Spajić: We believe that we will be able to organize the European Water Polo Championship in 2028.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said that the Government believes that Montenegro will be able to host the European Water Polo Championship in 2028.

Spajić hosted the president and vice president of the European swimming and water polo organization European Aquatics, Antonio José Silva and Josip Varvodić, in Podgorica.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović and Minister of Sports and Youth Zoran Jojić, and the Ministry of Public Works organized a presentation of the appearance of the new indoor swimming pool, which "will be ready to host the best selections on the continent in early 2028," the Prime Minister's Office announced.

"The Government of Montenegro guarantees that by 2028 Podgorica will have a swimming pool worthy of the best European national teams. We believe that then, in front of full stands of our fans, we will celebrate Montenegro's entry into the European Union and the successes of our 'sharks'," said Spajić.

Montenegro, as he said, is sending a message with this project that it is ready to organize the most demanding sporting events at the highest level.

The head of EA, as reported, said that Europe has a very small number of swimming pools at the level planned in Podgorica, and that several countries, along with Montenegro, have expressed their candidacy for organizing the competition.

"The decision should be made in October, and with the government's guarantees, Montenegro has a great chance to secure the 'sharks' a home field at the last major competition before the 2028 Olympic Games," Spajić's office said.

Yesterday, the Government's website published a proposal from the Ministry of Sports and Youth to grant approval to the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro to organize and hold the European Water Polo Championship in 2028. On April 30, the federation submitted a request to the ministry for approval to organize and hold the competition.

The European Championship, as stated in the document, would be held in Podgorica, in January and February 2028, at the Olympic swimming pool of SC "Morača", which is currently in the reconstruction and roofing phase.

The estimated budget for the championship organization is 3.184.000 euros, and the expected sources of income are divided as follows: the Government of Montenegro 2,5 million euros; income from accommodation and additional services to the teams 150.000 euros; income from sponsors 350.000 euros; and other income (from the sale of tickets, souvenirs, media positions at the pool, etc.) 184.000 euros.

The Ministry of Sports states in the document that, taking into account the size and cost of the competition, and due to the fact that the department is unable to foresee these funds in the regular budget, they have forwarded the request of the Water Polo and Swimming Association to the Ministry of Finance for an opinion.