Montenegro Girl x
Montenegro football & the power of sport
I wouldn’t say I’m the most sport minded person, but I am always astounded by the power of sport whenever I travel. Sport has the power to bring people together. (Though sadly, not without controversy sometimes). But the thing that I’ve become most fascinated by is a different sort of power. Sport’s super power. And we have seen it in action this week. The power of sport to make little-known places famous. Places like Montenegro.
This week Montenegro hosted England in the Euro 2020 football qualifiers at the national stadium in the capital, Podgorica. Not wanting to miss out, the banner of Kotor was draped over the half way line at the stadium. Obviously, a fan of Kotor had wised up to the super-power too.
The Montenegrins are a passionate sporting nation and the displays in the pre-match build-up this week were vibrant with flairs lit in the streets and singing and dancing from their enthusiastic supporters.
Where is Montenegro?
With the match aired on TV to an international audience, those glued to their sets have suddenly started to ask all sorts of questions about Montenegro. Where on earth is Montenegro? Is it in Europe? Why does their national stadium not have a roof? And does the commentator pronounce the name of the country as negro or neegro?
These questions only help in getting the country of Montenegro on people’s radar as a destination to visit. It’s an opportunity clearly seized by booking.com, who dominated the digital advertising hoardings around the ground during the first half of the match.
Igalo, a town you pass as you drive from Dubrovnik towards Herceg Novi, has a considerable indoor facility and institute to support the country’s high performance in this sport.
Montenegro – a passionate country that likes its sport
Other team sports such as basketball, handball and volleyball are often shown on the TV screens in the local bars in and around Kotor Old Town when I visit my apartment. If there is a reason to watch sport, the Montenegrins will find one. For a small nation that is only just over a decade old, Montenegro punches above its weight in the sporting arena and their sporting passion is overflowing.
For important sporting events large screens are often put up in public squares around towns. And everyone’s welcome whatever their age. For the World Cup finals in 2006, my mother, who was then in her 70s, myself and my 10-year-old nephew joined the crowds gathered around tall bar tables in Kotor Old Town’s Museum Square to watch the evening match. In fact the nearby group of men happily cleared a way for my nephew, so he could sit on the floor right at the front for an unobstructed view of the screen.
It never ceases to amaze me how 2 grown men can connect by naming a disjointed list of sports people and teams.
The power of sport
Montenegro Man is big on sport and usually takes the opportunity to watch a football match at Caffe Bar Perper in Kotor Old Town, where he has got to know the friendly owner, Misha, through the bond of sport. It never ceases to amaze me how 2 grown men can connect by naming a disjointed list of sports people and teams, mixed in with some animated hand movements and facial expressions.
Montenegro got into the consciousness of those inquisitive sports enthusiasts who were watching.
It harnessed the super-power of sport to make little-known places famous.
Oh, and in case you are curious, Montenegro is in South Europe just below Croatia. And you pronounce Montenegro pretty much like an Italian would – negro. Not neegro. Sports commentators take note for next time.
Montenegro Girl x
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