The beginnings of organized sporting in Bijeljina are linked to the year 1908 and to the founding of gymnastics club Srpski soko (Serbian Falcon) named “Obilić” which was a part of the Sokol movement. Almost all Serbian youth in the town were members of “Obilić” and the club had over 250 members. Sokols practiced running, wrestling, shot put, weight lifting, javelin throwing; they practiced on gymnastics equipment – parallel bars, horizontal bar, pommel horse, etc. Muslim soko was founded in the same year. Apart from sports, it also had choral and tamburitza section. Soon after, Hrvatski soko (Croatian Falcon) was founded.

Bijeljina sokols in 1911

Exercise of sokols of Bijeljina 'Obilić' in Priboj in 1919

                           Нацрт Соколског дома у Бијељини саграђеног 1932. године
 

Thanks to prominent people of Bijeljina, construction of Sokolski dom started in 1929. It was completed in 1932 and immediately became one of the most representative buildings in town.

The first sport club in Bijeljina, Podrinje, was founded in 1919. Soon after, clubs Zora, Građanski, Semberija were founded, and Radnički was founded in 1938, as a predecessor of the current club Radnik.

After the Second World War there was a fast development and popularization of sports and physical education, and bigger sports courts were built in Bijeljina, in larger local communities, as well as an Olympic sized swimming pool in Dvorovi.

Athletes from Bijeljina accomplished great results at competitions, both locally and internationally.

Among others, we can mention the following accomplishments...

Football Club “Radnik” played in the II Yugoslav football league on three occasions between 1945 and 1991. The greatest accomplishment of FC “Radnik” was in 2016, when, after winning the cups of the Republic of Srpska and BaH, they played on European football scene for the first time in their history. In 1999 and 2005 the footballers of “Radnik” were the champions of the Republic of Srpska, and in 2010 they won the Cup of the Republic of Srpska.

Men’s Volleyball Club “Radnik” was a champion of the Republic of Srpska in 2002 and 2005, and the Cup winner in 2005. Women’s VC “Radnik” won the Cup of the Republic of Srpska in 2005. Women’s and men’s senior teams of VC “Radnik” were elected the best teams at the selection of the best athletes in Bijeljina on several occasions. In the season 2015/2016, men volleyball players played in the RS Cup finals, semi-finals of BaH Cup and semi-finals of playoffs, and the women played in the quarter-finals of playoffs. 

Volleyball Club “Radnik” (seniors - men)

Volleyball Club "Radnik" (seniors - women)

Karate practitioners competed in the II Yugoslav league under the name “Partizan”. Under the name “Panteri”, they were the champions of Premier League of BaH in 2006, with many medals won at world and European competitions. Boxing club “Radnik” was the most successful boxing club in the region of former Yugoslavia in the season of 2007/2008. Velibor Vidić, a member of BC “Radnik” was the fifth on the ranking list of the European Olympic Committees. The Chess Club “Panteri” is a successful competitor in the Premier League of BaH, and their member Dalibor Stojanović competed at the Olympic Games playing chess. Basketball Club “Radnik” was the champion of the Republic of Srpska three times, and the Handball Club “Bijeljina” accomplished some significant results (champion of the RS in 2003/2004, vice-champion in 2010/2011, and champion of the RS in 2011/2012).
 

Basketball Club “Radnik”

Handball Club "Bijeljina"

The City of Bijeljina allocates significant funds to sports and physical education. Sports and physical education are funded from the City budget on four grounds: funds for sports pursuant to the Rulebook on allocation, funds for school sports, funds for investments in sports, and funds for physical education.

Sports organizations in the City of Bijeljina
 

City of Bijeljina - European City of Sport Candidature 2020

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