MIĆIN OPENED THE PRESTIGIOUS HANDBALL TOURNAMENT: NOVI SAD ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE TITLE OF EUROPEAN CITY OF SPORT
The Mayor of Novi Sad, Žarko Mićin, officially opened the 15th jubilee International Beach Handball Tournament, which this year is being held for the first time under the name 'Memorial to Branislav Radišić', in memory of the founder of beach handball in Serbia, the bronze medalist from the World Championship. The organizer of the tournament is the Handball Club "Adut", and the competition lasts from June 20 to 22 on the beach "Strand".
"It is a great honor for me, as the mayor, to have the opportunity to greet competitors from different countries who are in Novi Sad these days – a city of open doors, culture, youth and sports. I am especially proud that this year's tournament bears the name of a great man and athlete, Branislav Radišić, who with his energy and vision laid the foundations of beach handball in Serbia. The city of Novi Sad continuously invests in the development of sports and youth. With the recent budget rebalance, the funds for this area have been increased from 931.5 to 988.5 million dinars. This is a clear indication of our commitment to support all sports initiatives, from children's schools to top sport. For these reasons, Novi Sad has been very proud to apply for the title of European City of Sport in 2026 – because we believe that our city deserves this recognition – said Mayor Mićin addressing the audience and added – I expect that the stands of 'Strand' will be filled with sportsmanship, fair play and good energy that characterizes Novi Sad.
The Mayor thanked the organizers, volunteers, partners and all those who have been contributing to the success of the tournament for years, emphasizing that sand sport is not only a competition, but also a way of life, socializing and promotion of healthy values.
With the support of the City Administration for Sports and Youth of the City of Novi Sad and the Handball Federation of Vojvodina, this sports event has become one of the most important preparatory tournaments in the region and has been officially included in the calendar of the European Handball Federation (EHF) and is part of the prestigious European Beach Tour (EBT).
TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF SPORT AND COSMOPOLITAN: MAYOR MICIN AT THE OPENING OF THE EUROPEAN TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP FOR VETERANS
The opening ceremony of the European Table Tennis Championship for Veterans was attended by 200 performers in a rich cultural and artistic programme, and the attendees at the Master Centre of the Novi Sad Fair were addressed by the Mayor of Novi Sad, Žarko Mićin, Minister of Sports, Zoran Gajić, Provincial Secretary for Sports and Youth, Dane Basta, President of the Table Tennis Federation of Serbia, Predrag Nicic, as well as the President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Petra Sorling. The opening ceremony was also attended by the celebrated table tennis players Borislava Perić Rankovic and Slobodan Grujić.
"At this European tournament, we celebrate the spirit of sport and cosmopolitanism, celebrate the highest human values and abolish all borders. Sport is not just a competition, sport is much more than that, it is also a lifestyle and a school of life, and that is why the City of Novi Sad is investing 988.5 million dinars in the development of sports this year. Our city is officially aspiring to the title of European City of Sport for 2026, and I am sure that the image from this mega event will complete our presentation, i.e. candidacy. I would like to thank the European Table Tennis Union, the Table Tennis Federation of Serbia and all other actors who contributed to Novi Sad once again showing how good it is to host sports events of the highest rank - said Mayor Mićin and added - Table tennis in a way wrote our history, because one of the symbols of Novi Sad, our SPENS, was built for the needs of the World Table Tennis Championship in the 1980s. Novi Sad is also recognizable for the best table tennis player with disabilities in the world, Borislava Perić Ranković, who brought Olympic gold to our country, but also for other very successful table tennis players such as Slobodan Grujić.
The prestigious European competition will be held from 15 to 22 June at the Novi Sad Fair. The most massive sporting event in Serbia, after the World Universiade in Belgrade, will gather over 6,000 guests, or 3,360 participants in 11 categories, from 40 to the oldest category over 90 years old. In addition to the competition, which is played on as many as 150 table tennis tables on almost 10,000 m2 in the two largest halls, guests have access to almost 100,000 m2 of indoor and outdoor space of the Novi Sad Fair with stalls of various food and drinks, souvenirs and other items, as well as the counters of tourist and other organizations where Novi Sad, Vojvodina and Serbia are more closely represented. Among the competitors from Serbia there are many former champions, but also amateurs. Our most famous name is Aleksandar Karakašević in the men's competition, and Stanislava Stanić Dimanić in the women's competition.
WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF 640 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, THE 'NOVI SAD 2025' FALCON RALLY BEGAN IN THE COURTYARD OF THE SOKOL HOME
Member of the City Council for Sports and Youth, Tatjana Medved, attended the opening of the Falcon Meeting - Gymnastics Days for All 'Novi Sad 2025', organised by the Falcon Society 'Vojvodina' in cooperation with the City of Novi Sad, the Falcon Federation of Serbia and the Gymnastics Federation of Serbia.
- For 120 years, the Sokol Society and Novi Sad have been the center of gymnastics. The City of Novi Sad is proud that this year's rally, which is held in the year of this important jubilee, brings together more than 640 children and young people from seven sports clubs from all over Serbia. We can rightly say that these courts where we gathered, and the building of the Sokol Society, today represent the gymnastics capital of Serbia. Since its establishment in 1905, the Falcon Society "Vojvodina" has been responsible for the preservation of the original principles, traditions and values of the Sokol Movement and its gymnastic system, which are a healthy spirit, solidarity, discipline and togetherness. The development of sports and sports infrastructure are among the important priorities of the city, which is why we have applied for the European City of Sport 2026. In the wide range of sports and organizations that we support, the Falcon Society "Vojvodina" has a great importance and that is why we have supported their programs this year for 5.3 million dinars. I wish all participants a nice and pleasant stay in Novi Sad, to enjoy the performance of gymnastic skills of their peers, to make many new friends and to take the most beautiful memories from our city that they will remember for a long time," said Tatjana Medved.
With over 250 medals a year from various competitions in women's and men's artistic gymnastics, the Falcon Society "Vojvodina" is the most trophy-winning and most massive gymnastics society in the country, given that about 800 girls and boys and about 50 recreational athletes train every day.
THE EUROPEAN TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP FOR VETERANS WILL BE HELD FROM 15 TO 21 JUNE 2025. IN NOVI SAD
Member of the City Council for Sports and Youth Tatjana Medved attended the press conference on the occasion of the European Championship for Veterans in Table Tennis, which will be held from 15 to 21 June 2025 at the Novi Sad Fair.
She pointed out that the upcoming competition is one of the most massive sporting events held in Novi Sad. Over 5,000 guests are expected, i.e. 3,000 competitors in 11 categories, from the youngest 40 - 45 years old to the oldest category 90+ from 44 countries around the world.
"The European Table Tennis Championship for veterans is the largest sporting event in Europe, which, in addition to its sporting character, also represents a great tourist potential for our city. The City of Novi Sad is becoming the epicentre of table tennis and the promotion of veterans, ready to welcome the opening ceremony of the European Championship on Sunday at 17:00 in the Master Centre of the Novi Sad Fair, where 200 participants will perform a rich cultural and artistic programme. The City of Novi Sad has once again shown how important sport is for everyone and this year it has become an official candidate for the title of "European City of Sport 2026," which I assume it will win," said Tatjana Medved.
The conference was also attended by the Provincial Secretary for Sports and Youth Dane Basta, the Director of the European Championship Marko Jevtovic, the Manager of the European Championship Dan Fracile and Stanisava Stanic Dimanić, a former senior national champion. The competition takes place in the Master Hall and Hall 1, on almost 10,000 m2 where a total of 150 tables are set up, including warm-up tables in additional halls 2, 3 and 6. During the championship, all visitors have access to catering and entertainment space inside and in the courtyard of the Novi Sad Fair on over 20,000 m2. The promoter of the European Championship is our Novi Sad, one of the most successful table tennis players in Serbia, Slobodan Grujić
IN OCTOBER, NOVI SAD WILL HOST THE PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE "PETROVARADIN FORTRESS UCI XCO HC"
The Mayor of Novi Sad, Žarko Mićin, met with the representatives of the "Petrovaradin Fortress UCI XCO HC", a unique international mountain bike race, which, according to the decision of the International Cycling Union UCI, will be held in October 2025. The meeting was attended, among others, by the President of the Cycling Association of Serbia, Dusan Gojic, and the director of the Cycling Club "Novi Sad" and the aforementioned event, Nemanja Weiss. As they explained, these races are extremely rare and prestigious, which puts them in the elite category of competition. They bring together the world's best riders, bring the highest UCI points and have extremely strict organizational and technical standards.
