The government, with a record 6,5 million euros set aside for 44 national sports federations and an additional five earmarked for capital projects, including the construction and reconstruction of sports facilities, has clearly shown that it recognizes sport as a driver of social progress, said Minister of Sports and Youth Dragoslav Šćekić.
According to him, the budget proposal for 2025 represents a significant step forward in the strategic approach to the improvement of sports in Montenegro, and the Ministry of Sports and Youth proudly points out its satisfaction with the planned funds.
In an interview with the Mina agency, Šćekić pointed out that the sports budget not only confirms the Government's commitment to the development of infrastructure and support for young athletes, but also to the promotion of healthy lifestyles, as the foundation of a modern and prosperous society.
"This is the result of many years of efforts to position sport as one of the key sectors in the development of society, which is now reflected in increased investments. The budget is an opportunity to create a sustainable and competitive sports system, and the Ministry will do everything to ensure its effective implementation," Šćekić said.
He found that, although he believes that the funds could always be higher, year by year the determination to continuously increase investments in sports, despite the challenges, is becoming more and more evident.
"This sends a strong message about his invaluable value to society as a whole," said the Minister of Sports and Youth.
Speaking about the funds planned for 2025, he said that in the world of sports, ambitions and potentials always exceed the current budget framework.
"The allocated funds for 2025 provide a solid basis for the implementation of key projects of national importance. An example of this is the planned construction of a modern athletics stadium in Podgorica, with an estimated value of 13 million euros, which will have a certified athletics track, an auditorium for 2.500 people and additional facilities such as an athletics tunnel and a gym," Šćekić said.
He added that one of the priorities is the covering of the swimming pool at the "Morača" Sports Center in Podgorica, which will enable year-round use of that facility.
"Additional funds are planned for the adaptation of school sports fields throughout Montenegro, which indicates a broad and comprehensive approach to investments. Although sport requires a constant increase in resources, it is clear that the planned funds are a significant basis for all future investments," Šćekić said.
He believes that failure to approve the budget proposal for 2025 would have serious implications for the implementation of key strategic initiatives in the field of sports.
"Specifically, postponing the pool covering project at the Sports Center 'Morača' would not only slow down progress in the development of water sports in Montenegro, but would also seriously jeopardize the country's bid to organize the European Water Polo Championship in 2028," said Šćekić.
According to him, in addition, postponing the reconstruction of the sports hall in Berane, intended for Paralympic sports, would seriously slow down the development of sports activities.
"We are witnessing the potential we possess in that sports field, which was recently confirmed by Filip Radović's Olympic medal in table tennis. In addition to the impact on infrastructure, the delay in the adoption of the budget would also cause a slowdown in financial support to sports associations, which would disrupt the continuity of the work of many sports organizations. In this context, the timely adoption of the budget becomes a key imperative to ensure stability and advance efforts in this essential area," Šćekić said.
He pointed out that the capital budget for 2025 contains detailed planned investments in key sports projects, which will significantly improve the infrastructure and conditions for athletes.
According to him, in addition to the mentioned projects, the construction of the Olympic House is planned, which will combine the functions of the Olympic museum, educational academy, space for innovation and cooperation in sports and a hub for gathering athletes.
"Through an investment of 700 euros, school sports grounds throughout Montenegro will be given a new dimension, enabling young people to access quality sports infrastructure," Šćekić said.
He pointed out that Montenegrin sports have recorded significant progress in the last decade, especially in the field of results of young athletes at European and world competitions, and that this speaks of the enormous potential of Montenegro.
"Despite these successes, challenges such as insufficiently developed infrastructure, the need for greater investment in younger categories and administrative barriers continue to limit full development. The strategic modernization of the sports infrastructure and the establishment of mechanisms for continuous support to promising athletes are key," said the Minister of Sports and Youth.
He announced that the department he heads, through planned projects and legal reforms, is focused on overcoming obstacles and creating conditions that will enable Montenegro to reach a higher level in the regional and international frameworks.
"One of the key priorities is that sports federations, as well as state-owned clubs, additionally focus on working with younger selections, continuously improving their development and training from an early age. This approach will enable the creation of a solid and quality base, from which, in the coming period, we will give birth to big names and achieve top sports results that will be the pride and reflection of the progress of our country," Šćekić said.
Speaking about the problems in Montenegrin sports, he said that they are multi-layered and require a comprehensive approach to solving them.
"First of all, the outdated sports infrastructure is a significant obstacle. Podgorica, as the capital city, still does not have an indoor Olympic swimming pool, which prevents the year-round development of water sports. "Insufficient support for young athletes and younger categories further limits the development of talents, although important steps are already being taken through the scholarship of promising athletes," said Šćekić.
Among the most serious problems, he mentioned administrative procedures, which often slow down the financing and organization of sports activities, and further complicate the work of sports organizations.
"The Ministry has recognized these challenges and through strategic investments, reforms of the legal framework and a partnership approach with sports communities, it is working to solve them," Šćekić said.
