Serbia and Montenegro

Serbia and Montenegro were once known as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. They were the last two states that remained of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which began to break up in the early 1990s. Separate countries since 2006, there are some strong similarities between the two. Both populations speak the same languages and have the same religious background. In both nations, when they were part of Yugoslavia, they had the same degree of state influence in all parts of play and recreation.

There are other reasons for the similarities which have origins much older than the Yugoslav Republic. Both Montenegro and Serbia were on the frontier between Christian Europe and the Ottoman Empire. For that reason, both nations claim a very prominent military heritage with the result that team sports, played with a high degree of competitiveness, are characteristic of both countries at all levels of play. In earlier times, before the sports we are familiar with became popular, much play centered on activities such as sword fighting and wrestling. Thus, play and recreational activities became a form of preparation for conflict which, until the 19th century, always seemed to be an inevitability.

In both countries there are sports clubs, and while informal play does exist, there is a series of active networks in Serbia and Montenegro to support and regulate amateur sports. In addition to the similarities, however, there are some differences in the types of sport and play activities people pursue. Serbia is the more mountainous of the two and has several prominent lakes, while Montenegro has a coastline on the Adriatic Sea.

Basketball is played in both countries at all levels and with great intensity in both countries. Playing in the schoolyards and at the informal level has been encouraged by the success of both the national teams as well as the success of players such as Sead Dizdarevic, who have played for U.S. collegiate teams.

In both nations, soccer is also extremely popular and is played from informal pick-up games on the street to the Serbian and Montenegran National teams, to professional teams in Europe. As is the case throughout any of the nations of the former Yugoslav Republic, nearly every village has a soccer field, often with practice fields nearby. Handball and hockey are also played on both countries.

Serbia has many lakeside areas that allow the pursuit of many activities that include sailing, boating and canoeing, kayaking, swimming, water polo, and other sports. There are many trails for hiking, and mountain biking is popular, as well as cycling. Mountain climbing, fishing, target shooting, and hunting (there are many clubs that encourage and support the last two) are other popular recreational activities.

Tennis has developed a wide following among Serbs, especially as Serbian players have begun to establish a presence on the professional circuits. As is the case with other sports, increased success on the professional level increases interest among younger players at all levels of informal and organized play. Newer activities and games such as paintball, wall climbing, and bungee jumping have recently become popular. Another sport, new to Serbia, is baseball, which is now played at different levels.

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