Montenegro Leader in the Field of Sports Science
It is very important that Montenegro has two prestigious Journals in the field of sports science, because what is published in them is the basis of all future dealing with sports science in our country and gives a good introduction to all future research and analysis - says the president of the Montenegro Olympic Committee.
Conferences such as the international scientific "Transformation Processes in Sport - Sport performance" are very important to raise awareness about the importance of sport and sports science. Sports Sciences provides guidance for achieving the best results in sports. There is no modern sport or sports discipline where science or scientific achievements, do not have a decisive influence - rated in an interview for the web portal of the University of Montenegro President of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, Dušan Simonović.
You are a longtime sports official and you are someone who is a professionally "tied" to the Montenegrin Olympic Committee. How do you look at the sports science from this point of view?
Sports science is a discipline closely associated with what I do, but also Montenegrin Olympic Committee as a unit. In a sea of activities that we have as the National Olympic Committee, a big part is the promotion of physical activity and healthy lifestyles, which is the essence of sports science. The very idea of the modern Olympic Games, or their essence, is linking sport with science, culture, education, and ultimately the history and economy of the entire society. Sports science gives, I can say, guidelines for the best performance in sports. There is no modern sport or sports discipline where science or scientific achievements, do not have a decisive influence. Regarding this, the consultants of the International Olympic Committee have issued a number of publications covering this topic. The most important ones we have translated into Montenegrin language. However, the last couple of years the national and the regional consultants begin to deal with this issue, and we have a series of important publications, which were supported by the Montenegrin Olympic Committee and the Olympic Committees from the region. Interest in sports science is a growing trend to which contributes the fact that a large number of universities worldwide, including the University of Montenegro, offers programs dealing with this discipline. It is therefore logical the excellent long-term cooperation that Montenegrin Olympic Committee has with the Faculty for Sports and Physical Education, and the University of Montenegro.
Montenegrin Olympic Committee is a partner of the forthcoming international MSA Conference "Transformation processes in Sport – Sport performance." How are manifestations of this type important for the development of scientific thought and sport spirit, but also the positioning of the organizers, their partners and the country?
To raise awareness about the importance of sport and sports science, events of this type are very important. As I said, it is done a lot on promoting sports and sports science in Montenegro, and this conference is a step forward when it comes to positioning Montenegro in these scientific circles. Although I agree with the views of colleagues from other countries of the former Yugoslavia, that as a region we are lagging behind the European trends, when this discipline is in matter, I believe that cooperation between sports, scientific staff and experience which will be exchanged in such a meetings, and will contribute to the faster gap overcoming between us and developed European countries and in the near future we will develop sports science, apply guidelines that are given by a modern sports science and discuss the current global trends in this discipline. Although it takes a while, this conference represents a pioneering endeavor, and how important it is for our country is the fact that, thanks to it, Montenegro was recognized as a regional leader in this field.
You cooperate with the Faculty for Sports and Physical Education, University of Montenegro, which is positioned high in the region. How do you assess the success? What is, in your opinion, the key to their success?
First of all, it is my pleasure to have the opportunity to cooperate with the Faculty for Sports and Physical Education, University of Montenegro. This is a new, very important experience for me, which gives me perhaps the best picture of the development of sport and sport science in Montenegro. Also, I'm very pleased that the Olympism, as a course, is present at the Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, and even the International Olympic Committee has a positive view on this matter, because it demonstrates the overall commitment to the promotion of ideas of Olympism in Montenegro. Behind such a great Faculty’s success is a large commitment to the work, experience, and desire for learning and improvement. The true fortune is to be gathered in one place with so many experienced, but also young, ambitious and open people who share the same or similar vision for the development of sport. I believe that behind this success are hard work, dedication and sincere desire for acquiring and sharing new knowledge.
MSA with the Faculty for Sports and Physical Education publishes two prestigious Journals in Sports Sciences - Montenegrin Journal for Sports Science and Medicine (MJSSM) and Sport Mont. MJSSM is indexed in two of the world's most prestigious index bases Scopus and Thomson Reuters. How do you comment on that success?
It is very important that Montenegro has two prestigious Journals that cover this area, because I think that what is published in them is the basis of the all future dealings with sports science in Montenegro and gives a good introduction for all future researches and analyses. People who work in the Journals are really pioneers in this field in the region; from the very beginning they knew what they want, they had a clear vision for the development of sport, they endured and survived. Therefore, the fact that MJSSM is indexed in two academic world databases of that level, speaks of Journals significance, not only for Montenegro, but also for the world sports public. This is a sign that in Montenegro there are people who are seriously engaged in sports science at the global level, which goes in favor to my belief that sports science in Montenegro has a bright future.
You are managing the Montenegrin Olympic Committee and participate in the work of the International Olympic Committee. How in that organization they see the sports in Montenegro?
Colleagues from the International Olympic Committee are impressed with the fact that Montenegro, numerically small country, has so many incredible sports talents that already on the second appearance at the Summer Olympics Games won a medal in this very popular sport, in women’s handball. They have been aware of the fact that we are a sports nation, of great sports names. They are aware, however, and the fact that sport in Montenegro faces major problems, primarily financial and infrastructural. However, many years of successful cooperation led to friendly relations with both the International Olympic Committee and with other regional associations, through the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, many are helping the development of Montenegrin sport.
In which sport do you expect to win the next first Olympic medal?
Montenegro, as I said, has incredible talents and amazing sports qualities and potential. However, it is difficult to speak from this perspective which sport can be expected to win next Olympic medal. In team sports, there was a change of generations, in the individual as well, and there is still plenty of time for talents to appear in the sport where we did not participate previously in the Olympic Games, who can bring medals to Montenegro. Our girls and boys many times made us proud with exceptional results from major world and European competitions, almost always they are competing for a medal, so I expect and I know that there will be medals. But, as I have said many times before, to win a medal affects a number of different factors, due to the fact that sport is unpredictable and full of surprises. We have more than three years to provide all necessary assistance to our athletes and do everything in our power to help them to get to the Olympics, and then to achieve the best possible result at the Games. (University of Montenegro)