Athletes can be a powerful tool to unite a nation, and politics often misuses sports to spread nationalism, said Montenegrin sports legends on the second day of the National Platform for the Prevention of Violent Extremism, organized by the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT), the non-governmental organization (NGO) announced.
As stated in the statement, one of the best Montenegrin athletes in history, water polo player Nikola Janović, recalled that he achieved success with three different national teams, that he had the privilege of playing for Yugoslavia, then Serbia and Montenegro, and finally for Montenegro.
"When we won Malaga, we always tried to say that it was a victory for all citizens of Montenegro precisely because of that sensitive moment and the divisions that exist in our society," Janović explained.
He pointed out that athletes can be a powerful tool when a nation needs to unite, that citizens can identify with nothing as well as with the results of athletes, when, as he stated, it shows how one should cheer for and perform for one's country.
"Sport can also serve as a tool in deepening national divisions. Athletes have never been the bearers of these divisions. All of us who played in clubs and went through a lot with the national team saw our opponents as friends, we played together in clubs and went through all those victories and defeats together. I have many friends in Serbia and Croatia, I had the privilege of playing for Yugoslavia, later for Serbia and Montenegro, and then for Montenegro, we always wanted to send the essential message that all our victories are victories for all citizens in our country," said Janović.
Paralympian Maja Rajković pointed out that she and her fellow paraathletes live the Paralympics every day, as people who have many health problems who win every day and that for them every training session is a victory, the CDT statement said.
"I am proud to have carried the flag at the Olympics, to have felt the euphoria that was happening. So much diversity in one place. For the first time, I saw that people with disabilities were equal to other people and we felt like we lacked nothing. That evening was enough for us. That we lacked nothing. We are a very small system and there was discrimination, pity, you fight that, you have to be a winner," said Rajković.
"We are the kind of people who don't want to acknowledge extremism and nationalism. But, that doesn't exist here. We socialize, we don't pay attention to who is of what nation, religion or anything. Because that's the only way you fill yourself with energy to move forward and give good to this world," Rajković added.
The long-time pivot of the handball team, Mladen Rakčević, pointed out that sports fields are an ideal platform for nationalism, but also the extreme nationalism that has brought no good to anyone.
"Sports should be the purest branch of society, but unfortunately it is not. Previously, there was not so much money in this sport, which is why it was less interesting to those who wanted to send certain messages through sports. Coaches and clubs do not work properly, in terms of PR. The moment a certain boy or girl gets a more prominent role and starts communicating with journalists, they have no initial knowledge at all about how they should address the public. Not to mention world-famous athletes who often give bad messages. Love for one's country does not mean hating others," said Rakčević.
He added that the clubs where he played were full of nationalities. "When you go somewhere abroad, we from the former Yugoslavia are called 'ours'." Respect for another person comes from home. I was raised in my home to not care about who is of what nationality or religion, but that a person is a person," he said, adding that "in Montenegro we are too passionate and have too much hatred."
"If you think differently from someone, you are automatically their enemy. Athletes can influence social situations, especially when it comes to nationalism. An example is the best football player in the world, Mbappe, who after some elections in France, publicly spoke out against the right wing that had become heated in that first round. That meant a lot for France to remain on some stable feet. It is very important what messages athletes send," said the famous handball player.
Maja Rajković, commenting on incidents that occur during sporting events, said that sport and the people on the field lose out. "Only sport loses out there, and those people on the field, who give their heart and soul for that game, for that result, for progress. People come with passion, probably politically motivated to do something, and I think that is the defeat of sport. Only sport loses out there, and we must admit that sport is the only bright spot in Montenegro," said the Montenegrin Paralympian.
Rakčević added that athletes who have an influence on society, contact with journalists, the public, and a presence on social networks, should be very careful about how they present criticism or support a certain side. "We need much more education, from the children themselves who are profiling themselves to be professional athletes, who will therefore be in a situation where they have an influence on society, how to communicate with the public," he explained.
Janović, a member of the Parliament of Montenegro, says that today in Montenegro we have politicians who have built their careers on the principle of protecting the national community.
"I believe that I do not have that right, as a former captain, I have to send messages that indicate the unity of all of us, which must be such that all citizens of Montenegro are equally valuable regardless of how they declare themselves and essentially someone who has been involved in sports cannot be a nationalist," said Janović.
Asked whether the label of nation makes people feel more comfortable, and whether insisting on it harms the idea of a nation and crosses the line of good taste, Janović points out that there is no need to insist on nationalism and excessive emphasis on national identity, which, he says, should be distinguished from patriotism and love for one's country.
Janović also recalled that he played for Jug from Dubrovnik and Crvena Zvezda from Belgrade, while the tragic events in our region were still fresh.
"But I always tried to contribute to a better image of the country I come from, in the way I played and behaved outside the pool, and by fighting for that club you show a beautiful image of your country, and that is extremely important and only an athlete can convey that, and that is why they don't say by chance that sport is the first to break down all barriers after war," he said.
Rakčević said that athletes were previously taught to love their country and never make connections with politics, political leaders, or certain parties. "Sports should be the purest branch," he reiterated.
When asked if sports are losing the race to extremism and nationalism, Janović concludes that it is a derby that will always exist, but that athletes are not the ones who generate extremism, but that it often happens in the stands.
"But athletes, both past and present, should remain a pillar of defense against nationalism and extremism, and this form of struggle must be victorious," concluded Janović.
Reflecting on the fact that he entered politics as a successful athlete, Janović said that things in politics, like anything else, should not be generalized and that one can do honorable work in politics.
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