MIĆIN AT THE OPENING OF THE U23 WRESTLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: NOVI SAD IS THE EUROPEAN CITY OF SPORT WITH MORE THAN 200 SPORTS EVENTS

The Mayor of Novi Sad, Žarko Mićin, attended the opening ceremony of the U23 World Wrestling Championship held in the large hall of SPENS, taking place from October 20 to 27, with the participation of 1,100 competitors from 66 countries around the world.

- As the city that will hold the title of European City of Sport in 2026, Novi Sad proudly welcomes this competition. Wrestling in Novi Sad has a tradition spanning over a century. From the founding of the sports society "Juda Makabi" in 1920, through generations of champions who have won European, world, Balkan, and Olympic medals, wrestling has become and remains a symbol of perseverance, discipline, and respect. Our city takes pride in having hosted many major wrestling competitions, from the 2017 European Senior Championship, through the 2019 European U23 Championship, to last year’s European Cadet and Junior Championships held in Novi Sad - said Mićin, adding that Novi Sad has more than 1,097 sports clubs and associations, over 134,000 citizens actively engaged in sports, and more than 200 sports events annually.

The event featured speeches from Serbia’s Minister of Sports, Zoran Gajić; the President of the Wrestling Federation of Serbia, Damir Šabić; and the President of the World Wrestling Federation, Nenad Lalović. Damir Šabić expressed his sincere gratitude to Novi Sad Mayor Žarko Mićin, who, as Chair of the Organizing Committee, provided unwavering support to ensure the smooth and successful organization of this prestigious global championship.

Novi Sad, October 20, 2025