The Ministry of Youth and Sports in Kosovo is expected to have a clearer and more direct focus on the development of sports after the separation from the Ministry of Culture, while preparations for the Mediterranean Games and investments in sports infrastructure remain a key priority.
In an interview for KosovaPress, the director of the Sports Agency, Fidan Shatri, spoke about current developments, concrete plans and challenges related to this process.
As for the commitment of the Minister of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Blerim Gashani, and the field visits, Shatri described this as a continuation of the existing processes. He emphasized that investments in infrastructure are directly related to the organization of the Mediterranean Games and constitute a major state commitment.
“The issue of sports infrastructure within the framework of the Mediterranean Games, the government’s focus has been at the moment when the organization of the Mediterranean Games has been taken up and normal that 250 million euros have been pledged which will go to sports infrastructure and I believe that day by day the projects which have been planned to develop the activities within the Mediterranean Games, start some new projects, but also make an investment and renovate the current state of the infrastructure, which is also planned with the candidacy book, but also with the developments within the work we have done so far.
It is a matter that belongs to the Government of Kosovo, especially the sports infrastructure, since it is a mandate, a function of the government, a commitment of the government for sports infrastructure and I believe that it is a concrete plan for the Mediterranean Games in terms of sports infrastructure“, emphasized Shatri.
Regarding the impact of the political situation in Kosovo, Shatri admitted that there may be slowdowns, but not a halt to the processes.
“Normal that affects since last year the government in office has limited powers, as far as I know, and those powers have made it possible for the processes to not move so rapidly, compared to a normal situation when we have a political one. But the government’s focus on the Mediterranean Games is perhaps a special focus, compared to other works and our state interest is beyond the Mediterranean Games, so to have a legacy of sports infrastructure even after the Mediterranean Games and normal that the Games Mediterranean will serve, to use this opportunity for investment throughout our country, which is also the goal and I believe it will be the goal of the Government of Kosovo”, continued Shatri.
As for the possibility of the risk of losing the organization of the Mediterranean Games, Shatri rejected these claims.
Speaking about the concrete projects that are expected to start, he mentioned some important infrastructure investments. In the end, he also spoke about the national stadium, hinting that decisions are expected soon.
The Mediterranean Games represent one of the largest multi-sport events in the region, featuring countries from Europe, Asia and Africa bordering the Mediterranean. For Kosovo, the organization of this event has not only sporting importance, but also an international and developmental dimension, as it is seen as an opportunity to increase the country’s presence in the global arena and to modernize the sports infrastructure in several cities at the same time./Kosovapress/
