Prishtina, 11 September, 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister Emilija Rexhepi, this evening took part in the event organized on the occasion of the participation of Kosovo for the first time in the “Paris 2024” Paralympic Games.
During the year 2023, the Paralympic Committee of Kosovo became a member of the International Paralympic Committee and the European Paralympic Committee, with full rights, enabling participation in the “Paris 2024” Paralympic Games. Meanwhile, with the only representative from our country, the para-athlete Grevist Bytyçi, Kosovo managed to make his debut in these competitions, precisely in the 1500 meters running race in the T46 category, which he finished in 15th position.
Describing it as a moment of pride and historical achievement for Kosovo, Prime Minister Kurti expressed his thanks and deep gratitude to our contestant for the emotions he gave us by representing the country with dignity.
Prime Minister Kurti also mentioned the support that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports has provided and continues to provide, which through its investments aims to increase and develop Paralympic sports, as he added that from this year the support for the federations has also started. Paralympic youth. “Institutional commitment is essential in the growth and development of this sport”, said the Prime Minister.
He added that in addition to the significant increase in the organization’s annual budget, support for the new paralympic federations has also begun this year, where the total budget of both reaches a total of 320,000 euros for 2024.
Prime Minister Kurti concluded his speech by saying that with such dedication and the passion and zeal of the athletes, we are sure that together we will achieve other successes.
“Let’s strengthen our efforts, let’s join our forces, and let’s encourage the talents to reach the top of the sport” underlined the prime minister.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear Ms. Saranda Bogujevci, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic,
Dear Ms. Emilija Rexhepi, Deputy Prime Minister in the Government of the Republic of Kosovo for Human Rights and Minority Rights Issues,
Dear Deputy Ministers, Agon Dobruna, Avdullah Djesheviq, Sylejman Elshani,
Honorable deputy, Erxhan Galushi,
Dear Ms. Njomza Emini, president of the Paralympic Committee of Kosovo,
Dear Grevist Bytyçi, our paraathlete who made us proud in Paris, at the Paralympic Games there,
Ambassadors of France, Croatia, North Macedonia,
Diplomatic representatives of Montenegro and the rest of you,
Dear attendees,
ladies and gentlemen,
It is good that we have gathered here together to mark a special event and pride for our Paralympic sport: the historic participation of Kosovo in the Paralympic Games “Paris 2024”.
This participation was made possible after the Kosovo Paralympic Committee became a full member in 2023 in the International Paralympic Committee and the European Paralympic Committee.
The debut in these competitions for Kosovo was made by our paraathlete from Malisheva, Grevist Bytyçi, who was the only competitor who represented our country. Grevisti took part in the 1500 meters running race in the T46 category. The race had strong competition and Grevisti finished the race in 15th position with a time of four minutes, thirty-two seconds and eighty-eight hundredths (4:32.88).
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports has offered continuous support to the Paralympic Committee of Kosovo, not only as a symbolic act, but as a real and necessary investment for the growth of the development of Paralympic sports in Kosovo.
In addition to the significant increase in the organization’s annual budget, support for the new Paralympic federations has also begun this year. The total budget for them and for the federations is a total of 320 thousand euros for 2024.
I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have contributed to this remarkable achievement. Deep gratitude and great thanks to Grevist Bytyqin for the emotions he gave in a competition with dignified representation for our country.
Kosovo’s historic participation in the Paralympic Games “Paris 2024” is a proof of our common commitment to advance Paralympic sport in Kosovo.
While people talk about limited abilities we all know that unlimited abilities do not exist anyway.
Institutional commitment is essential in the growth and development of this sport. With such a commitment and with the passion and zeal of the athletes, we are sure that together we will achieve other successes, new, continuous successes.
Let’s strengthen our efforts, let’s join our forces, and let’s encourage talents to reach the top of the sport.
Thank you.
Last modified: September 12, 2024