Balkans local sports infrastructure upgrades

In early July, municipal authorities in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina announced more than €1 million in spending to modernise sport venues. Tivat, Montenegro, earmarked €150,000 for refurbishing five courts, adding new surfaces, hoops, nets, benches and a children's playground. In Tuzla, Bosnia, the Sports‑Cultural‑Economic Centre "Mejdan" received over 660,000 convertible marks for new flooring across a hall, training area and fitness centre, enabling higher‑level handball, futsal, volleyball and basketball events.

A fortnight later, local governments in Slovenia and Croatia took related actions. Maribor approved a €121,000 contract to upgrade outdoor sports fields at three primary schools, installing new handball courts and an athletic track. Meanwhile, Osijek‑Baranja County in Croatia cancelled a contract for rebuilding the Miroslava Krleže primary school before work began, citing public‑interest concerns and planning a new procurement process.

In late July, Maribor again approved a €121,000 procurement to refurbish sports surfaces at three primary schools, while Osijek‑Baranja County repeated its cancellation of the school reconstruction contract for the same public‑interest reasons. In early August, Montenegro launched works on the sports grounds of the public primary school Radojica Perović in Podgorica under the “Nek’ se čuje lopta” programme, with education and sport ministers stressing the health, teamwork and community benefits of upgraded school sport facilities.