of traditional conferences of the Montenegrin Sports Academy. The scientific meeting and the 16th International Scientific Conference CSA were held in Dubrovnik. This was the first scientific conference held outside Montenegro. This largest scientific gathering on sports in the region and beyond gathered about 250 delegates from 42 countries, while the scientific papers were signed by 367 authors and co-authors from all continents. The fact that the UNESCO International Council for Sports Science and Physical Education declaring it one of the most important events in the field of sports for 2019 speaks best about the international significance of the Conference.
This book of the Laureate of Montenegrin Sports for 2019, as well as all previous ones, is a unique reminder for all sports representatives. It leads us in an original and recognizable way through the 2019 sports year, through the competitions of our athletes and national teams, the greatest ambassadors of Montenegro, keeping from the darkness of oblivion, among the covers of this almanac, their sports successes and recognitions.
"Laureates of Montenegrin sports 2019", is an unavoidable reading of all athletes, sports workers, chroniclers and all those who work in sports in general. This original almanac of Montenegrin sports on 225 pages is illustrated by more than 350 photographs and represents successes of our athletes and sports in general this year, where greater achievements of our athletes were missing.