Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Serbia, when competing as that nation. For much of modern sporting history, Serbia has been part of other nations. Serbia has existed until the early 1900s, when the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was created.

In 1991 Yugoslavia split up and the independent countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Serbia-Montenegro were formed. Serbia declared independence from Montenegro in 2006, and again Serbia competed on the world stage under that name.

"Serbia's sporting identity has been forged through a rich tradition of team sports excellence. The transition from Yugoslavia to an independent sporting nation has only strengthened their competitive spirit and international presence."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports
volleyball game in Belgrade Serbia

Volleyball game in Belgrade, Serbia

Just like many other countries, Serbian national sport is "Football" or as it's called in the US "Soccer". Sport in Serbia revolves mostly around team sports. Among the most popular sports in Serbia are football, basketball, water polo, volleyball, handball and tennis. The two main football clubs in Serbia are Red Star Belgrade and FK Partizan, both from capital Belgrade.

Did You Know?

FIBA considers the Serbian national basketball team the direct descendant of the legendary Yugoslavia national basketball team, which won multiple Olympic and World Championship medals.

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Aleksandar Čanović is a Serb football goalkeeper who plays for BSK Borča in the Serbian First League. He previously played for Red Star Belgrade, FK Pobeda, FK Vojvodina, FK BASK Beograd, FK Voždovac, FK Rad, BSK Borča, Dinamo Minsk, Ermis Aradippou, Birkirkara and Bregalnica Štip. Čanović was part of the Serbian and Montenegrin 2004 Olympic football team, who exited in the first round, finishing fourth in Group C behind gold-medal winners Argentina, Australia and Tunisia.

Serbia was the host of Euro Basket 2005. FIBA considers Serbia national basketball team the direct descendant of the famous Yugoslavia national basketball team. KK Partizan was the European champion in 1992 with curiosity of winning the title, although playing all but one of the games (crucial quarter-final game vs. Knorr) on foreign grounds. FIBA decided not to allow teams from Former Yugoslavia to play their home games at their home venues, because of open hostilities in the region.

Serbia's Olympic Success

The Serbian men's national basketball team has won two Olympic silver medals at the 1996 Atlanta Games and the 2016 Rio Olympics, demonstrating the country's sustained excellence in the sport.

Olympic Games Gold Silver Bronze Total
Sydney 2000* 1 1 1 3
Athens 2004* 0 2 0 2
Beijing 2008 0 1 2 3
London 2012 1 1 2 4
Rio 2016 2 4 2 8
Tokyo 2020 3 1 5 9
Paris 2024 3 1 1 5
Total (as Serbia) 9 8 12 29

*As Serbia and Montenegro

"What makes Serbia remarkable is their consistent Olympic performance across multiple disciplines. Winning 29 medals since independence in 2006 demonstrates a well-developed sports infrastructure and exceptional athlete development programs."
— According to sports science expert Robert Wood, who has analyzed sports performance data for over 25 years

Great Athletes from Serbia

  • Novak Djokovic (Tennis) - Multiple Grand Slam champion and considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time
  • Ana Ivanovic (Tennis) - Former World No. 1 and French Open champion
  • Dejan Savic (Water polo) - Legendary water polo player and multiple-time world champion

Tennis Legend

Novak Djokovic won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year in 2012, becoming the first Serbian athlete to receive this prestigious award.

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"Novak Djokovic represents the pinnacle of Serbian sporting achievement. His influence extends beyond tennis, inspiring a new generation of athletes across all sports in Serbia."
— Robert J. Wood's research at Topend Sports

Serbia Sports Trivia

Serbia at Major Events

Sporting Events Hosted in Serbia

Past Sporting Events Hosted in Serbia

  • 1973 World Swimming Championships Belgrade
  • 1978 AIBA World Championships (men) in Belgrade, Serbia
  • 2005 Euro Basket
  • 2012 European Women's Handball Championship
  • 2013 World Women's Handball Championship
  • 2013 Davis Cup World Group final
  • 2013 European Individual Chess Championship for Women
  • 2014 European Rowing Championships
  • 2021 IBA World Championships (men) in Belgrade, Serbia
  • 2022 18th IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championship in Belgrade, Serbia
  • 2024 IAAF World Cross-Country Championships, Belgrade
  • 2025 Women's World Boxing Championships in Belgrade

Upcoming Sporting Events in Serbia

  • 2026 Men's European Water Polo Championship
  • FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup 2026 - It will be held in Kopaonik from 25th to 28th of February 2026

Upcoming Events

Serbia will host the 2026 Men's European Water Polo Championship and the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup at Kopaonik in February 2026.

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Annual Sporting Events Held in Serbia

  • The Belgrade Marathon - This event is held annually in April, and it attracts thousands of runners from around the world.
  • The Belgrade Open - This is an annual tennis event which attracts different tennis players in and out of Serbia.
  • The Belgrade Grand Prix - This event is part of the motorsport calendar, attracting top drivers from around the world.

Sporting Facilities in Serbia

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