During the occupation, children and young people in Novi Bečej spent most of their summer engaged in swimming, as this sport required no special conditions, equipment, or facilities. Water polo was played only as a casual water game, provided there was a ball available — there were no real conditions for anything more serious.

After the capitulation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the country was occupied by the Third Reich and divided according to the occupiers’ interests. Banat, inhabited by a large number of ethnic Germans, received a special status as a protectorate of the Third Reich. Under this protection, life was somewhat calmer and freer than in other parts of the occupied country.

Those who were involved in organizing swimming competitions quickly noticed that such events were rather monotonous and failed to generate much excitement. They lacked attractiveness and didn’t draw large audiences. To solve this problem, they decided to create a game played in water. Since football was already an established sport at the time, they came up with the idea of "football on water." This first took place in London in 1869.

Rowing, once a popular and beloved skill before the war, was not practiced during the occupation, as the occupiers forbade citizens from owning boats on the Tisa River. Only professional fishermen — and there were very few of them — were allowed to keep and use boats.

The numerous bowling alleys in Novi Bečej’s cafes confirm that this sport was a beloved pastime for the residents of the town on the Tisa. The oldest alley in the area is certainly the one at the “Sokolac” mansion near Novi Bečej, built in the 19th century. This single-lane bowling alley (shown in the picture) could still be functional today with minor adaptations and could serve as an interesting tourist attraction. The existence of a bowling alley in the mansion confirms that bowling was a favorite game of the aristocracy.

When Laslo Šuranji won the gold medal in shooting at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil, it became clear that his perseverance, determination, and inner strength had truly paid off.

The ambitious and persistent club "Bakar" expanded its activities even outside the competitive season. On February 22, 1941, it organized the "Miss Sport" contest of Novi Bečej. For this occasion, a magnificent ball was held in the "Sokol" hall, featuring a rich cultural and entertainment program.

Football, as it is played today, emerged in England in the 1960s. University colleges in Oxford, Cambridge, Sheffield, and elsewhere revived football in 1840, but in a different form than it was played in London at the end of the 17th century. These few student clubs played football without any rules, and at that time, there was no distinction made between football and rugby.

The Open Championship of Novi Bečej in swimming and water polo for 1935 was won by the team “Vojvodina,” which received the silver trophy donated by the club president, Zigler Maks. Second place went to “SAK,” which was awarded the trophy of the “Jedinstvo” club. With this victory, the swimmers and water polo players of “Vojvodina” once again confirmed their dominance in the Danube Banovina.

In his manuscript “The Great Swimming Day,” Branislav Kiselički writes about the start of the competition on August 29, 1943:

The idea of the Novi Bečej swimmers was accepted, but due to issues with obtaining a permit, the swimming event wasn’t held as originally planned—on August 1st and 2nd—but instead on August 28th and 29th, 1943.
From the manuscript The Great Swimming Day by Branislav Kiselički, we highlight the part describing the welcome of the Belgrade athletes:

Since Novi Bečej did not have water polo players who could compete on equal terms with those from Belgrade, the organizers wisely decided to hold the contest between two mixed teams. Thus, the “White” and “Colorful” teams were formed.

In Novi Bečej, before World War II, four swimming styles were practiced: men’s, women’s, backstroke, and dog paddle.

Men’s swimming was characterized by arm strokes with the arms lifted above the water, scissors-like leg movements, and the head always kept above the surface.

It is well known that sports began and continue to develop in socially and technologically advanced communities. For that reason, Novi Bečej must also be considered from this perspective.

During the summer, when the Tisa River level dropped, a sandbank would appear across from the stone beach, stretching far into the river’s current. This was the favorite beach of Novi Bečej’s residents, popularly known as “Preko” (“Across”). People loved to swim there, but crossing the Tisa was not easy.

Young and promising karate athlete Kasija Milošević was born in 2003. She completed her elementary education in Novi Bečej, where she is also attending high school — currently as a third-year student at the gymnasium.