Minister Gashi: The Center for Martial Arts will be constructed in Prishtina

In the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, today was given the green light for the construction of the Sports Center for the development of martial arts. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between MCYS, the Municipality of Pristina, the United Nations Kosovo Team (UNDP), the Kosovo Olympic Committee and the Kosovo Karate Federation.

Through this memorandum, the signatory parties agree to build a Japanese Martial Arts Center (Karate, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Kendo, etc.) in Prishtina in accordance with international competition standards, together with the establishment of the Martial Arts Assembly dedicated to these disciplines.

The signatories will have their responsibilities as follows: MCYS will assist in the development and funding of programs at the center to be built, will encourage and include the participation of specialists in seminars, symposia and sporting events with these arts and will support the technical and administrative development of this project by providing mid-term funding; The Municipality of Prishtina will provide a building plot for the building and support for other procedures foreseen for construction; The United Nations Team in Kosovo /UNDP will facilitate coordination and donor relations that will help build this center; The CoC will support the facilitation of international/regional competitions at the Martial Arts Assembly and will co-operate with the International Olympic Committee for financial / logistical support; The Kosovo Karate Federation will lead the project it has conceived as such and will draft the structure for the proper management of this center.

The joint task of the signatory parties under the memorandum is to find the funds for the completion of the project and for the equipment of the center with the appropriate equipment.

Minister Kujtim Gashi appreciated this act, which he signed jointly with other extremely important parties, in line with MCYS's policies on sport.

"Our country has already proven its capabilities, talents and successes in sports and martial arts culminating in the Olympic medal that Kosovo has managed to win in the jubilee sport with the medalist Majlinda Kelmendi. Given the affinity of Kosovo's youth for individual sports, with emphasis on combat, as Minister we are committed to supporting and further advancing this sphere", said Minister Gashi.

"The numerous international successes of our athletes in judo and karate, martial arts fields have enabled their further promotion but also the state of Kosovo. Similarly, these sports are also a tool for engaging and empowering young people of Kosovo and make them abandon bad habits and deviant phenomena", he said.

Meanwhile, UNDP representative, Ulrika Richardson, stressed that through this ceremony we are building a center that promotes martial arts. "The Kosovar youth have been very successful in these sports", she said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor of Prishtina, Selim Pacolli, said that the municipality will soon start the procedures for realization of this project which is welcome for the youth of Pristina. "I greet all stakeholders of this initiative for the construction of this sports complex for sports development. I pledge that the Municipality of Prishtina will provide opportunities for the youth of Pristina and sports fans to create enough space for the development of their sports activities ", said Pacolli.

Besim Hasani, chairman of the KOK, said that infrastructure is one of the main factors for success in sports. "We support projects that have a character for everyone's inclusion indiscriminately," said the Chair of the KOC.

While Ismet Krasniqi, chair of the KCF, considered it a historic moment for martial arts in Kosovo. He praised that Kosovo has athletes and talents that are shining in martial arts. "These combat sports need such great spaces and after the construction of this sports complex we will have the opportunity to organize European and world championships. This hall is expected to have 5000 seats and will be of the old Japanese style", Krasniqi pointed out.