First organised forms of sports activities appeared in Novi Sad by the end of the 18th century. At that time the "City Marksmen Association" was established (1790), gymnastics was introduced in regular curriculum of the Novi Sad Grammar School (1854) and "Riders', Rowers' and Fire fighters' Commune" was created (1885), which was later on transformed into the Rowing Club "Danubius". The citizens of Novi Sad had their representative in athletics at the Olympic Games, which were held in Athens in 1896.
Sport started to develop at a much faster pace after the establishment of the Municipal Association of Physical Culture in 1959. The building of the sports-business centre "Vojvodina" has certainly contributed to that as well. It is one of the largest and most beautiful sports centres in Europe, which was opened in 1981.
About 220 sports organisations are active in Novi Sad today. They represent 34 different sport branches, which are members of the Sports Association of Novi Sad. With about 16.000 registered sportsmen, 10.000 pupils of elementary and secondary schools who participate in school competitions and about 20.000 workers who are included in the programme of Workers' Sports Games, Novi Sad is the second best developed (after Belgrade) sports city in Yugoslavia. Sportsmen from Novi Sad have also won many medals at the Balkan Championships, Mediterranean Games and European and world championships. The honorary place in the rich treasury of medals belongs to those that were won at Olympic Games.
The largest number of sportsmen from Novi Sad participated in the Olympic Games held in Atlanta (11 of them), while in Moscow we had 7 representatives and five in Montreal and Barcelona respectively. Our sportsmen won the largest number of medals in Atlanta - even 6, while in Moscow they won 3, and in Montreal and Melbourne two. Those who follow sports events could notice that our football players and marksmen participated in four Olympic Games and judoists, athletes, rowers and table tennis player in three. Football players and volleyball players won four and marksmen won three Olympic medals. Marksmen, boxers, volleyball players, handball players and table tennis players from Novi Sad participated in the Olympic Games in Sidney.
Novi Sad was the host of the European and World Championships in table tennis, Chess Olympic Games, European and World Championships in sambo, Balkan and European Championships in judo, final match in the Cup of European Basketball Champions and final tournament of the European Cup in volleyball. Apart from that Novi Sad is the host of the World League in volleyball and traditional manifestations such as Novi Sad marathon, international swimming rally and many others.