"I'm glad that Novi Sad has been recognized again as a city that is capable of organizing a top sports spectacle in the best way. In this sense, we are also supported by the geographical position, the proximity of the airport, the characteristics of our beautiful Petrovaradin Fortress, the accommodation facilities we have and the good image we have built on the map of European cities. This race will bring together international professionals, but also a large audience, which will be an opportunity to get acquainted with our environment, and of course the city will also provide an economic benefit. Cycling in Novi Sad has a rich tradition, but it is also in the focus of today. As a City, we support cycling to the maximum, both as a sport and as a recreation and as a healthy lifestyle. We have proven this by the fact that the network of trails in Novi Sad stretches for 150 km, and we continue to expand it, which encourages people to use bicycles by subsidizing the purchase of two-wheelers for citizens, and in Novi Sad you can also rent a bicycle. The city will wholeheartedly support this elite sports competition, and I am sure that this time we will light up our faces as hosts – emphasized Mayor Žarko Mićin and added – a city that has such an intensity of organization of sports events of the highest level, investments in sports infrastructure in encouraging young people to engage in sports and physical activity, which promotes healthy lifestyles and takes care of sustainability, I am convinced that it will also be crowned with the title of European City of Sport for 2026.
As it was said at the meeting, the "Petrovaradin Fortress UCI XCO HC" race is an important national, provincial and city sports project that will be implemented by BK "Novi Sad" and the association "Serbia EPIK" in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Serbia, the Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth and the City of Novi Sad.
TATJANA MEDVED GREETED THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE TENTH EDITION OF THE SPORTS AND BUSINESS EVENT "SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SERBIA BUSINESS RUN"
The tenth edition of the sports and business event "Schneider Electric Serbia Business Run" was held at the Petrovaradin Fortress, where more than 2,400 employees from over 120 companies, institutions and organizations from all over Serbia gathered. The event is organized with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles, physical activity and corporate connections. At the end of the race, the attendees were greeted by the member of the City Council for Sports and Youth, Tatjana Medved, and the president of Schneider Electric for Central and Eastern Europe, Jonut Adrian Farkas.
- Novi Sad is a city of sports where more than 200 sports events are held, and the budget for the development of sports is increasing from year to year. We have invested in the reconstruction of existing and the construction of new sports fields and facilities. At the same time, we are a large regional IT center, where more than 900 IT companies operate, employing 15,000 people. Events like this contribute to the promotion of sport, and in line with our commitment that the continuous improvement of conditions for sports and the development of sports infrastructure are of utmost importance for our city, we will continue to support competitions and sporting events," said Tatjana Medved.
With the participation of more than 1000 competitors, the Novi Sad Junior League in basketball has been completed
Member of the City Council for Sports and Youth, Tatjana Medved, attended the closing ceremony of the Novi Sad League of Junior Categories, organized by the Basketball Federation "Novi Sad" under the auspices of the City of Novi Sad, and held in the big hall of the Serbian Orthodox Church "Vojvodina". On that occasion, she handed out cups and medals and congratulated the best teams.
"For years, the City of Novi Sad has been organizing the League of Junior Categories in Basketball, as one of the most important sports projects in which over 1000 children compete in the best conditions, free of charge using the capacities of SPENS. The emphasis of this competition, in which winning is not the main goal, is placed on encouraging children's talent and raising the individual qualities of each individual. The Novi Sad League of Young Basketball Players is a key place for their development, which contributes to the promotion of sports values among children and young people and is an example of how a local self-government should support young athletes in the right way. For this purpose, 1.2 million dinars have been allocated from the City budget, said Tatjana Medved.
This competition is becoming more and more popular every year, as evidenced by the increasing number of teams that applied for the competition, which began in October last year. As part of the Novi Sad Basketball MK League 2024/2025, 28 teams from 15 clubs from the territory of the City of Novi Sad, children aged 10 to 16, over 70 coaches and 70 referees and assistant referees, participated.
