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Sport in Kosovo has a long tradition and plays a prominent role in the society. Popular sports in Kosovo are among others football, basketball, volleyball, handball, and wrestling. Whereas, major individual sports include wrestling, judo,swimming, boxing, karate and skiing. The two main clubs in football are FC Prishtina and KF Trepça who have achieved great success in football so far. The football Club Prishtina FC is found in 1992, while KF Trepça is found ten years later in 1932. KF Trepça was part of the 1976-77 championship in the former Yugoslavia League in Football. One year later they reached a huge success since they were able to play in the final for the former Yugoslavia Cup. FC Prishtina became the first member of the League in 1983, and it achieved the biggest victory after they beat Red Star in Belgrade. During this time Fadil Vokrri has impressed all by his talent as it was part of so called “Golden Generation” of Prishtina. One of the most famous club in basketball was called Elektricisti as they were part of the second division of the former Yugoslavia, while Zyfer Avdiu, a basketball player of the Eleketricisti has played for the basketball national team of Yugoslavia when they were part of European Basketball League.Women's competition has been much more successful as team Universititi was ranked among the best teams. Even handball teams such as Borci, Prishtina and Trepca had the opportunity to play in the first league of the former Yugoslavia. Some of the players who had a great representation were Aziz Makiqi, Hasan Bajrami, and Tahir Sojeva. Whereas, individual sports are the ones who brought Kosovo's the biggest successes. The outstanding wrestlers and boxers such as Aziz Salihu, Mehmet Bogujevci, Sami Buzolli and Majlinda Kelmendi have brought medals from European World Cup Championships and the Olympic Games. During the period between 1989 and 1999 athletes were forced to give up from most of the competition due to numerous difficulties. However, after the war they started to return to the football grounds as they formed most of the federations. Some of the federations that are part of the international associations are Kosovo Taekwondo Federation, Boxing Federation, Handball Federation, Judo Federation, and Kosovo Ski Federation. Nevertheless, athletes who were born and raised in European countries, had the opportunity to be successful in the international area. The boxer Luan Krasniqi, who appeared under the German flag, has achieved many success among others by winning the European Championship title. Nowadays, in many European teams there are players from Kosovo how had the opportunity to show their talents and values. Thus, Lorik Cana was the captain of Olympique de Marseille and Sunderland A.F.C, while Valon Behrami who played for West Ham United F.C., and currently is playing for FC Napoli. There are other players who had the opportunity to play for European Football Teams such as Xherdan Shaqiri, who plays as a midfielder for FC Bayern Munich and for the Switzerland national football team . Nowadays, the Kosovo Football Federation is preparing for the first national friendly match against Haiti. Kosovo's national football team will play their first official friendly match in the northern city of Mitrovica on March 5. The friendly match against Haiti will be Kosovo's first match after the International Football Federation gave the permission to play friendly matches on 13th of January 2014.

Football

Prishtina

Hysi

Trepça
Trepça'89

Drita

Hajvalia

Drenica

Besa

Kosova Vushtrri

Feronikeli

Fushë Kosova

Ferizaj

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Location of teams of the 2013–14 Football Superleague of Kosovo

The most popular sport in Kosovo, football was first codified in 1946. The playing of football in Kosovo is documented since at least 1914. However, only in 1992 were formed the two first football clubs FC Gjakova and FC Prishtina.During the years 1945 until 1991 the football in the former Yugoslavia was advancing so fast that in 1946 it was formed even the Football Federation of Kosovo, as a subsidiary of the Football Federation of Yugoslavia. The most successful team from Kosovo in the first league of Yugoslavia was FC Prishtina, while KF Trepça was part of the league for one year. Though, in 9991 was first found the Football Federation of Kosovo after all football players from Kosovo were banned from the First League in Yugoslavia. The first game was held in the stadium of KF Flamurtari on September 13, 1991 in Prishtina which marked in the same time the start of the first independent championship in Kosovo. The governing body in Kosovo is mainly responsible for national team and for the most main cup competitions. Presently, Kosovo football has a league system which incorporates a lot of clubs. The elite Raiffeisen Super League has 12 teams . The League was found in 1945 and it is organized by the Football Federation of Kosovo. .The other three professional division are the first league that includes 16 teams, and the second and third league. There are also semi-professional and amateur football clubs that are active as well. The main Cup competition in Kosovo is the Republic of Kosovo Cup, which is open to every men's football team that are part of the Raiffaisen Super League and The First League. The most successful clubs are FC Prishtina ( 14 championship titles), KF Vëllaznimi (8 championship titles), KF Trepça (7 championship titles), KF Liria (5 championship titles), and KF Besa (3 championship titles) .

