KOLAŠIN – RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Montenegro, supported by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, organized a three-day Youth Camp on Intercultural Competencies in Sports. The camp took place in Kolašin from 27 to 29 October, and gathered fourteen young professionals from different sport disciplines.
Its goals were increasing young people’s understanding on intercultural competences and fostering youth cooperation in sports. Special emphasis was given to the strong regional component as well as to raising awareness about youth mobility programs in the Western Balkans.
The opening remarks were delivered by Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović, Representative of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Mr Goran Ojdanić, Director General of the Directorate for Sports in the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Montenegro Mr Miloš Lalević, and Director General of the Directorate for Youth in the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Montenegro and representative in the RYCO Governing Board Mr Nenad Koprivica.
“Young people are an important part of the regional cooperation processes, crucial for making the region a better place, reducing prejudices and stereotypes, and building bridges of cooperation in different areas. That is why we count on you,” Mr Koljenović emphasized.
Mr Ojdanić took the opportunity to express the honor of being among young athletes who are familiar with the fair play and respecting the opponent regardless of their origins, gender or religion.
“The OSCE Mission to Montenegro is proud to support programs that promote youth cooperation and dialogue. Don’t forget that your positive actions motivate your friends, schoolmates and community,” Mr Ojdanić added.
Furthermore, Mr Lalević pointed out that during a four-year period, the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Montenegro adopted the Sports Development Strategy and Sports Law. He underlined that around eight hundred young people received scholarships in sports and more than fifty of them achieved extraordinary results on European and world championships, whereas more than sixty sports facilities were built and reconstructed in Montenegro.
“We are happy to take part in developing different educational programs and collaborate with RYCO and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro,” Mr Lalatović said.
In conclusion, the importance of youth policies in sports and the achieved results were discussed.
“We are pleased to have issued more than 10.000 European Youth Cards that offer benefits for youth, for establishing youth clubs and youth centres, adopting local action plans and having a long-term collaboration with the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro,” Mr Koprivica stated.
At the end of the training, the participants were awarded with certificates, encouraged to follow RYCO’s work and take part in future activities for youth on the local, national and regional level.
