Former CEV President Boričić laid to rest in Belgrade after memorial service

CEV President Roko Sikirić was among the dignitaries and members of the Volleyball family to attend the memorial service organised on Saturday in Belgrade to pay tribute to former CEV President Aleksandar Boričić. The event was held at the Media Centre of FK Crvena zvezda at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in the Serbian capital city, only a few days after Mr Boričić passed away earlier this week following a short illness. 

In the presence of family members, friends and colleagues, several generations of former and current players, memories of Boričić were shared, among others, by Dragan Kilibarda, President of the Managing Board of OK Crvena zvezda; FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, CEV President Roko Sikirić; Đula Mešter, President of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia; Vladimir Grbić, legendary Volleyball player and member of the Volleyball Hall of Fame; Nemanja Petrić, former national team captain, and Zoran Avramović, Secretary General of SD Crvena zvezda and one of Boričić’s closest associates for many years.

The list of attendees included representatives of the National Federations of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Poland; Ivan Knežević, Secretary General of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia and CEV First Vice-President; CEV Managing Director Vuk Karanović; Zoran Gajić, Minister of Sport of the Republic of Serbia; Dejan Bojović, Acting Assistant Minister for Sport; Snežana Samardžić Marković, former Minister of Youth and Sport; Dejan Tomašević, President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia; Damir Štajner, Secretary General of the Olympic Committee of Serbia; Božidar Maljković, former President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia; Nenad Lalović, President of United World Wrestling and former member of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee; Dragan Džajić, President of the Football Association of Serbia; Branko Radujko, Secretary General of the Football Association of Serbia; Božidar Đurković, President of the Handball Federation of Serbia; Viktor Jelenić, President of the Water Polo Federation of Serbia; Zvezdan Terzić, President of SD Crvena zvezda; and Svetozar Mijailović, President of FK Crvena zvezda, along with former football, basketball and volleyball players of Crvena zvezda, representatives of regional associations and clubs, and many more former associates.

The commemoration concluded with a long and heartfelt round of applause for Aleksandar Boričić to express deep gratitude for everything he did for Volleyball, his family, friends, and colleagues. Following the memorial service, the former CEV President was laid to rest at the Central Cemetery in Belgrade after being escorted to his final resting place by family members, friends, colleagues as well as by many former and current players.