Novi Sad, June 8, 2025
Tatjana Medved opened the international cycling race 'Gran Fondo Novi Sad 2025'
The international cycling race 'Gran Fondo Novi Sad 2025', which is held as part of the qualifications for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship, started today on Mihajlo Pupin Boulevard, in front of the building of the Provincial Government in Novi Sad. Participants from over 40 countries were greeted at the start of the race by a member of the City Council for Sports and Youth, Tatjana Medved.
Today, Novi Sad is a meeting place for 500 cyclists from Europe and the world, as well as a large number of guests, sports enthusiasts, recreationists and families who share the values of healthy living and respect for nature. I am glad that this international sports event is taking place in Novi Sad for the second time. Novi Sad is a city of sports and a city of cyclists. A city that can boast of 150 kilometers of bicycle paths, of which 50 km of new trails have been built in the last 13 years. The city has about 50,000 cyclists, and with over 69 million dinars, in the last four years, we have supported the purchase of 6,336 bicycles for Novi Sad. Over 200 sports events are held in Novi Sad, and significant funds are allocated for the development of sports infrastructure and support for sports, which is why we have applied for the title of European City of Sport 2026, and I am convinced that the Gran Fondo race will contribute to our candidacy. What is quite certain is that the participants of the race, will take the most beautiful impressions from our city and from our beautiful Fruška Gora. I wish us all a wonderful day in nature and in a good mood - emphasized Tatjana Medved.
The international race will start in Novi Sad, the competitors will cross the Danube, visit a large part of Fruška Gora, and finally return to the finish line, in Novi Sad. The promoter of the race is the world-famous cyclist Ivan Basso.
The organizers of the event are the Cycling Association "Invictabike" and the Vojvodina Association of Cycling Clubs, with the support of the Cycling Association of Serbia. The race is held under the auspices of the World Cycling Union (UCI).
Novi Sad, June 8, 2025
More than 1,000 competitors at the start of the Invictus Challenge
A member of the City Council for Sports and Youth attended the opening of the "Invictus Challenge" competition, which began today on the Novi Sad beach "Strand". The competition is organized by the sports association "Invictus NS 021" with the support of the City of Novi Sad.
"The City of Novi Sad has recognized this competition as an event of special importance, because it represents a unique event in the region, and we are proud to support it through the Sports and Youth Directorate. For this event, which promotes physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, 1.7 million dinars have been allocated from the City budget. I am sure that the participants will show excellent physical and mental fitness today because this race presents exciting challenges that combine running and overcoming obstacles," said Tatjana Medved.
This year's trail on Strand is one kilometer long and features more than 35 carefully designed obstacles such as carrying sacks, crawling on sand and in water, jumping over obstacles, rope climbing for men, lifting loads for women and jumping from platforms. Each participant at the finish line receives a well-deserved medal, a symbol of personal victory and perseverance, regardless of the result.
Novi Sad, June 7, 2025
Medals awarded to the participants of the Youth Sports Games in Novi Sad
Member of the City Council for Sports and Youth Tatjana Medved attended the closing ceremony of the Plazma Youth Sports Games, hosted by the City of Novi Sad, and the event was held in the SPENS Ice Hall. The Youth Sports Games are the largest event of amateur sports in Europe, which in its 29 years of existence in Croatia, 15 years in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12 seasons in Serbia and two in Slovenia has gathered 3,088,000 children and young people.
“The City of Novi Sad continuously invests in sports infrastructure, provides support in the organization of major domestic and international championships, competitions, tournaments, supports the sports programs of all sports organizations and contributes to the achievement of their goals and the achievement of top sports results. All this contributed to Novi Sad being a candidate for the title of ‘European City of Sport 2026’. Youth Sports Games, in addition to bringing together children and young people from the region, nurture healthy lifestyle habits, the spirit of fair play, friendship among participants, as well as respect for all kinds of diversity,” said Tatjana Medved, adding that the City will continue to support this important sports event in the future.
After a day-long competition of elementary school children in futsal, athletics, 3×3 basketball, volleyball and between two fires, the most successful teams and individuals were awarded medals and the flame of friendship was lit, modeled on the Olympic Games. In the 12th season of the Plazma Youth Sports Games in Serbia, competitions were organized in 200 cities and towns across Serbia, with over 100,000 participants.
Novi Sad, May 29, 2025
