KOSOVO: OLYMPICS 20 12 - Olympic committee holds street races between youngsters as they continue to try and draw attention to the fact that Kosovo is unable to participate in the Olympics

Record ID: 331024

  • Title: KOSOVO: OLYMPICS 20 12 - Olympic committee holds street races between youngsters as they continue to try and draw attention to the fact that Kosovo is unable to participate in the Olympics
  • Date: 26th June 2012
  • Summary: BOY WITH PAINTED KOSOVO AND OLYMPIC FLAGS ON FACE POSING FOR CAMERA
  • Embargoed: 11th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kosovo
  • Country: Kosovo
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA93QWUP6UFYT4GNI2LB2IHIRRQ
  • Story Text: Though independent since 2008, Kosovo remains locked out of the 2012 Olympic Games, after failing to meet required political criteria.
    Although Kosovo has managed to fulfill one of the two necessities of Olympic participation, which is the membership in five international sports federations, it has not been able to move forward on the political front: membership in international organisations like the United Nations.
    "All people that are somehow involved in sports, especially athletes know how hard it is to practice sport, to become champion of your country and not to be allowed to compete internationally. This happened to Kosovar athletes, for some 30 years they couldn't compete internationally because of politics. I appeal to all the people, decision makers to think about young Kosovo people who are the youngest in Europe," said Besim Hasani, head of the Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOC).
    Top Kosovo Athlete the 23 year-old judoka Majlinda Kelmendi, is representing Albania in the London Olympics. On June 23rd, the KOC held street races between 4 year-olds to symbolise the age of the young nation and to give hope to future sports men and women.
    Although Kosovo's sovereignty has been recognised by 91 countries, it requires the support of more countries to gain membership of the International Olympic Committee.
    Since the late 1980's Kosovo's sporting infrastructure has suffered at the hands of others, whether Serbian imposed bans or international restrictions on competitions.
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