6 hours agoInternational Olympic Committee, pressure Spain for Kosovo athletes
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)Spain's refusal to recognise Kosovo's independence is an obstacle to organising sports competitions in this country, which must be resolved soon, the International Olympic Committee vice president said on Tuesday. Kosovo's non-recognition by Spain poses a problem when athletes from our country want to participate in international competitions [...]
Spain's refusal to recognise Kosovo's independence is an obstacle to organising sports competitions in this country, which must be resolved soon, the International Olympic Committee vice president said on Tuesday.
Kosovo's non-recognition by Spain poses a problem when athletes from our country want to participate in international competitions in Spain.
For example, during the World Karate Championship from November 6th to November 11th in Madrid, athletes from Kosovo were allowed to compete with only the initials of their federation, KKF, in the back of their uniforms, reports AFP.
But on the scoreboard they were presented with “The World Karate Foundation (WKF) 5”, while the flag and their anthem were banned.
This prompted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to require international federations not to organise major sports competitions in Spain until this is resolved, it has said about AFP in a source close to the body that has headquarters in Switzerland.
We may or may not know a country on the political level, but we have an opinion on this matter”, says before reporters in Madrid Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch, who comes from Spain, broadcast Koha.net.
“But we must find and implement solutions so that athletes can be protected and can participate by, at least, protecting their country's Olympic committee. This is a question to be resolved here, because the International Olympic Committee will be tempted to focus on”.
“I don't see this issue as a big problem, it's a problem that will be resolved soon”, he added.
Spain, which will host the final of the Champions League in June, plans to apply for organising the 2030 Winter Olympics in Barcelona and the nearby Pyrineje mountains, giving it additional incentive to solve the problem.
In a statement, Spanish State Sports Secretary Maria Jose Rienda said Kosovo athletes of “had security guaranteed” during the karate Championship last week and called on the IOC to discuss this issue with the Spanish government Sport Council, which she runs.