Basketball

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in Kosovo. The first championship was held in 1991 with the participation of eight teams. The first champion was KB Prishtina. Many attempts were made for the membership of the Basketball Federation of Kosovo into International Basketball Federation (FIBA-Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur) but the attempts was rejected. Since 2013 two teams from Kosovo ]]KB Sigal Prishtina]] and KB Peja are participating in Balkan League(BIBL-Balkan International Basketball League) . Kosova Basketball Federation organizes competitions in different categories for men and women. Major league of basketball called ETC Super league following ,first league ,junior's league ,cadet's league and pioneer'sleague. Also part of competitions of Kosovo Basketball Federation is Cup of Kosovo. Current winner is Peja Participating teams in ETC Super league are : Sigal Prishtina , Peja,Trepça, Bashkimi, Drita ,Besa,RTV 21,Kastrioti. The current champion is Sigal Prishtina.

Judo

Otaulanthoti/sandbox

Medal record
Women's Judo
Representing Kosovo
World Championships
	2013 Rio de Janeiro	−52 kg
Representing File:IJF logo.png IJF
European Championships
	2013 Budapest	−52 kg

Judo is a martial sport that brought Kosovo the first gold medal. The organization of games between the clubs is controlled by the Judo Federation of Kosovo. The Kosovo Judo Federation was accepted in 2012 as a full member of the International Judo Federation . Presently, there are 12 clubs active from different cites of Kosovo. The number of participants from all the clubs is 750 Males and 250 Females. Whereas the number of active coaches is 25. The most successful one is Driton Kuka who was a champion for many years. He won the bronze medal at the European Championship in 1990, and the World Cup in Hungary in 1991. Nowadays, Driton Kuka is the coach of the Majlinda Kelmendi, a judoka from Pejë the represents Kosovo in all competition in Judo . Majlinda Kelmendi who won the gold medal at the 2009 World Junior Championships in Paris,France . She finished the fifth in the 2010 World Junior Championships in Morocco, and ninth in the 52 category at the 2010 World Judo Championships in Tokyo,Japan .However, she was not allowed to represent Kosovo at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London due to the resistance of International Olympic Committee and the United Nations. Majlinda Kelmendi gave Kosovo the first judo world title on 27 August 2013, as she beat Erika Miranda, a Brazil judoka in the 52 kilograms gold medal match in Rio de Janeiro. In 2013, she was raked the first in the international rankings by the International Judo Federation in the 52 kg category .

Handball

Handball in Kosovo has had a long history. First teams in big handball were formed during the years in 1948 as Milicionari, Jedinstvo e Gjakovës, Buduçnosti i Pejës, Trepça e Mitrovicës, Kosova e Prishtinës etc. While small handball (today's handball) was introduced during 1950-1951 years. Handball teams did succeed to join the the first and second leagues of the former Yugoslavia ,that tim(1970-1980) was among the strongest leagues in the world.

From 13-23.10.1979 in Kosovo was held women’s World Junior Championships “Kosova ‘79”. This was a great achievement because participated countries as : Austria, USSR, Denmark, France, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Norway, Germany , FR Germany and U.S.A .

Many attempts were made for the internationalization of handball however this did not succeed until December 18th, 2004 where Kosovo handball federation accepted in European handball federation with conditional rights . After this year Kosovo’s teams as KH Prishtina , KH Besa Famiglia , KH Kastrioti participated in European competitions . The greatest success was achieved in Cell Cup tournament in Hungary in 2013, the Kosovo U18 representative took second place in a strong competition with teams from across Europe .

