Sport in Kosova

Struggle for RecognitionSport in Sport in KosovaKosova

Struggle for RecognitionStruggle for Recognition

Agim IslamiAgim Islami

Komiteti Olimpik i Kosovës (KOK)

Olympic Committee of Kosovo (OCK)

General InfoGeneral InfoGeneral Info

•• KosovaKosova is a small countryis a small country

•• Approx. 2.3 mil. Inhabitants in 10.887 kmApprox. 2.3 mil. Inhabitants in 10.887 km22

•• Over 50% of the population are UOver 50% of the population are U--30yr.30yr.

•• Ethnic GroupsEthnic Groups

–– Albanian 92%Albanian 92%

–– Other 8%Other 8%

•• Currency: Euro (Currency: Euro (€€))

Independent State since Independent State since

February 17February 17thth, 2008, 2008

To date, 60 countries To date, 60 countries

recognized recognized KosovaKosova

Prishtina 2009

State Faculty of Physical

Education and Sports

State Faculty of Physical State Faculty of Physical

Education and SportsEducation and Sports

•• ProfessorsProfessors 3030

•• AssistantsAssistants 2525

•• External teachersExternal teachers 88

•• AdmissionsAdmissions 30 30

Since 1979

Private Faculty of Sports

Sports hall in PrishtinaSports hall in Sports hall in PrishtinaPrishtina

Around 120 Private Indoor Sports Facilities exist

in Kosovo

CoachesCoachesCoaches

•• 401 coaches401 coaches

•• 368 males368 males

•• 33 females33 females

FederationsFederationsFederations

•• 19 licensed federations19 licensed federations

•• 29 708 male athletes29 708 male athletes

•• 5 937 female athletes5 937 female athletes

•• Annual Budget Annual Budget €€1 661 384 (2007)1 661 384 (2007)

15 Clubs and 400 athletes

MinoritiesMinoritiesMinorities

MinoritiesMinoritiesMinorities

““The The KosovaKosova Serb Basketball club Serb Basketball club

““BambiBambi”” gained entry into Kosovo gained entry into Kosovo SperSper

League and competed with top League and competed with top

Albanian clubs in the 2006/07 season. Albanian clubs in the 2006/07 season.

Its Kosovo Serb Manager is also the Its Kosovo Serb Manager is also the

Vice President of the Basketball Vice President of the Basketball

Federation of Federation of KosovaKosova..””

Kosovo Olympic Committee

(KOC)

Kosovo Olympic Committee Kosovo Olympic Committee

(KOC)(KOC)•• The main sport bodyThe main sport body

•• Not recognized by IOCNot recognized by IOC

•• Paralympics and Special OlympicsParalympics and Special Olympics

–– ““KosovaKosova athletes took part in the Special Olympics in 2003 athletes took part in the Special Olympics in 2003

(Dublin) and in 2007 (Shanghai). A body known as Special (Dublin) and in 2007 (Shanghai). A body known as Special

Olympics Olympics KosovaKosova has been established to provide support has been established to provide support

for these athletes.for these athletes.

–– KosovaKosova athletes participated in the athletes participated in the IVthIVth World Sports Games World Sports Games

for Little People, for Little People, RambouilletRambouillet, France in 2005, France in 2005””

Sports Medicine CenterSports Medicine CenterSports Medicine Center

Anti-DopingAntiAnti--DopingDoping

•• Since 5 November 2004, KOC is the Since 5 November 2004, KOC is the

member of ANADOmember of ANADO

•• AntiAnti--Doping Code shall be translated in Doping Code shall be translated in

Albanian languageAlbanian language

•• German AntiGerman Anti--Doping representatives Doping representatives

are offering assistance to establish the are offering assistance to establish the

KosovaKosova NADO structuresNADO structures

FootballFootballFootball

FacilitiesFacilities

•• One Olympic Size Football Pitch One Olympic Size Football Pitch (23 000 viewers)(23 000 viewers)

•• One EU compliant Football PitchOne EU compliant Football Pitch

•• 11 average sized Football Pitches11 average sized Football Pitches

•• 15 FIFA non15 FIFA non--compliantcompliant

•• Approx. 40 improvised underdevelopedApprox. 40 improvised underdeveloped

Football ClubsFootball ClubsFootball Clubs

•• Professional ClubsProfessional Clubs 1616

•• Amateur Clubs Amateur Clubs 4242

•• Young (10Young (10--20yr.) Categories20yr.) Categories 4343

•• Total Players Total Players 53585358

Football coaches, referees and

courts

Football coaches, referees and Football coaches, referees and

courtscourts

•• Licensed coachesLicensed coaches 250250

•• RefereesReferees 250250

Art. 79 par 1 FIFA StatutesArt. 79 par 1 FIFA StatutesArt. 79 par 1 FIFA Statutes

