Kosovo won the right to host the Mediterranean Games as a result of a long diplomatic and sporting process, built step by step after its admission to the International Olympic Committee in 2014. This admission opened the doors for Kosovo to become a full member of the Olympic family and to apply as a host of major international events, including the Mediterranean Games.
The process officially began when the Kosovo Olympic Committee, in cooperation with state institutions, submitted the bid to host the Mediterranean Games, proposing Pristina as the host city. At this stage, Kosovo presented a dossier highlighting state commitment, financial support, plans for the construction and modernization of sports infrastructure, as well as a vision for the long-term use of these investments.
The decision to award the hosting rights to Kosovo was taken by the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG), which assessed not only the technical aspects of the bid but also the symbolic and developmental significance of this organization. For Kosovo, this was a historic moment: the first time a new state on the international stage was entrusted with hosting such a major multisport event.
In essence, Kosovo won this right because it managed to convince international organizers that it had institutional capacity, political support, and the will to turn the organization of the Mediterranean Games into a national project — not only sporting, but also diplomatic and developmental.
