Historic moment for Kosovo Paralympic movement
For the first time, the President of the European Paralympic Committee, Raymon Blondel, is visiting Kosovo, thus marking a historic moment for the Kosovo Paralympic movement, CE Report quotes Kosova Press
He met with the president of the Kosovo Paralympic Committee Njomza Emini, on which occasion the latter, in a press conference, said that this visit is strong evidence that shows the support of the European Paralympic movement for a small country like Kosovo, but which through its paraathletes aims to reach the top of the world with sporting results.
She added that through this visit, Blondel was introduced to the passion that Kosovo's paraathletes have, but also to see the challenges that these paraathletes face.
Emini also emphasized that Blondel expressed his full willingness to support the Kosovo Paralympic Committee in achieving the set objectives, especially those of achieving outstanding results in the international competitions that will take place in the coming years.
"This visit is not just a formal meeting, or a working visit, this is a strong testimony, a message and a support that comes from the heart of the European Paralympic movement for a small country on the map but with a big heart and ambitions that look from the peaks of world sport...During this visit, Blondel had the opportunity to experience one of the regular activities that take place in our country, paravolleyball, a sport that for us is not just a game...Through this experience, he had the opportunity to see not only the passion of our athletes but also the tireless efforts of the entire community that stands behind them. Blondel, through this visit, will be able to touch our reality with all its challenges", emphasized Emini.
Meanwhile, President Blondel himself said that he feels proud to have had the opportunity to visit Kosovo. He said that the year 2023 was very special for the European Paralympic Committee as it accepted the Kosovo Paralympic Committee as a full member in its fold.
Blondel added that he is in Kosovo to demonstrate the closeness that the European Paralympic Committee will have to the continuation of the Kosovo Paralympic movement, while emphasizing that he is amazed by the advancement of this movement in the field of sports, expressing his conviction that the results in the Paralympics or European Paralympic sports championships for Kosovo will come very soon.
He also emphasized that in the future, Kosovo could be a country that could organize a major Paralympic sporting event.
"The infrastructure is needed to organize proper Olympic sports but at other levels like when we talk about the European Championships it is possible and why not. What we see in the international work and in the international network of sports organizations is a lot of new energy coming from Kosovo, at the same time we see that people from Kosovo in the administration and in the committees are becoming more and more active and maybe in some sports they can even take responsibility so this is the way to develop an attitude, a new behavior and make your country and your sports network ready to offer and do such a thing. Yes, absolutely this is possible", emphasized Blondel.
Otherwise, KPK has been a member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) since 2022, giving Kosovo the right to participate in the Paralympic Games and organize official events under the IPC umbrella.
