With 7 votes in favor and one abstention, the Draft Law on the Mediterranean Games has been sent to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo for its first reading.

At the Committee on Culture, Sport and Tourism, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Blerim Gashani said that the drafting of the law was undertaken within the ministry’s mandate, emphasizing that for the first time in history, Kosovo will host this major sporting event.

He described the draft law as an initiative of high public and national interest, adding that organizing the Mediterranean Games Prishtina 2030 will contribute to strengthening sports infrastructure, economic development, and the country’s international promotion. According to him, the project also represents an important investment in youth development and the advancement of sports in Kosovo.

“For the first time in its history, Kosovo will host the Mediterranean Games, the largest sporting event ever organized in our country. This draft law is of high public and national interest, which, in addition to strengthening sports infrastructure and economic development, places Kosovo on the international map as a country that organizes major events, and also represents an important investment in youth development, the advancement of sports, and the strengthening of the state’s image. This law aims to define the rules and procedures, as well as the duties and responsibilities of state institutions and other entities related to the organization and functioning of the 21st edition of the Mediterranean Games Prishtina 2030,” Gashani emphasized.

Gashani stated that the draft law aims to define the rules, procedures, and institutional responsibilities for organizing the 21st edition of the Games, including the approval of the use of public funds amounting to at least €253 million.

In this regard, he added that institutions will engage in creating optimal conditions and ensuring full institutional cooperation in order to organize the Mediterranean Games successfully in 2030.

“Through this law, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo will approve the use of public funds for the organization of the Mediterranean Games in the amount of at least €253,445,501. I stated the figure precisely. This draft law also regulates the competencies of the Olympic Committee of Kosovo, the Municipality of Pristina, as well as other municipalities that will fulfill their obligations regarding the organization of the Mediterranean Games Prishtina 2030. In accordance with the financial support guaranteed by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo in the bid document, the main source of financing for the organization of the Mediterranean Games will be the state budget of the Republic of Kosovo. The Republic of Kosovo, namely the Ministry of Youth and Sports, considers sport a priority,” Gashani added.

The vote on this law is expected to take place in the next session of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo.