It is an honor and a privilege to be a Montenegrin athlete, but also a great motivation and obligation for even more work and better results, said sailor Milivoj Dukić.
At a solemn ceremony in Villa Gorica, he was declared the best athlete of Montenegro in 2024, in the traditional selection of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee (COK).
Dukić participated in the Olympic Games four times, including the Games in Paris 2024, where he took 13th place.
He was 21st at the World Championship in the Ilca 7 class, thus providing the norm for this year's Olympic Games.
He is currently ranked 16th in the World Ranking.
"It's a great honor for me, this award represents satisfaction for everything I've been through and the hard work I've put in all these years. I've worked for this moment for a long time. There was no medal race at this year's Games, but the dream will last at least until Los Angeles 2028," Dukić said.
He thanked his family for their support, the home club of Jugole Grakalić and the Sailing Association, as well as the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the COK.
"I congratulate my colleagues on the achieved results and wish them even better results. Let's do our best to make the Olympic delegation in Los Angeles even more numerous," said Dukić.
The women's handball and men's water polo teams were declared the best national selections.
Awards for the best young athletes went to Jelena Vukčević (handball) and Jovana Damjanović (karate), while Srđan Janović (water polo) and Viktor Dukić (kick boxing) were named the best young athletes.
The Board of Directors awarded the award for Sports Achievement of the Year to boxer Tomislav Đinović, in recognition of his exceptional achievement on the sports scene.
Đinović did not attend the ceremony and the award will be presented to him later.
COK President Dušan Simonović said that this year was full of challenges, but also of achievements.
"We witnessed how our sportsmen and women, national teams overcome all obstacles and show the strength of unity and chivalrous spirit. These are the qualities that define Montenegro and the Montenegrin people. Our athletes carried the Montenegrin flag around the world, proudly representing our country at the biggest competitions." Simonovic said.
According to him, the Games in Paris showed that Montenegro has a big heart and strong sportsmanship.
He thanked the Government and the Ministry of Sports and Youth for their continued support for the development of sports.
"Today we celebrate, not only what we have achieved, but also what awaits us in the future. We have challenges, but also great opportunities. We must invest even more strongly in sports, especially in sports infrastructure, to ensure even better conditions and provide support for the youngest," Simonović said.
He emphasized that the goal is clear - to build foundations that will serve all generations of athletes and provide support to coaches who shape athletes.
"Dear athletes, you are our pride and whatever the result is, our best product is the one with which we appear on the world stage," said Simović.
He said that the medal of the Paralympian Filip Radović from the Paralympic Games and the successes on the international stage wash away everything and additionally highlight the values of equality, courage, incisiveness and persistence.
President Jakov Milatović said that by handing out awards to the best, we are celebrating excellence and top sports results achieved in the year behind us.
"The ceremony, apart from being an opportunity to recognize the best, is an opportunity to remind ourselves how important sports and sports achievements are in our society. Our country, although small, is recognized in the world as a great breeding ground for sports talents," said Milatović.
He emphasized that sport is much more than a game, a symbol of human strength and spirit, striving for perfection.
"On the field, there are no shortcuts, there are no shortcuts and every victory, record and medal is the result of hard work. Athletes teach us how to deal with challenges, how to get up after a fall and difficult moments, but also how to strive for a goal that sometimes seems unattainable," said Milatović. .
The Minister of Sports and Youth, Dragoslav Šćekić, said that the Ministry headed by him is working on a strategy for the development of sports, as well as on amendments to the Law on Sports.
He announced that in that government department, he will step up his efforts in the implementation of plans for the construction of sports infrastructure in the country.
"Montenegro athletes need playgrounds, fighting grounds, halls and swimming pools. We need an Olympic house, as a home for all of us who are in sports, we need an athletics stadium and we will not harm the efforts to build it, as well as a national stadium and a sports museum where we have something to let's accommodate," Šćekić said.
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