Ahead of the 5th Belgrade Half Marathon, another very interesting panel discussion was held at the Mona Plaza Hotel, organized by the “Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon” Foundation.

The panel discussion was held under the theme:
“Sport, Health, Corporate Support and Social Responsibility in Focus: Mental Strength, Physical Preparation in Specific Conditions, Recovery, and the Power of Unity.”

Given the wide scope of the topics discussed, the panel was divided into four segments, and, as has become a tradition, it featured top-level speakers — outstanding professionals and highly accomplished individuals in their respective fields.

The topic of corporate support in sport and the role of companies in promoting sports activities as a bridge between business and the community was discussed by Ivan Vitorović, CEO of Mona Hospitality Management, Đorđe Mijailović, President of the Padel Federation of Serbia, and Nevena Ignjatović, founder of the Ski Business League and Serbia’s most successful alpine skier.

The second part of the panel was dedicated to the theme “Sport, Health and Mental Strength: Preparation, Challenges and Recovery.” Milica Petrović, psychologist at Medigroup, and Lazar Makulović, a wheelchair basketball player, spoke about the energy of the body and peace of mind, highlighting sport as a foundation of mental health.

The Sports Director of the Serbian Athletics Federation, Mihail Dudaš, a former successful athlete, discussed in detail— from his perspective—the entire preparation process, from training to the race itself, as well as motivation for achieving personal goals.
Dr. sci. med. Deniel Pešić, a Doctor of Medical Sciences in sports medicine from the Military Medical Academy (VMA), also spoke about preparation and training in specific conditions, with special emphasis on their impact on the respiratory system, providing very useful advice for professional athletes.
Dr. Marija Trajkov, a PhD in multidisciplinary sciences at Fizio Vračar, talked about recovery after a marathon, as well as planning and strategies for optimal regeneration and injury prevention.
In the third part of the panel, a lecture titled “Motivation for Running and Participating in the Belgrade Marathon” was delivered by Associate Professor Dr. Ivan Ćuk from the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education at the University of Belgrade, while the final part of the panel was dedicated to humanitarian work.

On the topic “The Heart of the Community: Humanitarian Actions, Support for Persons with Disabilities, and the Importance of Donations for a More Inclusive Society,” presentations were delivered by Igor Kovačević, Professor of Physical Education and Sport, Nemanja Radović, Secretary General of the Belgrade Sports Association for Persons with Disabilities, Željko Ćirković, President of the Singidunum Wheelchair Basketball Club, and Nikola Prica, Secretary General of the Red Cross.

Igor Kovačević particularly addressed the topic of the power of unity and how humanitarian initiatives can change lives.
Željko Ćirković and Nemanja Radović delivered very engaging presentations on the importance of support and creating opportunities for inclusion, explaining how donations empower persons with disabilities by enabling greater independence and equal participation in society.
Meanwhile, Nikola Prica, drawing on his extensive experience with the Red Cross, spoke about the importance of donations for vulnerable groups.

The “Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon” Foundation will continue to organize similar initiatives in the future, aimed at education and the sharing of experience and knowledge from various important fields related to healthy lifestyles, inclusion, and different forms of support for vulnerable groups.