CETINJE – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in partnership with the Directorate of Sports and Youth of Montenegro, supported by the French Embassy to Montenegro, organized a three-day sports camp Intercultural Competencies in Sports in Cetinje, Montenegro on 17 – 19 December. The event gathered 11 young athletes from different sport disciplines from all across Montenegro providing them with the opportunity to discuss possibilities for youth cooperation and intercultural learning through sport.
The official opening of the camp was attended by Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović, French Ambassador to Montenegro H.E. Mr Christian Thimonier, and Acting Director of the Directorate for Sports and Youth Mr Marko Begović. They agreed that successful young athletes present an important resource in promoting the ideas of reconciliation and cooperation in Montenegro and beyond.
Addressing the participants, Mr Koljenović presented the work of RYCO, highlighting the efforts that have been invested in this field in the previous two years. “This is the fourth time RYCO Local Branch in Montenegro in cooperation with our partners organizes this sort of opportunity for young talented people in sports, that we have recognized as important resource in promoting RYCO values and mission in their local communities and beyond,” Mr Koljenović emphasized.
Mr Thimonier emphasized that this group of young people, who are successful in sport, are role models within young generations with strong potential to promote RYCO values, but also to promote what RYCO offers to the youth in the region.
Mr Begović added that he is particularly pleased to address the participants since the sport plays an important role in all our societies, while presenting a strong instrument for establishing social connections, intercultural dialogue, and social integration.
The camp supported young athletes through enhancing cooperation among them and strengthening their intercultural competences. Furthermore, it provided the young people with the opportunity to build their capacities in areas of youth participation and activism, to strengthen their intercultural learning through sports with a strong regional component, and to raise their awareness of opportunities for participation in mobility programs throughout the Western Balkans.
The participants were representing the Students Sports Association of Montenegro, Handball Association, Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro, Women’s Soccer Club FC Breznica, Secondary Mixed School Ivan Goran Kovačić, Herceg Novi.
