KOK: Serbia cannot stop our Olympic dream

Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOK) has been expecting with great concern the halt at the border of the Kosovo karate delegation, which travelled to participate in the European Championship in Novi Sad.

The government of Serbia's decision on mixing in sports is contrary to the Olympic Charter, the World Federation of Karate statute and human rights. Such a wicked decision, which took place at the border of Merdare today, does not match the spirit of sports. Our Karatists are not headed for Novi Sad as tourists, but at the invitation of the European Federation of Karate, as host of the 53rd European Championship for Seniors.

Today, efforts were made to erase many karate players' dreams of results at the European level, denying them the chance to win medals at the European Championships and qualification points at the Minsk 2019 European Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. KOK President Besim Hasani has been in constant contact with the International Olympic Committee, the Federation of Karate in Kosovo, the European Federation of Karate and the World Karate Federation for weeks. And I have today's decision. The KOK has immediately announced the International Olympic Committee (KON). The KOK's expectations are that the European Federation of Karate, European Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee will take steps against organisers. They will also find ways to compensate for the damage they have done to Kosovo karate people.

Kosovo's Olympic Committee assures karateists and all Kosovo athletes that, in co-operation with the KON and international federations, it will be committed to failing to discriminate against our athletes.