The Ministry of Sports has started consultations with sports federations regarding the Kosovo Sports Strategy for the period 2025–2030, approved last year by the Government of Kosovo.
The document outlines four strategic objectives and 13 specific objectives, aiming for good governance, the advancement of sports performance, the creation of an active and healthy society, and the use of sports as a tool for public diplomacy.
The official for communication with federations at the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports (MCYS), Fidan Shatri, in an interview for KosovaPress, revealed the main goals of this strategy.
“The Sports Strategy, approved last year by the Government of Kosovo for the period 2025–2030, first elaborates on the situation up to last year, as well as the key steps and objectives for the medium term 2025–2030. The Sports Strategy contains four strategic objectives and 13 specific objectives, each of which addresses the issues and direction for progress,”* said Shatri.
Shatri added that this strategy sees sports as a path to physical health, but also as one of the best opportunities to strengthen the international image of the Republic of Kosovo.
“The first is good governance and integrity in sports, which involves creating a sustainable financial system, democratic transparency through capacity building in sports institutions—federations, clubs, and all sports organizations. The second is the advancement of high performance in sports… The third is an active and healthy society through physical education, developing a culture and habit of physical activity from children to the elderly… And the fourth is sports in the service of public diplomacy—according to the new Sports Law and regulations, there will be special support for sports organizations that organize international activities within the country,” Shatri emphasized.
The strategy also includes preparations for the 2030 Mediterranean Games, investments in sports infrastructure, and a five-year plan for the country’s main stadiums.
“The entire sports system is presented in the strategy. Without a strategy, work becomes ad hoc, which is problematic. Everything is outlined, and I believe that using sports to promote Kosovo through international activities is key. We also have the 2030 Mediterranean Games in focus, and I hope that beyond the Mediterranean Games, the sports infrastructure will serve the sports community in our country. So the Mediterranean Games will serve for an investment and mobilization of the entire state so that the infrastructure is created for the Mediterranean Games, but that it is a sustainable infrastructure even after the Mediterranean Games”, said Shatri.
Speaking about stadiums, Shatri said there is no new update on the construction of the national stadium.
“It is a five-year plan of the Ministry of Culture, minister Çek, in cooperation with the Kosovo Football Federation, UEFA, and FIFA, and I believe that in this period—five years from now—we will no longer be talking about football stadium problems. The ‘Adem Jashari’ stadium and the stadium in Gjilan are progressing according to the dynamic plan, and I hope they will be completed soon. Of course, this is a very large investment and involves a longer timeframe for the contractors developing the project. As for the national stadium, there is no new update; it remains to be seen whether it is necessary or not… The sports or football community, along with other stakeholders in stadium infrastructure, will assess whether it is necessary for us to have a stadium,” said Shatri.
He concluded by stressing that for every infrastructure investment, careful consideration is also being given to maintenance, as this remains an issue in itself. /A. Bytyçi/