Now in Kosovo exists handball super league (major league) ,cup of Kosovo, first league ,junior’s league ,cadet’s league in both categories Women and Man.Another part of Kosova Handball Federation is beach handball. Participating clubs in super league are : Besa Famiglia , Prishtina,Kosova, Kastrioti, Zhegra , Drenica , Vëllaznimi , Trepça , Samadrexha , Llapi , Drita. The current champion is KH Prishtina.

Volleyball

Volleyball another sport that is played by hand, first appeared in Kosovo in 1936 in the high schools of cities like: Prishtinë ,Pejë,Prizren etc.The first championship was held in Pristina on October 24 to 26 1948, six teams participated as: Proleteri, Buduçnosti, Trepça , Borac, Metohia, Brastvo.During 1966-1967, four teams from Kosovo took part in the second division of the league of former Yugoslavia . In 1990 KV Prishtina-Elektroekonomia took part in qualification to enter the first division of the former Yugoslavia but did not succeed.First League of Women was organized in 1975. Universiteti from Prishtina was the first team of women who took part in the second division league of Yugoslavia .Now volleyball federation of Kosovo organizes competitions in the category of women and men. Major league called Superleague of Kosovo then come cup of Kosovo ,the first league and junior's league. Also part of the Volleyball Federation of Kosovo are competitions : Cup of Kosovo and beach volley. Teams participating in Super league of Kosovo are: Theranda ,KV Drenica ,KV R&Rukolli , KV Besa ,KV Luboteni ,KV Ferizaji . The current champion is KV Luboteni.

Athletics

Athletics is a sport that includes running, walking, jumping, and throwing and is evidenced since the Illyrian period. Athletics Federation of Kosovo is an association of athletes and their clubs that organize sports competitions in the discipline of athletics in Kosovo .Athletics Federation of Kosovo was found in 25 September in 1991, Prishtine. Some of the main responsibilities for the federation are to promote athletics in Kosovo, lead the development of athletics, coordinate the progress of the quality of athletics, and to adapt and implement short and long curriculum development in athletics .This association would not be so successful without the important achievement from their respective clubs. There are 13 active clubs, but the most successful ones are Atberia, Besa, Juniku, Llapi, Prishtina, Prizreni, and Trepca .From 25 clubs there are 196 males registered and 125 females registered assembling a total of 330 active athletics in Kosovo . Among many other activates, the ones in which athletics from their respective clubs were part recently are "Krosi i Bardhe" in Prishtina, "Vrapimi i Paversise" in Junik, "Pranvera Studentore" in Gjilan, and "Kampionati i Kosoves ne Kros" in Prishtina. Currently, the association is preparing for the half marathon in Prishtina, one of the most important events that will be held on 11th of May 2014 .

Chess

File:Shahu ne kosove.jpg

Chess team tournament held in Prishtina

Chess, a strategic game played by two players on a square table is a very common sport in Kosovo. Most of the events in chess are organized by the Federation of Chess in Kosovo. Some of the events organized recently by the association are the traditional competition of chess "Java e Minatoreve -89", "Pervjetori i Pavaresis 2014", and "Hyzri Talla 2013". The winners of the competitions are Nderim Saraci, Llambi Pasku, and Naim Sahitaj respectively . The champions mention above are part of the clubs divided by the federation into two categories: The first category is the First League, where some of the clubs are Minatori, NLB Prishtina, Hyzri Talla, Istogu, and Lamkos . Whereas, clubs in the Second League are Ferizaji, Shpeta, Vitia and Shara .

Tennis

Tennis in Kosovo is governed by the Federation of Tennis in Kosovo. Kosovo Tennis Federation, founded in 1992, has 300 active players belonging to different age group. KT Prishtina was founded on the 27 June 1992 and is the oldest club in Kosovo. It has many players who are ranked pretty high in the Kosovo rankings list and it has its own tennis school and many coaches. The club consists of 230 members, 55% of which are females. Whereas, KT Trepca was founded on 15 July 2003, as it has its own tennis school which consists of 47 students .The main objectives of the association is to group the teams and organized games between the clubs . Presently, there are 10 clubs such as KT Prishtina, KT DielliX, KT Trepca, and KT Rahoveci . The federation is officially accepted in the International Tennis Federations(ITF) as the players from Kosovo are permitted to play in international games under the banner of ITF . This is a huge step toward the internationalization of tennis. The most famous with the highest participation tourneys are Sporek Open, Dielli Open, Trepca Open, Drenica Open,Prishtina Open and Masters .

