Podgorica wasn’t part of the original plans for a long time, but due to escalating political pressure from Croatia, Montenegro’s capital will now host the final tournament of the World Cup, bringing an end to the uncertainty that lingered for the past ten days. This came after Croatia’s decision to not compete at the Kotor “Zoran-Džimi Gopčević” swimming pool, even risking disqualification by World Aquatics.

Whether this was a tactical maneuver by Croatia or a genuine attempt to assert dominance is irrelevant now; the bottom line is that Kotor and Budva, which were initially slated as hosts, have lost their opportunity to run the Superfinal, set for April 11th to 13th.

“We aspired to host the event where our water polo legacy thrives, where the sport is intertwined with our lifestyle, where the enthusiasm for the national team flourished—on our coast, in Kotor and Budva.”

Nonetheless, we maintain that all qualified national teams must partake in this sporting event and that external factors unrelated to sports should not diminish the significance of this competition,” the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro stated.

The situation is quite clear—both Montenegrin and Croatian federations have been entangled in a political struggle, particularly due to previous recommendations from the Croatian government advising its clubs and national teams to avoid competition at the Kotor pool. The reason behind this? The pool’s name, Zoran Gopčević, a water polo legend accused by the Croatian perspective of war crimes at the Morinj camp.

The swimming pool was formerly known as “Nikša Bućin”, and the renaming to honor Džimi was not arbitrary; it had support from the local Croat community in Kotor.

However, suddenly it became a contentious issue, prompting one nation’s authorities to raise their voices and issue a significant recommendation. Meanwhile, our authorities opted for the path of least resistance, guiding the Supreme Court of Montenegro to find a resolution and relocate the final to Podgorica.

“Given that Herceg Novi currently lacks an indoor swimming facility, that Nikšić does not have sufficient adequate hotel accommodations for such an event, and that the pool in Budva by itself does not meet the requirements, this was our only alternative,” remarked the VPSCG.

While relocating a tournament between cities is not unusual—happening even in more respected and popular sports—the most concerning aspect here is the manipulation surrounding the name of Džimi Gopčević, a player who brought pride to Kotor, the sports capital of Montenegro.

Our Association is willing to assist, reinforcing their desire to collaborate in addressing the issues with the Kotor basin, yet it remains evident that the authorities in Montenegro and Croatia bear the main responsibility in this situation.

“We express our strong willingness and readiness to participate within the sports framework to resolve the contentious situation surrounding the Kotor swimming pool promptly, so that our sport can once again unite and transcend all divisions and misunderstandings. The commitment to unity within the water polo community, alongside the positive relations between the two Federations, is best illustrated through the long-standing Regional League competition featuring clubs from Montenegro, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia,” the Water Polo and Swimming Federation added.

In conclusion, Montenegro will face Croatia in the quarterfinals of the World Cup at Podgorica’s “Morača” pool on April 11th as it aims to secure a spot in the World Championship. The “Barracudas,” reigning world champions and Olympic vice-champions, had concerns regarding their travel to Singapore last year.

Beyond Croatia and the “Sharks,” the final tournament will also see participation from Hungary, Spain, Greece, Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands. The Superfinal will grant three tickets to the World Cup.

“Unfortunately, this situation brings to light the infrastructural challenges within which water polo operates, a sport that, based on its accomplishments, should be deemed our national sport. We are confident that, with the support of the Government of Montenegro— which we thank for its understanding and backing in hosting this significant competition—we will successfully implement all necessary measures promptly to enable our national team to qualify for the World Championship at home and with the support of our fans,” concluded the VPSCG announcement.

We envisioned hosting the event where our water polo roots are anchored, where it’s embedded as both a sport and a lifestyle, and where the devotion to the national team has flourished—right on our coast, in Kotor and Budva. Nevertheless, we emphasize that every qualified team deserves a place in this sporting showcase, and that non-sporting circumstances should not impact or diminish the significance of this competition, as stated by the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro.

News