Udovicic: Privatization in sports is necessary

NOVI SAD - Serbia's Minister of Youth and Sports Vanja Udovicic said on Friday that it is necessary to engage in the changes and modernization of the sports system in Serbia.

We have set out to modernize all segments of the society, so it is necessary to modernize the sports system as well, Udovicic said in a public debate on privatization in sports, held in Novi Sad.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports opened an initial dialogue on the privatization process in sports, and the first debate took place in Nis on Thursday.

Udovicic noted that the privatization process in sports should be conducted in a way that would help the economic reform, which implies the directing of business activities in this field into legal channels.

He emphasized that the privatization in sports is necessary in order to change and modernize the entire system, not only because of the profits, but to take pressure off the budget and improve the functioning of the sports system.

"The individuals at the helm of many sports institutions have been changed over the years, but the system itself has not changed. We have to establish order and responsibility, and provide the best conditions for Serbian clubs to achieve results and create new champions," said Udovicic.

"This can be achieved by amending the law, by working on the ownership transformation and implementation of the national strategy for sports, as well as on a wider responsibility of the senior management,” Serbian minister said.

Udovicic specified that the aim of the sports system reform is responsible spending of the taxpayers' money, adding that investments in sports at the level of local self-governments will be monitored more closely.