““Kosovo Football Federation is not Kosovo Football Federation is not

allowed to play friendly games with allowed to play friendly games with

FIFA membersFIFA members…”…”

BasketballBasketballBasketball

•• 2072 active players in all age groups2072 active players in all age groups

•• 30 licensed basketball schools30 licensed basketball schools

In average, 2000 fans attend basketball matches

15 foreign players from USA, Bosnia, Macedonia and Croatia

League structureLeague structure

Senior: 22 Clubs and 652 PlayersSenior: 22 Clubs and 652 Players

Junior: 40 Clubs and 1000Junior: 40 Clubs and 1000

Arda-Rei basketball school

350 children

HandballHandballHandball

•• Since 2005 the member of European Since 2005 the member of European

Handball Federation. However, as of Handball Federation. However, as of

May 2007 the FederationMay 2007 the Federation’’s Club s Club

competitions are only recognized, but competitions are only recognized, but

not a national team.not a national team.

–– 27 clubs27 clubs

–– 2 Sports Schools2 Sports Schools

–– 760 Players760 Players

BoxingBoxingBoxing

13 13 ClubsClubs

88 Sport SchoolsSport Schools

551551 AthletesAthletes

““ Kosovo is accepted in Kosovo is accepted in the the EuroleagueEuroleague and and KosovarKosovar Boxing Boxing ClubsClubs…… will have full will have full rights to compete rights to compete beginning 2009/10 beginning 2009/10 seasonseason…… can can immediately box or immediately box or sign contractssign contracts…”…”

The winners of Olympic, European and World medals

TennisTennisTennis

•• Founded 1985Founded 1985

•• 8 clubs8 clubs

•• 15 open courts15 open courts

•• 7 USPTR coaches7 USPTR coaches

•• Not recognized by ETA and ITFNot recognized by ETA and ITF

Children in Prishtina with donated racquets and balls

SkiingSkiingSkiing

•• 15 Clubs15 Clubs

•• 2 Schools2 Schools

•• 940 Athletes940 Athletes

Downhill track:

1.Length 3174m

2.Height difference 803 m

3.Lowest steepness 2.3%

4.Highest steepness 49.1%

5.Average steepness 25.3%

Avalanche portal

Finish line 1717 m

Start 2520 m

Table tennisTable tennisTable tennis

•• The first sport of Kosova to be The first sport of Kosova to be

accepted in international federation accepted in international federation

(ITTF)(ITTF)

•• 13 Clubs13 Clubs

•• 417 Athletes417 Athletes

Qualification for European Championship, October 2005

Kosova, Scotland, Island, Turkey

VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball

•• 23 clubs23 clubs

•• 1240 players1240 players

•• 680 female players680 female players

Martial SportsKarate

Martial SportsMartial SportsKarateKarate

•• 41 clubs41 clubs

•• 636 athletes636 athletes

•• 40% women40% women

•• 100 licensed coaches100 licensed coaches

•• 3 international referees3 international referees

Since 2000 accepted in World Shotokan Federation (WSKF)

Kosovars with medals in AtlantaKosovars with medals in AtlantaKosovars with medals in Atlanta

AthleticsAthleticsAthletics

•• 13 clubs13 clubs

•• 330 athletes330 athletes

•• No infrastructureNo infrastructure

•• Prishtina Half Marathon (International)Prishtina Half Marathon (International)

•• Kosovo championshipKosovo championship

Kosovo Mountaineering and

Alpinists Federation

Kosovo Mountaineering and Kosovo Mountaineering and

Alpinists FederationAlpinists Federation

Common problemsCommon problemsCommon problems

•• Lack of foundsLack of founds

•• Lack of infrastructureLack of infrastructure

•• Lack of qualified coaches and refereesLack of qualified coaches and referees

•• Lack of international experienceLack of international experience

•• Lack of political will by Lack of political will by ““somesome”” membersmembers

Do Kosovar athletes have the

right to compete in the international competitions?

Do Kosovar athletes have the Do Kosovar athletes have the

right to compete in the right to compete in the

international competitions?international competitions?

Yes, becauseYes, becauseYes, becauseYes, because…………Yes, becauseYes, becauseYes, becauseYes, becauseYes, becauseYes, becauseYes, becauseYes, because……………………

•• KosovaKosova is a Independent Stateis a Independent State

•• High number of young athletesHigh number of young athletes

•• Great will for international involvementGreat will for international involvement

•• Sport will decrease the disappointment of Sport will decrease the disappointment of economic crisiseconomic crisis

•• Sport in Kosovo is multiSport in Kosovo is multi--ethnicethnic

•• Sport shouldnSport shouldn’’t be victim of politicst be victim of politics

““If you become the champion of a sport If you become the champion of a sport

in Kosovo, you stop there, because in Kosovo, you stop there, because

therethere’’s nowhere to gos nowhere to go…”…”

KosovarKosovar AthleteAthlete

Sport is LiveSport is LiveSport is Live

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!