The organization of the 2030 Mediterranean Games in Kosovo, a historic event not only for Kosovo, is not progressing at the best possible pace, as it faces several delays, primarily related to the construction and preparation of sports infrastructure.

A significant help, however, will be provided by Albania, which will be co-organizer because the water competitions will be held in Durrës.

The fact that the Mediterranean Games are held in Kosovo and Albania represents a major event and a unique moment for both countries and beyond, according to the President of the Albanian National Olympic Committee (KOKSH), Fidel Ylli.

“This is an event not only for Kosovo and Albania, but for the whole region, because for the first time in our region a pair of Mediterranean Games will take place, with participants from three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. These are extraordinary games, with participation from France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, and African countries, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt. These are countries with highly developed sports,” says Ylli.

Ylli says that these competitions are particularly important also because, in a way, they represent a campaign of diplomacy for the recognition and international promotion of Kosovo through sport, an area that, according to him, has advanced faster than politics. In addition, he adds that the Mediterranean Games will have a great positive impact on the tourism and infrastructural image of Kosovo.

“If we do not look only at the sports side, we also see it as sports diplomacy, where indeed not all UN countries have recognized Kosovo, but 206 Olympic Committees worldwide have. This shows that sport is far ahead of politics, and this is a good opportunity for Kosovo to promote the country, to promote tourism, to promote the mountains and the Alps of Kosovo, all its cuisine, all the sports infrastructure. And not only that, but the government of Kosovo has also made some commitments, has signed a contract with the Mediterranean Games to invest in sports fields, sports halls, stadiums, and gyms, so that these games can be a model,” Ylli continues.

However, the progress of preparations for these games has not gone according to plans, and knowing this, the head of the Albanian National Olympic Committee expresses concern about the pace of preparations, calling on the responsible institutions in Kosovo to engage fully to ensure a dignified organization.

“I think the government of Kosovo is behind and the Organizing Committee must work day and night so that these games are realized in the best way. In these games, Albania also participates, where all the water competitions will be in Durrës, where Prishtina and Durrës will be involved, where we have undertaken with our staff and with the Municipality of Durrës to be present, to assist in the development of these games and to take our part that has been signed in the contract by the two ministers and the two governments. But the investment is entirely by the Kosovo Organizing Committee. For the expenses that will be needed, we will take part so that our athletes participating in the Mediterranean Games who will come to Durrës have assistance with visas, for their smooth arrival, for the state police, for securing the event, for hospitality, for the smooth running of the water competitions in Durrës".

Ylli says that for the part of the competitions in Durrës, close coordination is needed between local authorities and the Organizing Committee regarding the allocation of responsibilities and financial costs.

“We have only determined the place in Durrës. It is a very beautiful square where Volga is, near the port, and now specialists in event management should come to give us the proper directions so that we know, together with the Municipality of Durrës, what the municipality should take responsibility for and what the Organizing Committee should take, as there may be financial aspects that are entirely the responsibility of the Kosovo Organizing Committee,” Ylli revealed.

Speaking beyond the Mediterranean Games, Ylli mentions the success of Kosovar athletes on the international stage and the Olympic medals won over the years, appealing to the governments in Prishtina and Tirana to see sport as a strategic priority and as an important tool of diplomacy.

“This is sport, and that is why we are happy that Kosovo has taken these games. It will promote the country, promote the sport of Kosovo, which in the last two Olympics has won medals, whether Majlinda Kelmendi, Nora, or now Distria, who in three games have won Olympic medals. And this has been done only by sport in Kosovo, because Albania and Kosovo, besides tourism and nature that God has blessed them with, produce nothing else besides sport, champions, titles, and medals. Therefore, our two governments should pay even more attention to sport, because sport is not only a competition, it is not only a medal, but it is also sports diplomacy,” Ylli declared.

According to KosovaPress, a team of specialists from the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games will soon visit Durrës. They will inspect the selected venue for water sports and determine the technical standards necessary for building competition infrastructure. Their findings will be decisive in determining the next steps and the corresponding costs for this part of the Games.

Beyond the challenges, the 2030 Mediterranean Games remain a unique opportunity to promote, in addition to sports, tourism, culture, and the image of Kosovo and Albania in the world.