The Montenegrin Olympic Committee (MOC) and the COC Athletes’ Commission, with the support of the International Olympic Committee and the European Olympic Committees, organised the first Montenegrin Athlete Forum – a national event dedicated to improving the position of athletes and building a modern sports system in Montenegro.

The Forum was officially opened with remarks by Dušan Simonović, President of the MOC, Dragoslav Šćekić, Minister of Sports and Youth, and Milivoj Dukić, President of the MOC Athletes’ Commission, accompanied by a video message from Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

In his opening address, the President of the MOC stated that sport must be recognised as a value of national importance: “Sport is a school of life and a reflection of society. On the success of our athletes, we build the confidence that through joint efforts we can create better conditions for future generations.”

Three presentations at the core of the Forum drew great attention:

Ayako Ito, representative of the IOC, presented the global consultation process FIT FOR THE FUTURE, aimed at strengthening the voice of athletes in shaping the future of the Olympic Movement.

André Lachance, a globally recognised expert in long-term athlete development, spoke about building sports systems that equally foster performance and human values.

In the presentation on preparations for Los Angeles 2028, Marko Marjanović (ARTIFIT) and Igor Ognjenović (FITREVOLUTION) introduced an advanced model of individualised preparation based on science, technology, and precise performance tracking.

The Forum also featured panel discussions on athletes’ rights, mental health, psychological preparation, and dual careers, which opened up important questions about safety, equality, and support for athletes throughout their developmental and competitive journey.

A special value of the Forum came from the participation of prominent Montenegrin athletes. Milena Raičević, Stefan Vidović, Jovana Peković Raičević, Sonja Barjaktarović, Andrija Popović, and Milivoj Dukić shared personal stories about the pressures, expectations, and challenges of professional careers. Their testimonies on mental health, motivation, transitions, and attitudes towards sport helped bring attention to topics that had previously been underrepresented in public discourse.

Participants from academia and coaching – Ksenija Božović Ivanović, Damjan Danilović, Denis Čekić, and Krsto Vukadinović – shared perspectives on athlete rights, dual career development, the role of education, and athlete transition after competitive careers.