BSCG: Our level is difficult for other federations to achieve, Simonović wants to harm us by signing the Categorization Rules

"We do not believe that this unjust and vile act by Mr. Simonovic, which is undoubtedly unworthy of an official of such a level, can influence the decisions made by the Ministry of Sports and Youth regarding the allocation of budget funds."

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Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

The Boxing Federation of Montenegro criticized the Regulations on the Categorization of Sports for the Period from 2025 to 2027, called out the President of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, Dušan Simonović, but also emphasized that the level and pace of development of that federation is difficult to achieve for other national sports federations.

"The regulation on the categorization of sports - based on which the distribution of budget funds for national sports federations is formed - signed by Dušan Simonović causes deep astonishment and disappointment. We are troubled by the fact that he, most certainly intentionally, really wanted to harm the development process of the Boxing Federation of Montenegro with this document," say, among other things, from the BSCG.

We are publishing their statement in its entirety...

"Boxing in Montenegro is historically one of the most developed and popular sports, which has brought and continues to bring a huge number of international recognitions over the years, glorifying Montenegrin sport on the world stage and enjoying great love and popularity among the country's population.

Continuing its long-standing tradition, the Boxing Federation of Montenegro has been the absolute leader among all national sports federations of Montenegro for the last three years, not only in terms of the number and quality of medals won at European and world championships, but also in terms of the number and level of organization of major international competitions.

During the previous Olympic cycle, Montenegrin boxers won more than 20 medals, seven of which were gold, at European and World Championships alone. We especially highlight three senior medals from the European Championships and three medals from the previous Mediterranean Games (out of seven won by Montenegrin athletes in all sports). BSCG has organized four European Championships, three World Cups, a European Cup and finally the now historic World Youth Championship.

Tens of thousands of athletes, coaches, boxing fans, supporters and tourists have visited and gotten to know our country thanks to these sporting events.

Within Montenegro, the number of sports clubs and the mass appeal of boxing have tripled. Several renowned international coaches have been hired to work with Montenegrin athletes, and dozens of international training camps have been organized. With all due respect to our colleagues, at this moment the level and pace of development of the Boxing Federation of Montenegro is practically unattainable for other national sports federations.

boks
photo: Shutterstock

In 2022, the EUBC (European Boxing Confederation) recognized the BSCG as one of the most progressive federations in Europe, and in 2024, the IBA (World Boxing Association) recognized our federation's contribution to the development of world Olympic boxing and entrusted us with the organization and holding of the World Youth Championship, exempting us from the mandatory payment of a fee of 500.000 US dollars, which allowed us not to seek assistance and not to spend a single euro from the state budget on the organization of this event.

Our boxer Bojana Gojković (seven-time finalist of the European Championships) represented BSCG and the country at the Olympic Games in Paris. And all this is just part of the work we have done to develop boxing in Montenegro, popularize the sport and represent our country at the international level. We have hugely ambitious plans for the next Olympic cycle, including opening new clubs, improving sports infrastructure, attracting new experts, introducing innovative methods of training athletes and, of course, new victories at all competitions, including the upcoming Olympic Games.

In the context of all the above, the Regulation on the categorization of sports for the period 2025/27 - on the basis of which the distribution of budget funds for national sports federations is formed - signed by MOC President Dušan Simonović, causes deep astonishment and disappointment. We are not at all bothered by our position in 28th place among such developed sports as bodybuilding and kendo, among which Simonović placed us in this 'document'.

We value sports friendship and solidarity towards all athletes, regardless of the level of development of their sport in Montenegro and we treat them with equal respect. We will try from this position to win the maximum number of awards for our country again and to be ahead of most of Mr. Simonović's favorites. But we are troubled by the fact that Dušan Simonović, most certainly intentionally, really wanted to harm the development process of the Boxing Federation of Montenegro with this document.

He tried to humiliate our federation. His intention is to show us his power and influence over the course of events. He used his position to settle personal scores and demonstrate his superiority over justice, decency, common sense and sportsmanship.

All of his unhealthy manipulations are connected solely with our categorical refusal to support his candidacy in the recent elections for the president of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, to which he was elected for the sixth time in a row, despite the absolute absence of results from the work of the MOC. We must admit that currently world Olympic boxing is temporarily in a state of disunity. There is a political conflict between the leadership of the IBA (World Boxing Association) and the IOC (International Olympic Committee), which is why the IOC is promoting the newly formed world boxing federation 'World boxing', which will replace the IBA according to their plan.

As of now, the IOC has disqualified the IBA and temporarily excluded boxing from Olympic sports. Boxing is expected to be reinstated in the Olympic Games before the end of 2025, under the auspices of 'World Boxing' or IBA.

At a meeting of representatives of all boxing clubs, we adopted the only, in our opinion, correct strategy: to wait for the IOC's decision and join the federation that the IOC chooses. Until now, we will participate in all possible competitions held by both the IBA and World Boxing. Everyone knows that boxing will never be permanently excluded from the Olympic Games program. And Mr. Simonović knows this very well. But he is the first in Europe who first 'froze' the status of the national boxing federation (doing so without any reason or justification, even before the Paris Olympics, in which our athlete participated), and now, the leading sport in the country, he has completely excluded us according to his Rules. As far as we know, he is the only sports official in the world who has betrayed his best athletes even before the official recommendations and instructions of the IOC appeared.

Boxing
photo: Shutterstock

Even now, when the IOC has temporarily suspended boxing, as far as we know, no country in the world where boxing is one of the popular and leading sports has excluded boxing from membership in its National Olympic Committees. All countries, knowing the details of the current situation, decided to support and preserve the elite of their sport, and Mr. Simonović immediately decided to use this situation for revenge by settling his personal scores. Apart from him, in Europe, only North Macedonia and Estonia have done so – countries where boxing, unlike Montenegro, is not a leading and popular sport.

Mr. Simonović apparently assumed that his categorization of sports should influence the allocation of budgetary funds by the Ministry of Sports and Youth to national associations, which would probably be possible and logical if he were objective and professional. But, since everything is very obvious, we do not believe that this unjust and vile act of Mr. Simonović, which is undoubtedly unworthy of an official of such a level, can influence the decisions made by the Ministry of Sports and Youth regarding the allocation of budgetary funds.

Any change in our budget towards reduction implies a slowdown in the pace of our development, a loss of achieved results in terms of mass participation and the level of training of athletes, a deterioration in the equipment of sports clubs, quantitative and qualitative participation in international competitions and training camps for athletes, etc. This very idea and plan of a careless official without conscience can cause enormous damage to more than 500-600 athletes, coaches and other experts directly involved in the work of the Boxing Federation of Montenegro and to a huge number of citizens of Montenegro who give their inclination, enthusiasm, energy, work and love to such a wonderful sport as boxing.

If we lose the prestige of boxing in the country, we will also lose the prestige of Montenegrin sport on the international stage!

Without paying attention to the ranking of our sport by Mr. Simonović, his multiple manipulations and attempts to discredit us, we are undoubtedly, with even more energy and will, according to the principle 'do what you have to, and what will be will be', proving with our work that boxing in Montenegro is one of the leading sports, deservedly recognized by its tradition and its results. The flag and anthem of Montenegro, thanks to our champions, will continue to be regularly displayed throughout the world, during the awarding of awards to the winners of international tournaments of the highest rank.

"And to all the enemies of sports and the prestige of our country, we will respond with another famous proverb - Dogs bark, but caravans pass by," said the BSCG.

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