Sports fan clubs

Kosova people are known for the support they show for their local teams.There are three big fan clubs: Plisat supporting Prishtina , Shqiponjat supporting Pejë and Intelektualet supporting Gjilan teams.

Plisat
Founded	1987 (1987)
Arena	City Stadium (Pristina)
Location	Pristina, Kosovo
Team colors	White and Blue

Plisat

Plisat cheering for KF Prishtina

This fan club is founded on 1987 from the supporters of FC Prishtina back in that time and got their name by the traditional albanian cap called Plis. Usually the members of this fan club stand in the east side of the City Stadium (Pristina) while supporting their team in football .They are known also for the public as "the 12th player" of FC Prishtina just from their massive support they do during the game-no matter losing or wining. They have traveled to Cacak in the early 80's,they have been more than 7000 in Marakana,Beograd on 1983 in the famous victory against Crvena zvezda. Plisat were supporting the team also during the invasion that Serbia did to Kosova during the time before war. After the war ended Plisat started to support also their basketball team and handball teams,then they started to shape their 'support style' cheering their teams in different ways-followed by different choreography in the stands of the city stadium in Prishtina. Plisat these days are the most famous fan club in Kosova.

Shqiponjat
Founded	1993 (1993)
Arena	Karagaq Pejë
Location	Pejë, Kosovo
Team colors	Black and Yellow

Shqiponjat

Shqiponjat(English:The Eagles) fan club is founded on 13 of December 1993 in Pejë.This fan club got their name by the symbol of the albanian mountains - the Albanian Eagle.They are supporting the Pejë teams like in KF Besa in football,KB Peja in basketball and KH Besa in handball.

Shqiponjat were active also in the time when Kosova was under the occupation of Serbia in the periods like 1998-1999.Shqiponjat are one of the biggest fan clubs in Kosova.

Intelektualët
Founded	1998 (1998)
Arena	City Stadium , Gjilan
Location	Gjilan, Kosovo
Team colors	White and Blue

Intelektualët

File:Intelektualet.jpg

Intelektualls supporting their team in football,Gjilan.

This fan club got this name(English:The Intellectuals) after the club was founded on 1947 from intellectuals and the society of the city in Gjilan.They support all the 10 clubs that "flow" under the same name 'DRITA'. Mostly this fan club supports the biggest club of Gjilan-the football club Drita in the matches organized in the City Stadium of Gjilan,but the Intellectuals are present cheering also for the teams in basketball,volleyball and handball for both genres. The colors that characterize this fan club are white and blue,all the clubs that run under the name Drita are "dressed" in white&blue. But about the name of the fan club there are some theories like the one says that the name came from the good behavior and the well-organized matches in comparison with other clubs at that time in Kosova. The second theory says that they got the name from the patriotic fractions inside the club-because they used the structures of the club as a camouflage to meet with other patriots to do patriotic movements. The fan clubs existed also early that time but not with an exact name,but after 1998 they were well organized also with names,also the club created subgroups which helped the team and the club with different activities,most powerful subgroups in 2000-2002 were "Holy Blue" and "White and Blue Hooligans" but nowadays only the subgroup 'Ultras Hyena' is active. The intellectuals are one of the biggest fan clubs in Kosova they brought a different era in the Albanian ultras-culture.

