The movement “Sport Above Politics” has strongly reacted to the decision of the European Karate Federation (EKF) not to allow Kosovo athletes to compete under their national symbols at the European Cadet, Junior, and U21 Championship, held in Limassol, Cyprus. In an official statement, the movement described the situation as unacceptable discrimination against Kosovar athletes.

The statement reads that “it is absolutely unacceptable that Kosovo athletes were not allowed to participate with their national symbols,” adding that the offer to compete without symbols does not constitute an acceptable solution, as it “undermines the principle of equality for all athletes.” According to them, allowing participation only under limited conditions “sends the wrong message to the entire sports world.”

The movement also opposed the statement of the EKF Organizing Committee chairman, Marton Falusi, who had emphasized that the federation’s main objective is to ensure athletes’ participation whenever possible. The reaction described this approach as “fundamentally unfair, unacceptable, and wrong,” stressing that full recognition and participation under national symbols must be guaranteed without compromise for all athletes.

The statement also recalls that the Kosovo Karate Federation is a full member of the EKF, and as such, its athletes should have the right to compete under their national identity. “Sport must remain free from political interference, as its primary goal is to promote respect and mutual understanding,” it reads, adding that the championship should have been canceled if equal rights for all participants could not be guaranteed.

Finally, “Sport Above Politics” called on the European Karate Federation to take immediate action to correct the situation and ensure that such cases do not happen again in the future, emphasizing that sport should be a unifying force above any political influence.

KosovaPress