Empty, broken playgrounds and benches, young people staring at smartphones while walking through the city – these were images of everyday life of young people in Podgorica. Closure of schools and one-month home isolation made the teens, after loosening of prevention measures, massively physically active. Podgorica streets these days are full of young people, who enjoy riding bikes, scooters, roller skates
The new emergency situation caused by spread of COVID- 9, closure of schools and one month home isolation, made teenagers, after loosening of prevention measures, massively physically active. Podgorica streets these days are full of young people, who enjoy riding bikes, scooters, roller skates… Basketball is played on the sports fields in the blocks. “Tracksuit” style can be seen throughout the city.
The situation was completely different before the coronavirus. Empty, broken playgrounds and benches, young people staring at smartphones while walking through the city. Taking photos for Instagram was a favourite sport. Cafés, bookmakers, rare bikers – these were images of everyday life of young people in the capital. Now, after a month long isolation, Podgorica has another, more beautiful face that resembles some European “smart city” with fewer cars, cleaner air and a wide range of alternative traffic.
As high school students told us, before the closure of schools, physical education classes were attended only by students who liked sports. Professors, they said, had an understanding, so they closed their eyes to those who were not interested in sports. The conditions for teaching in high schools range from poor to almost ideal.
– It all depends on the professor. New, young professors insist on work at the beginning, but gradually they also abate. Only those who want, attend physical education classes, mostly guys. I have no need to do that. I spend time learning some other subject with my friends. That’s a great option. We have the equipment and space, the conditions in the gym are excellent. We have a lot of sections – skiing, cycling, hiking, swimming which operate at full capacity – said M.M. student of “Slobodan Skerovic” Grammar School.
And while in Grammar School students have the opportunity to socialize and have fun during organised recreational extracurricular activities, in some high schools there are high irregularities, so physical education classes have not been implemented at all.
– During four years of my education, I’ve entered gym only few times. We have almost never had that class. We use that time to take a break from school at a nearby café or to walk. We often see physical education professors sitting in cafés across the school – told us A.P. student of Economic High School “Mirko Vesovic”.
We should seek reasons for avoiding physical education classes, whose impact is vital for adolescents’ psychophysical development, also in breakthrough of new technologies. They captivate youth minds, tying them up to computers and surfing on the Internet.
– There is a sports court in the block, it’s great, but it happens that there is nobody to play basketball with, everyone is online and it bothers them to go out – says S.L.
Besides that, teenagers mostly spend time in cafés, playing raffle or filling out bookmaker tickets or just hanging out in the street. Researches show an increase in drug, alcohol and gambling addictions among youth. The age limit for addicts is getting lower every year. It seems that the former campaign Sports against Drugs (2010) would be even more needed for young people today, giving them clearer insight into promising different reality. And maybe coronavirus isolation achieved that much faster.
– A new basketball court was built in the backyard of my building. A lot of kids play there. The courts are much better than before. Finally something starts to change – said M.Z.
Director of “Vaso Aligrudic” Electro-technical High School Veselin Picuric, points out that, thanks to the new young professors, physical education classes take place regularly, as well as that students within this subject have possibility to learn dance basics. He adds that outdoor sports fields were renovated three years ago in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports and are constantly available to recreational athletes in the area. However, the school gym is still inadequate.
– Sports hall, built in the early 70s, is deteriorated and has never been generally reconstructed. The roof leaks, the old wooden windows have collapsed, so we have to repair the floor every year. It is the only sports hall that was not renewed within the Energy Efficiency Program in Public Institutions three years ago. It is used by approx. 3,000 students from Electro-technical, Chemical and Civil Engineering high schools. Those children deserve a normal gym and adequate conditions – explains Picuric.
Despite their different starting positions, the most fortunate ones seem to be those students who have a good elementary school teacher who succeeds in fulfilling his/her mission despite the existing restrictions – to develop good recreational habits in young people through fun and socializing, often with his/her ideas, enthusiasm and extracurricular activities.
– All professors who take kids to competitions do it because they love their job. And it’s not the point to be the first, as some people think, but to participate. I often take kids to watch a game, skiing, swimming… And during this crisis period, physical education takes place on online platforms, and children submit their videos with successfully done exercises. We all do our jobs, but each of us in his/her own way. Guests in the class are also our friends, actors, singers, athletes, who explain children why they love sports. It is important not to experience sports as a competition, but to focus on awakening in children the desire to play a sport. Only then our mission is successful. It is not easy for us, because we are fighting against technology, lack of free time and everything else that makes modern life – said teacher of physical education at Primary School “Pavle Rovinski” Velimir Vlahovic.
It would be good to get good ideas and habits in place, and bad ones to bring to a minimum.
Balloon sports halls as an alternative
School gyms and outdoor courts are not the only places where young people engage in sports activities. During bad weather, young people opt for the use of balloon sports halls, although they are not satisfied with the quality of air inside them. “I prefer open space, it’s healthier, only when the weather is bad, I opt for balloon sports halls, though the air is stale inside. Renting is not expensive, it depends, we give from 1.5 to 2.5 euros each – this is not expensive when more people gather to play”, said high school student M.K.
Renting costs are acceptable for children and income from balloon sports halls is used for school purposes. “70% out of income generated from balloon sports halls owned by schools, goes to school and 30% to Fund for Talents of the Ministry of Education”, told us Dijana Lakovic, Director of Elementary School “Pavle Rovinski”.
School management in Grammar School “Slobodan Skerovic” plans to invest income which they generate from balloon sports hall in an innovative way. “The contracts with the owners of balloon sports halls expire next year. Generated profit is used for school purposes. Part of my second mandate development plan includes building of a park space behind the school and possibly, restoring an athletic track”, announced Zoja Bojanic, Grammar School Director.
Reconstruction and construction of halls
The Ministry of Education points out that a lot of money has been invested in construction and reconstruction of the existing sports infrastructure in recent years.
Only last year, 16 projects, concerning reconstruction or construction of gyms throughout Montenegro were carried out, independently or in cooperation with other entities. Sports halls of Primary School “Ristan Pavlovic” in Pljevlja, Maritime High School in Kotor, Primary School “Marko Miljanov” in Bijelo Polje, Primary School “Salko Aljkovic” in Pljevlja, Grammar School in Cetinje, Primary School in Rozaje, Grammar School in Tuzi, Primary School “Blazo Jokov Orlandic” in Bar, Primary School “Oktoih” in Podgorica, Primary School “Orjenski bataljon” in Bijela and many others were equipped, constructed or reconstructed, as well as sports fields in Plav and Gusinje. Reconstruction of sports hall in Grammar School and Vocational High School in Rozaje will start soon, as well as construction of sports hall in Primary School “Lovćenski partizanski odred” in Cetinje.
Irena CEJOVIC
Elena DABETIC
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