Arpagjik't
Founded	2000 (2000)
Arena	"Përparim Thaçi" Stadium , Prizren
Location	Prizren, Kosovo
Team colors	Black and Orange

Arpagjik't

The fan clubs in Prizren started when the local football club,KF Liria played matches in the second League of the former Yugoslavia,people from the city organized with traditional songs, costumes and traditional dances headed the local stadium that now is called "Përparim Thaçi",just to support their football club at that time. After the war in Kosova the appearances started and the fans started to call their selves Arpagjik't. After the first season groups like Arpagjik't and The Panthers merged their forces under the same name- Arpagjik't. The first flag within the Panthers was the one prepared in 2001 ,20 by 7 meters,in which was written "Go Bashkimi,Go Panthers". The first days under the name Arpagjik't were very successful because the fan club distributed over 400 fan membership cards,with whom the fans could watch the matches without paying anything.This was a new era for the ultras in Prizren under one name. The aim of the fan club is to prepare the city stadium and the local indoor arenas in which the local clubs play games,prepare the stands with requisites,flags and club scarfs. Arpagjik't is one of the biggest fanclubs in the after war era in Kosova.

Sports Venues in Kosova

Here are some sport venues :

Rank	Stadium	Capacity	City	Home team
1	Olympic Stadium Adem Jashari	28,500	Mitrovica	KF Trepça
2	City Stadium (Pristina)	16,200	Prishtina	FC Prishtina
3	City Stadium (Gnjilane)	15,000	Gjilan	KF Drita
4	Përparim Thaçi Stadium	15,000	Prizren	KF Liria
5	Riza Lushta Stadium	12,000	Mitrovica	KF Trepça'89
6	Agron Rama Stadium	10,000	Obiliq	KF KEK
7	Shahin Haxhiislami Stadium	8,500	Pejë	KF Besa
8	City Stadium (Gjakova)	6,000	Gjakova	KF Vëllaznimi
9	Demush Mavraj Stadium	6,000	Istog	KF Istogu
10	Ferki Aliu Stadium	5,000	Vushtrri	KF Kosova Vushtrri
11	Llukar Stadium	3,000	Prishtina	KF Beselidhja
12	Ismet Shabani Stadium	2,000	Ferizaj	KF Ferizaj
13	City Stadium (Besianë)	2,000	Podujevë	KF Llapi
14	Merdare Stadium	2,000	Podujevë	KF Hysi
15	Flamurtari Stadium	2,000	Prishtina	KF Flamurtari
16	Bajram Aliu Stadium	2,000	Skënderaj	KF Drenica

International sports membership

For a long time in Kosovo the people have missed international activities,so it has been a vacuum about organizing international sports events and the opportunity to represent the quality of the young athletes of Kosovo in the international level,who would give an positive impact in advancing in general the local sport .Kosovo was a part of several international sports federations in the 1990s and has applied to become a member of many more after its 17 February 2008 unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia. Currently Kosovo federations are full members of 7 international federations, provisional members of 4 international federations, associated members of 2 international federations and members of 1 European federation. However a big problem for the international membership process of Kosovo sport federations is that the Olympic Committee of Kosovo did not apply to join the International Olympic Committee. The acceptance of Kosovo in the International Olympic Committee would have been an huge positive impact in accepting other sport federations in the international level.But the Olympic Committee of Kosovo plans to apply this year,because during the last visit of the International Olympic Committee members, in 2012 they said that Kosovo isn't still ready,but this year they think it is the perfect time to apply

Accepted membership applications

The following sports federations have either admitted or have received the application from Republic of Kosovo to be admitted into their membership.

