We Spoil Our Athletes, Says Serbia’s Olympic Sports Director
Serbia’s Olympic Sports Director has hit out at a system that allows athletes to lose sight of their priorities and for Serbia to under-perform in competition. “We spoil our athletes because we build some kind of mystery around them, about their behaviour and their needs,’ Serbia’s Olympic sports chief Branislav Jevtić told W!LD RooSTeR during a visit to London.
“Companies invest in them and the athletes are spoiled in some way. They become celebrities, they stop their training and development and, as a result, we have less qualified athletes than we expected. When a lot of our athletes play abroad, no one thinks about their health, their anti-doping or operations. They play only for money. They have a fascination for money and they are spoiled. That is a big problem for us and I don’t know how to solve it.”
We Need To Be in London, Says Serbia’s Olympic Sports Chief
London is on track to present a world-class Olympics, according to Serbia’s Olympic sports chief who toured the purpose-built venues and village at the new Olympic Park, last week. Venues, transport and infrastructure are working well, said Professor Branislav Jevtić, Chef de Mission of the Serbian Olympic Committee, who met with W!LD RooSTeRduring his visit to London.
Prof Jevtić joined the Serbian squad at the International Basketball Invitational, as part of the London Prepares test series. Serbia triumphed over Great Britain, Croatia and China, but lost to Australia and France in the inaugural event at the Olympic Basketball Arena.
As an example of London’s preparedness for the Olympics, last week’s international basketball test event was a triumph, said Prof Jevtić.
Lucky Chick Selected As Serbia’s London 2012 Olympic Mascot
Serbia will be celebrating its London 2012 Olympic centenary with the launch of a charming new team mascot. Award-winning Belgrade designer Ivan Aran secured the honour of creating the Serbian team’s national mascot in a public competition run by the Serbian Olympic Committee.
His winning design was Srećko (Lucky), a cute brown and white baby bird that will be seen in various sporting get-ups, including a waterpolo hat, judo robes and as a slightly punch-drunk boxer. The inspiration for this mascot was the griffon vulture, a protected species that is found mostly in Southern Serbia. It is not quite the more familiar Serbian eagle – but close enough.
Serbia’s Crown Prince Hopes To Win Back The Throne
Serbia’s global image would improve, the political landscape would be cleaned up, and much-needed cash would be safe in the country’s coffers if Serbia would return a Karadjordjevic king to the throne. That is the opinion of Crown Prince Alexander II, as told to W!LD RooSTeR during an interview at Belgrade’s Royal Palace.
“I think that parliamentary monarchy is a great solution for Serbia,’ declared Crown Prince Alexander, who publicly favours a system of parliamentary monarchy. “The Prime Minister and his cabinet, along with the parliament, elected by the people in free and fair elections, would run the country. I should say that the politicians would be the same. You can’t have a new bunch of politicians, just pick them up from some village.
