SRB - Divac becomes presidential candidate for Serbian Olympic Committee

BELGRADE (KSS) - Serbia great Vlade Divac is the official candidate of the Serbian Basketball Association (KSS) for the presidency of the country's Olympic Committee.

Divac, who had a long career in Europe and the NBA and signed off from international basketball in 2002 after helping Yugoslavia capture the gold medal at the FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis, has the full support of the KSS.

"This new way in which Serbian sport is developing means that our Olympic Committee should be very influential," said KSS president Dragan Kapicic.

"Therefore, at our executive board meeting we unanimously voted for Divac as we strongly believe that he could help our sport to be more efficient, and its functioning more successful."

Divac's plan is for the Olympic Committee of Serbia (OKS) to work "with transparency, not just among sports associations, but as well towards the nation".

"I have lot of work ahead of elections to do which must be done before February 24," Divac said.

"My first goal is to create a good program for the future functioning of OKS, and my plan is to include people with the highest experience, such as (FIBA Secretary General Emeritus) Borislav Stankovic," Divac said.

He added that "(current OKS president) Ivan Curkovic won't be his 'rival', as programs should be things that the Olympic Committee votes for".

Divac, 40, officially finished his playing career in 2007.

He won gold medals at the FIBA World Championships in Argentina in 1990 and 12 years later in Indianapolis.

Divac also captured EuroBasket titles in Rome (1991), Athens (1995) and Paris (1999).

His brilliant career began in 1983 in Sloga Kraljevo, and after becoming one of the best Partizan Belgrade players at the end of 1980s, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers and played for them for seven years.

After being dealt to the Charlotte Hornets (1996-1998) in the move that sent the rights to rookie Kobe Bryant to LA, he joined the Sacramento Kings and played there from 1998-2004.

Divac returned to Lakers for his last season and finished his NBA career with averages of 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals in 1,134 games.

Together with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon, Divac was one of only three players in NBA history to amass 13,000 points (13,364), 9,000 rebounds (9,294), 3,000 assists (3,522) and 1,500 blocked shots (1,630).

Darko Nikolic
FIBA