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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Eighty seven medals of Yugoslavia

3 March 2004

In all five games with a ball, which are justifiably considered the most popular sports in the world, Yugoslavia has a lot to be proud of. Our teams in football, basketball, volleyball, water polo and handball have won a total of 87 medals at the greatest international competitions.

Yugoslav basketball team - European champions of 1995

Football players were the first to sign in the honour list. At the 1948 Olympic games they were second, and repeated that in 1952 and 1956. In 1960 they at last got to the gold and since then they just one more time got to the top three - they were third in 1984. At the European championships Yugoslavia has on two occasions been second - in 1960 and 1968. At the world championships the "blue" players were best ranked in 1930 and 1962, when they reached the semi-finals (the first time there was no game for the third place and the second they were fourth).

Basketball players have collected the most medals. They were Olympic champions in 1980, second in 1968, 1976, 1988 and 1996, and third in 1984. They won the world championships in 1970, 1978, 1990, 1998 and 2002, they were second in 1963, 1967 and 1974, and they won the bronze in 1982 and 1986. Yugoslavia was the champion of the old continent in 1973, 1975, 1977, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997 and 2001, second in 1961, 1965, 1969, 1971 and 1981, and third in 1963, 1979, 1987 and 1999.

Yugoslavia was three times first in water polo at the Olympic games - 1968, 1984 and 1988, and has won silver medals in 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980. Yugoslavia was third at the Olympics 2000. At the world championships our teams won in 1986 and 1991, it was second in 2001, and it was third in 1973, 1978 and 1998. Our water polo players were European champions twice - in 1991 and 2001, they were seven times second in Europe - in 1954, 1962, 1977, 1985, 1987, 1989 and 1997, and five time times third - 1950, 1958, 1966, 1970 and 1974.

Handball players were twice the Olympic champions - in 1972 and 1984 and once third - 1988 (they do have a silver medal). At the world championships they were the first in 1986, second in 1982 and third in 1970, 1974, 1999 and 2001. They have one medal from the European championships - the bronze one, which they won in 1996.

Volleyball players have a total of nine medals. One is from the world championship - silver 1998, two from the Olympic games - bronze in 1996 and gold in 2000, and six from European championships - one gold in 2001, one silver in 1997 and four bronzes - in 1975, 1979, 1995 and 1999.