15/02/2020 16:00
CEV Senior Vice-President reiterates support for ‘smaller’ federations during Kosovo visit
News from the CEV
Pristina, Kosovo, February 15, 2020. CEV Senior Vice-President Renato Arena travelled on Friday to Pristina to pay a two-day visit to Kosovo and have a series of high-profile meetings with authorities from the Balkan country. The President and Secretary General of the Kosovo Volleyball Federation, Mr Abedin Ibrahimi and Mr Valon Nikçi, deserved a warm welcome to the CEV Senior Vice-President right upon his arrival at Pristina International Airport on Friday night.
A dense agenda on Saturday included a meeting with the newly elected Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Ms Vlora Dumoshi. Ms Dumoshi used this opportunity to thank the CEV for the remarkable support that the European Volleyball Confederation has been providing to the ‘smaller’ countries and federations, such as Kosovo. She expressed her confidence in the leading role that Kosovo is capable of playing even on the international sports arena, especially recalling that the Balkan country can count on one of the youngest populations in Europe.
CEV Senior Vice-President Renato Arena portrayed together with the Minister of Sports of Kosovo, Ms Vlora Dumoshi
Mr Arena congratulated Ms Dumoshi on her appointment as Kosovo’s Minister of Sports, and he reiterated the CEV’s commitment to support all national federations, with a special attention deserved to those that have embraced, such as Kosovo, the CEV’s School Project and are working extensively and intensively to hone and grow young, prospective talents.
The President of the Kosovo Volleyball Federation, Mr Ibrahimi, emphasised that Kosovo has been investing a lot in Volleyball and especially in Beach Volleyball, stressing that the country can now count on the availability of an arena specifically designed to host Volleyball competitions and training activities.
Mr Arena and a number of Volleyball players portrayed at the end of a match hosted to celebrate 12 years since Kosovo declaration of independence
Later on Saturday, Mr Arena attended a friendly match featuring female ‘veteran’ Volleyball players, organised in conjunction with the 12th anniversary since Kosovo declaration of independence. On Saturday night, a special gala ceremony organised by the Kosovo Volleyball Federation provided the perfect stage to award the best Volleyball players of the country. While delivering a short speech at AAB College Theatre in Pristina, Mr Arena expressed his joy at sharing this moment with the local Volleyball family. “I am confident that ‘small countries’ showing as much determination to progress and improve such as Kosovo will have something to show to the world in future,” he said, “and I feel especially happy to be sharing this moment with friends and colleagues from other Balkan countries, such as North Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
Kosovo Volleyball Federation President Abedin Ibrahimi presenting the CEV Senior Vice-President with a special medal in recognition of his contribution towards growing Volleyball in Europe
The President of the Kosovo Volleyball Federation, Mr Ibrahimi, presented the CEV Senior Vice-President with a special medal for his contribution to the development and growth of Volleyball.
After attending the gala, Mr Arena completed his visit to Kosovo through a meeting with the President of the National Olympic Committee, Mr Besim Hasani. The two parties discussed a number of items, with a focus on how the Olympic movement can best support the development of Volleyball in the Balkan country. “We will support the projects run by the CEV and our Ministry of Sports and as representatives of the Olympic movement, we are ready to play a leading role in order to grow Volleyball even more,” said Hasani.
CEV Senior Vice-President Renato Arena together with the Kosovo NOC President, Mr Besim Hasani
“The CEV is happy to see that National Olympic Committee deserves so much attention to Volleyball in Kosovo, and to acknowledge that it has already been supporting our sport in many ways. It is very impressive to sense and witness their commitment and I am sure that this will have a positive impact on growing Volleyball in this country,” Mr Arena said.
This was the second visit of a high-ranking CEV official to Kosovo, after last year CEV Vice-President and Treasurer Özkan Mutlugil attended a number of events held in the Balkan country as well. The Kosovo Volleyball Federation have been a member of the CEV since late 2016.
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