Entity	Notes	Status	Date
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)	Kosovo is allowed to play international football with members of the FIFA (excluding all Former-Yugoslavian countries), as of January 13 2014. However, no national (state) symbols or anthem of Kosovo should be displayed beside the ones on the players' uniforms logo. The matches would have to be approved by the Serbian Football Federation. FIFA will work as an intermediary on this, having been notified at least 21 days in advance.	Provisional	13 January 2014
European Minigolfsport Federation (EMF)	Kosovo became a member of the EMF, April 2012.	Member	20 April 2012
International Archery Federation (FITA)	FITA admitted Kosovo as a full member.	Member	1 July 2011
International Boxing Association (AIBA)	Kosovo became AIBA's 195th federation in July 2012. Full membership status will be confirmed at a future meeting.	Provisional	9 July 2012
International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA)	FILA admitted Kosovo as not full member but an associated federation.	Associate	9 June 2008
European Handball Federation (EHF)	Kosovo became an associated federation of the European Handball Federation in 2004, prior to its declaration of independence with only clubs alloved to compete in EHF cups.	Associate	2004
International Judo Federation (IJF)	The IJF admitted Kosovo as a full member.	Member	10 April 2012
International Sailing Federation (ISAF)	The ISAF admitted Kosovo as a full member.	Member	8 May 2012
International Ski Federation (FIS)	Kosovo has had observer status in the ISF since 2004, prior to DOI.	Provisional	7 November 2011
International Softball Federation (ISF)	The ISF admitted Kosovo as a full member.	Member	12 August 2008
International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)	Kosovo became a full member in 2003, prior to its declaration of independence.	Member	21 May 2003
International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)	The IWF admitted Kosovo as a full member.	Member	18 June 2008
World Curling Federation (WFC)	The WFC admitted the Kosovo Curling Federation as a provisional member at its 2012 annual general assembly in Scotland.	Provisional	21 October 2012
International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM)	The UIPM admitted the Kosovo Pentathlon Union as a full member at its 2013 Annual Congress in Cyprus.	Member	29 November 2013
World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)	The WTF admitted the Kosovo Taekwondo Federation at its 2013 Annual Congress.	Provisional	14 July 2013

Kosovar Sportspeople

• Shemsi Beqiri
• Agonit Sallaj
• Mergim Brahimi
• Besim Tafilaj
• Rocky Lekaj
• Taip Ramadani
• Valdet Rama
• Kushtrim Lushtaku
• Atdhe Nuhiu
• Perparim Hetemaj
• Debatik Curri
• Labinot Haliti
• Erton Fejzullahu
• Shkodran Metaj
• Besnik Hasi
• Emir Bajrami
• Armend Dallku

• Majlinda Kelmendi
• Adnan Januzaj
• Alban Meha
• Mehmet Dragusha
• Fatos Beqiraj
• Samir Ujkani
• Albert Berbatovci
• Enis Alushi
• Lorik Cana
• Xherdan Shaqiri
• Granit Xhaka
• Shefki Kuqi
• Fadil Vokrri
• Aziz Salihu
• Luan Krasniqi
• Taulant Xhaka
• Valon Behrami

• Besart Berisha
• Albert Bunjaku
• Blerim Xhemajli
• Agon Mehmeti
• Njazi Kuqi
• Valon Berisha
• Etrit Berisha
• Burim Kukeli
• Andis Shala
• Gzim Istrefi
• Kosovare Asllani
• Besim Kabashi
• Naim Terbunja
• Xhavit Bajrami
• Elvir Muriqi
• Rustemi Kreshnik
• Azem Maksutaj

Traditional Sports

Young and old people playing traditional sports.

Albaniada is an event that is aimed to be traditional-gathers together people from all Albanian territories,where young and old people play traditional games and sports the main goal of this event is to 'bring back to life' games and sports that Albanian ancestors have been playing many years ago.

Some of the traditional sports are Hats (Kapuça), Measure and Stick (Kut e Kleçkë), Crouch (Guxhas), Ball-on-Horse (top-n-kali), Arm Wrestling (rrëzim i duarve), Bag Hopping (vrapim me thes), Leg Wrestling (rrëzim i këmbëve), Boards (rrasash), Capture the Handkerchief (kapja e shamise), Rope Pull(tërheqja e litarit), Stone Throwing Sideways (gurapesh me dy duar anash), Overhead Stone Throwing (gurapesh prapa), Single-Hand Stone Throwing and Swords (Shpatash) . This kind of sports can be played in an indoor environment like Oda or outside.

See also

• Football Federation of Kosovo
• Kosovo national football team
• Football Superleague of Kosovo
• Kosovo national basketball team
• Basketball Federation of Kosovo

External links

• Olympic Committee of Kosovo
• The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports

Category:Kosovo Category:Sport in Europe Category:Sports by country Category:Republic of Kosovo