As part of the cooperation between the sister cities of Kotor and Santa Barbara from the United States of America, a water polo match between the American team "UCSB" and the combined team of the local clubs "Primorac" and "Cattaro" was held yesterday at the city pool "Zoran Jimi Gopčević".
 
This exhibition meeting confirmed the successful long-term cooperation between the two cities, which is particularly reflected in sports, culture and education. American water polo players have traditionally been guests of Kotor clubs, and today's sports meeting was attended by the American ambassador to Montenegro, JudiRijzing Rajnke, and the president of the Municipality of Kotor, Vladimir Jokić.
 
The American ambassador to Montenegro, Judy Reising Reinken, after watching the match, pointed out that she was pleased to meet excellent young athletes in Kotor.
 
"In my job, I really like sports diplomacy, because it brings together people from all over the world, especially young people. They don't have to speak the same language, but they have the same motivation and ambition and strive for the same goal. I am extremely satisfied with the hospitality of the city of Kotor and the young athletes from Santa Barbara have a great opportunity to exchange experiences and develop their skills here. The successful cooperation between the two sister cities is confirmed by cooperation through sports, art, and culinary education", said the American ambassador, expressing her belief in the continuation of successful cooperation.
 
The President of the Municipality of Kotor, Vladimir Jokić, said that water polo is only one of the ways in which the friendship between sister cities develops. He also mentioned the exchange of students and lecturers through the culinary school, as well as the fruitful cultural cooperation and the visit of a large number of American artists to the international festival "Kotor Art".
 
"We talked with friends from Santa Barbara to further deepen cooperation through student exchange and the opening of a cultural center for the Mediterranean area in Perast. I believe that in the coming years our friendship will be even stronger", said President Jokić and expressed his gratitude to the family of George and Denise Lili, who make a strong contribution to the friendship of these cities.
 
The meeting between the American ambassador and the first man of Kotor was attended by the director of the water polo club "Primorac" Dragan Samardžić, the team manager of the water polo academy "Cattaro" Mirko Vičević and the coach of this club Mlađan Tujković, the coaches of the American team Jan Wood and Nikola Bjelica and Jovan Ristic, director of the Tourism Organization of the Municipality of Kotor .