He emphasized that the amendments to the Law on Sports are in the final stage of preparation and that they are currently going through the process of detailed analysis of proposals and comments received during the public hearing.
"The goal of these changes is to improve the efficiency of financing, increase transparency in the work of sports organizations and ensure better conditions for the development of sports. The working group is intensively working on finalizing the draft, which, according to the plan, should be sent to the Government for consideration in the first quarter of 2025, while adoption in the Assembly could follow in the second quarter," said the Minister of Sports and Youth.
According to him, special focus is placed on the promotion of inclusivity in sports, which includes support for Paralympians and additional benefits for coaches and athletes.
He pointed out that the key changes include the simplification of procedures for registration of sports organizations, which will enable the Ministry to more effectively manage the process of registration and control of organizations.
"The distribution of budget funds to sports federations will be more transparent and fairer, which further strengthens the responsibility of sports actors. The changes provide for special benefits for athletes and coaches, especially for those who achieve significant results, which recognizes their contribution to the promotion of Montenegro on the international stage," Šćekić said.
He added that support to the Montenegrin Olympic Committee will further strengthen its role in the development of sports in accordance with international standards.
"The Ministry is committed to creating a legal framework that will be stimulating, transparent and aimed at the long-term development of sports," Šćekić said.
Answering the question whether the amendments to the Law on Sports will also recognize coaches of athletes with top results, he said that this is one of the priority areas of the planned changes to the legal framework. He emphasized that coaches are key to the development of athletes and directly influence the achievement of top results.
"Recognizing their contribution through the benefits system is of crucial importance, both for the professionalization of the coaching job, and for the motivation of local experts to stay in Montenegro and contribute to the development of sports at the local and national level," Šćekić said.
He announced that the ministry headed by him is planning to introduce concrete reward mechanisms, including status benefits, financial incentives and long-term support for coaches who improve the reputation of Montenegrin sports on the international stage.
"The aim of this initiative is to further encourage investment in professional training and the development of domestic coaching staff," Šćekić said. He believes that the engagement of foreign experts in top sports brings undoubted benefits, especially in the transfer of knowledge and experience that contribute to the development of Montenegrin athletes and teams.
"The Ministry is aware that the sustainable development of sports implies strong support for the domestic coaching staff. Through educational programs, cooperation with international sports institutions and investment in the professional training of coaches, we strive to create conditions that will enable a greater presence of Montenegrin experts in key positions. The long-term goal is for our trainers, trained and supported, to take on leading roles, while maintaining openness to the international exchange of knowledge and experience," Šćekić said.
The minister emphasized that the construction of the national stadium is a project of strategic importance for Montenegrin sports, especially for football infrastructure, which, as he said, currently does not meet the standards required for the organization of the most important international competitions.
"Currently, intensive work is being done on the selection of the most suitable location and the preparation of detailed project documentation. The national stadium will be a modern sports complex with facilities that meet the requirements of UEFA and FIFA, which will enable not only the improvement of domestic football, but also an increase in tourism and sports visibility of Montenegro at the international level," Šćekić said.
According to him, the Government and the Ministry of Sports are committed to the implementation of this ambitious project, which will bring long-term benefits for sports and society as a whole.
He reiterated that the work on the eastern stand of the City Stadium in Podgorica remains one of the priorities in the budget plan for 2025.
"We are aware of the importance of that project for improving the capacity of the stadium, which currently does not fully meet the standards for international competitions. The Ministry is investing efforts in securing the necessary financial resources and speeding up the implementation of the project. "The completion of the eastern stand will contribute not only to increasing the capacity of the stadium, but also to improving the overall user experience for spectators, which is a key step in the modernization of the sports infrastructure in Montenegro," said Šćekić.
He said that the sports infrastructure in Montenegro faces numerous challenges, including outdated facilities and limited capacities, stating that this negatively affects the development of sports and the motivation of young people to engage in sports activities.
"The 2025 budget offers hope for significant improvement through planned construction and modernization projects across the country. The Ministry is committed to creating conditions in which professionals and recreational players will have access to modern facilities that meet international standards," said the Minister of Sports and Youth.
He pointed out that the issue of simplifying procedures for acquiring sports citizenship is recognized as a priority, especially considering the needs of talented athletes of Montenegrin origin.
"The planned changes to the legal framework include the simplification of administrative procedures, which will enable faster and more efficient citizenship for athletes who can contribute to the development of national sports. Our goal is to establish a transparent, fair and efficient system that will enable Montenegro to fully utilize the potential of its sports talents, both in the country and in the diaspora," Šćekić said.
According to him, winning an Olympic medal remains a dream that motivates athletes and sports institutions in Montenegro.
Šćekić emphasized that, although young athletes are already achieving outstanding results at European and world championships, more investment in preparations, infrastructure and professional support is needed to win a medal at the Olympic Games.
"Through scholarships for promising athletes, intensive training programs and modernization of sports facilities, the Ministry is actively working to create conditions that will enable the achievement of this goal in the coming years. We believe that Montenegro has the potential and talent to enter Olympic history," Šćekić said.
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