Special Olympics Kosovo

Special Olympics Kosovo is a sporting organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities that operates in Kosovo.^[1] It is part of the global Special Olympics movement.

Special Olympics Kosovo

Sport	Special Olympics
Jurisdiction	Kosovo
Founded	2002
Headquarters	Pristina
CEO	Drita Dushi
Official website
specialolympics-ks.org

History

Special Olympics Kosovo was founded in 2002. Athletes from Kosovo first took part in the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Dublin. This was the first time a team represented Kosovo at an international multisport event.^[2][3][4] Kosovo has participated in every Special Olympics World Summer Games since 2003 and Special Olympics World Winter Games since 2013.

Official sports

Special Olympics Kosovo offers programs in the following sports:^[4]

Summer

• Athletics
• Basketball
• Bocce
• Boccia
• Rhythmic Gymnastics

Winter

• Alpine Skiing

Kosovo at the Special Olympics World Games

Athletes representing Kosovo have participated in the Special Olympics World Games since 2003. Kosovo most recently participated in Berlin 2023.

Their most successful participation came at the 2019 Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi where the Kosovan delegation won three medals.^[5] Sheqir Vllasaliu won gold in athletics at the 200m run.^[6] While the other two remaining bronze medals were won by athlete Ibish Zogaj.^[7]

So far Kosovo won three medals, one of which is Gold and two of them being Bronze. All medals were won by male athletes, in the sport of Athletics.^[6][7][8]

Summer

Games	Athletes
Dublin 2003	4[9]
Shanghai 2007	4
Athens 2011	4
Los Angeles 2015	2[10]
Abu Dhabi 2019	4[11]
Berlin 2023	4

Source:^[4]

Winter

Games	Athletes
Pyongchang 2013	2
Graz and Schladming 2017	2
Kazan 2022	Cancelled
Turin 2025	Future event

Source:^[4]

See also

• Sport in Kosovo
• Membership of Kosovo in international sports federations

References

1. "Kosovo". Archived from the original on 1 November 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2008.
2. "Team Kosovo". Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2008.
3. 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games > EE.SO Kosovo Archived 2008-09-19 at the Wayback Machine
4. Kosovo Factsheet 2020 specialolympics.org ^{[dead link‍]}
5. Olimpike speciale Abu Dhabi insporti.com ^{[dead link‍]}
6. "World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 - Special Olympics World & National Games Results".
7. "World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 - Special Olympics World & National Games Results".
8. "World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 - Special Olympics World & National Games Results".
9. "2003 World Summer Games > EE.SO Kosovo". www.2003specialolympics.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2003. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
10. "Archived copy". www.la2015.org. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
11. "SO Kosovo".

External links

• Official website
• Kosovo profile at the Special Olympics official website