01.10.2012.

5th SAF sports championship opens

In "Ribnica" barracks in Kraljevo, the fifth sports championship of the Serbian Armed Forces, and organized by the Army opened today. At the opening of the event, the SAF CHOD Lt. Gen. Ljubisa Dikovic reminded that more than a century ago the Serbian army officer Svetomir Djukic had founded the Serbian Olympic team and led the first Olympic Serbian delegation to the 5th Olympic Games held in Stockholm.

- The first and best riders, archers, fencers, gymnasts, athletes, swimmers and rowers in the Kingdom of Serbia and Yugoslavia were officers of the King's army. Prominent members of gymnastics associations in Serbia were also officers - said General Dikovic noting that the Army was among the first institutions to understand the importance of regular, organized physical exercise, thus influencing the popularization of sports.

And now, as he said, at the time when professional sport pushes the limits of human ability and amateur sports becomes a mass movement there is no marathon or a competition in orienteering, parachuting and many other fields in Serbia where members of the Army do not participate.

- We participate in international military competitions, where our members achieve great results. Besides endurance, explosiveness and strength, sport develops competitive and team spirit, perseverance and self-sacrifice, respect for opponents and the willingness to endure all efforts, the desire to constantly prove and the desire to win. All these are characteristics of modern day soldier and athlete- as General Dikovic said, adding that for every officer and soldier of any army in the world, physical fitness and sports are of crucial importance, while a SAF championship, as he pointed out, is an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance given to sport and physical abilities.

The Chief wished that contestants achieve success and superior results that would contribute to the recognition and reputation of their respective units and the Army of Serbia as a whole.

During the five-day competition, more than 400 competitors of the Army of Serbia and the Ministry of Defense, classified into five teams shall test their strength in the military all-around competitions, archery, orienteering, athletics, volleyball, futsal and judo.

Furthermore, a team of General Staff, Ministry of Defence, Training Command, Air Force and the Army, will compete in venues in Kraljevo, Kragujevac, Novi Pazar and Kopaonik.