Minister Krasniqi’s Statement on the decision of the International Olympic Committee for Kosovo

Today is a truly historic day for Kosovo. International Olympic Committee recognized Kosovo Olympic Committee with preliminary status and recommended that this recognition becomes full at the future IOC Session in December of this year.

Hereby, the unfair isolation done to our athletes for more than 20 years is broken. It is a special moment and it marks a new epoch for the sport of Kosovo. From today we shall think only for work and success.

I want to thank President of Kosovo Olympic Committee, Mr. Besim Hasani, heads of sports federations in Kosovo, particularly, our athletes who demonstrated incomparable passion, stamina and commitment in presenting authentic values, their talent and Kosovo, in general, at the international competitions, respectively, Olympic Games.

In particular, I thank judoist Majlinda Kelmendi and trainer Driton Kuka whose success gave a new dimension to our efforts for full membership in the International Olympic Committee. Today’s recognition shall help also the other sports federation of Kosovo in their commitments to be internationally recognized.

It has been a long and rough journey. This success is the result of undeniable efforts of many generations, particularly, of those who worked with commitment in much harder times.

In December, we are waiting for the Extraordinary Session of IOC to make the decision for the full recognition of KOC. I want to express my deep gratitude also to president of IOC, Mr. Thomas Bach, who I met several times in the last three years, and who has expressed an unusual willingness to help us realize our right and our athletes’ dreams to be equal with athletes all around the world.

In the end, I want to express the highest commitment of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo for supporting athletes, especially for the Olympic Committee, in order to be worthily represented in the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and further.

Now, our duty is to continue to work confidently so that, after two golden world medals, we shall reach also the Olympic medal.