Sports system in the independent state of the Republic of Serbia: From the prudent beginning to the exhausting state interventionism

Abstract

The subject of this paper were the changes in the National Sports System (NSS) lasting since the Republic of Serbia gained its full state independence (in May 2006) until present. National sports organizations have initiated those changes related to sports and overall culture and science of physical activity as well. The changes have been initiated in the belief that they will be expedient for the development of sports and society in Serbia. The documents include the facts about the aspiration of the then-leaders towards a consolidated model of sports, based on its broad autonomy. The changes have been planned to occur with the logistic and financial assistance of the actors outside the sports system, including the state (central government and local self-government units). In the restricted conditions of the socio-economic development of Serbia and the Serbian political system, the changes have also occurred with the participation of the state, whereby its support (2006-2007), and partnership (2008-2010) were registered, and since 2011, the political, and then legal (legislative) "consolidation" of the national sports in favour of the state - politics has been established. Everything that has been done in the sports system in Serbia since May 2006 can be assessed and evaluated in relation to various criteria, and primarily in relation to the results achieved by athletes, but also in relation to: the organization of major single-sport and multi-sport competitions; the development of individual areas relevant for the affirmation and humanization of national sports (sports medicine and protection of athletes, anti-doping, Paralympic sports, women's participation in sport...); allocation for sports; citizens' participation in physical activity and mass sports... but also according to the criterion of the sports system management and consolidation and the impacts of the state and politics on sports. In regard to the latter criterion, this paper examined its development and epilogue to the NSS. The conclusion is that the sports system continues to search for its value, organizational, program and managerial identity, and that the changes in the Serbian sports system have "abandoned" the prudent and innovative beginning leading to the exhausting and unpromising state interventionism of an unknown outcome!