The President of the Municipality of Kotor, Vladimir Jokić, and the United States Ambassador to Montenegro, Judy Rising Reinke, attended a friendly water polo match today. The match, held as part of the sister-city cooperation between Kotor and Santa Barbara, took place at the „Zoran Jimmy Gopčević“ city pool, featuring the American team „UCSB“ and a combined squad from the Kotor clubs „Primorac“ and „Cattaro.“
President Jokić highlighted that beyond sports events, Kotor and Santa Barbara, as sister cities, foster their friendship through cultural exchanges, programs of the KotorArt International Festival, student exchanges, and a culinary school.
He noted that discussions with Ambassador Rising Reinke and representatives from Santa Barbara focused on deepening the cooperation between the two cities through student exchanges and the establishment of a Mediterranean Cultural Center in Perast.
„I believe we will further strengthen our friendship. Once again, my heartfelt thanks go to the George Dennis Lilly family for nurturing this friendship. On our side, we are ready to develop this partnership further, aiming to generate as many projects as possible,“ stated Jokić.
Ambassador Judy Rising Reinke expressed her pleasure at meeting outstanding young athletes from Kotor and Santa Barbara during the occasion.
„One of the things I truly love about this role is sports diplomacy, as it brings together people from different parts of the world—especially young athletes—who may not share the same language but share common ambitions, motivations, and goals.
Today, I had the chance to watch a match between the junior team from Santa Barbara and the one from Kotor. I am genuinely pleased with how the Municipality of Kotor has hosted the event. I believe the American water polo players were warmly welcomed here and have had the opportunity to exchange experiences and develop their sports skills in this city,“ said Ambassador Rising Reinke.
She emphasized that the two sister cities are achieving remarkable cooperation in sports, culinary arts, and culture.
„Sports diplomacy allows our two nations to grow closer. I hope this collaboration continues. I would like to thank the Municipality of Kotor for supporting this type of exchange, enabling young people to grow and experience a new culture,“ Ambassador Rising Reinke added.
Coach Mirko Vičević expressed satisfaction with the ongoing water polo collaboration between Santa Barbara and Kotor, which has been developing for nine years.
„The match ended with a victory for Santa Barbara. This project, which has been ongoing for quite some time, has been executed exceptionally well. I believe this is the ninth time that players from Santa Barbara have come to Kotor. We visited them once and had the chance to see how they truly live. We were excellent hosts in Kotor, and our children were also warmly welcomed in American homes, where they gained valuable insights that might influence their future career choices. I am delighted that this collaboration improves every year, with both local governments recognizing the significance of such gatherings. It is wonderful to see us bond so well and for everything to run smoothly,“ Vičević stated.
The Director of the Water Polo Club „Primorac,“ Dragan Samardžić, highlighted that the implementation of this project has been improving year by year, offering great opportunities for the younger generations of the „Primorac“ club and the city of Kotor.
Among others, the Director of the Kotor Tourist Organization, Jovan Ristić, was also in attendance.
Text: Irena Mačić Đurić, Photo: Radio Kotor – IMĐ
