On Friday, May 19, 2023, the Fifth International Scientific Conference “Sport, Recreation, Health” was held at the College of Sports and Health.

Professors, students, sports professionals, and researchers from Croatia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, the Philippines, Algeria, and the Czech Republic presented their latest research. According to Prof. Marijana Mladenović, the central theme of this year’s conference was the importance of physical activity at an early age and the increasingly significant presence of young people in the virtual environment. It was particularly emphasized that a lack of movement at an early age is not only a matter of organizing children’s time, but also a potentially far-reaching health issue in the decades to come. The task of science, therefore, is to clarify the proper “measure” and place of the virtual world.

The conference also provided an opportunity for scientific and practical discussion about the relationship between athletic performance and healthy lifestyles, since only a psychophysically healthy athlete can achieve consistent sporting results.

In the opening lecture, Prof. Edin Užičanin from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at the University of Tuzla presented the results of a study conducted in 60 countries, as well as the recommendations of the World Health Organization regarding healthy lifestyle habits and daily physical activity for preschool children. These recommendations include: 180 minutes of physical activity per day, 60 minutes of high-intensity activity (vigorous play or physical activity), 10 to 13 hours of quality sleep, and no more than one hour of screen time.

At the conference in Belgrade, Prof. Užičanin invited colleagues from Serbia to join the research and expressed concern over the results obtained from a sample of preschool children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where only 23% of the tested children met the stated criteria. This has further implications for childhood obesity, as 43% of children in this age group are overweight. In some basic exercises and tests, very poor results were recorded, such as balance exercises—today, children aged 3 to 5 are often unable to maintain balance or stand on one leg for more than two seconds. The conclusion is that there are serious developmental problems in children of this age, for whom physical activity is extremely important, and that these issues must be addressed systematically. Professionals in the fields of health and sport, together with the media, must draw attention to this problem in order to preserve the health and quality of life of future generations.

Conference Organizing Committee