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By:
Arsim Magjera
- August 4, 2026 12:55
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Kosovo will send a massive delegation to the Mediterranean Games "Taranto 2026".
The Kosovo Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday that a full 163 athletes will represent the country in the Mediterranean event.
Of these, 87 are athletes and 76 are athletes. In the multi-sport events so far, Kosovo has not even come close to competing with such a large number of athletes. Participation in the Mediterranean Games is open, so there is no qualification rate, while the KOC has decided on a large number of athletes due to the fact that the 2030 Mediterranean Games will be held in Pristina.
Kosovo debuted at the Mediterranean Games in “Tarragona 2018”. It was represented by 40 athletes. In “Oran 2022”, Kosovo was represented by 38 athletes. And the number has multiplied for the event held in Taranto, Italy from August 21 to September 3. In “Taranto 2026” there will be competitions in 28 different sports, while athletes from 26 countries are expected.
Kosovo athletes will compete in 21 different sports.
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For the first time, Kosovo will compete in four team sports at the Mediterranean Games. In football, it will compete with U21 and U19 football teams. In handball, senior representatives will compete, as well as in volleyball. Meanwhile, in basketball, it will compete in 3x3.
"The goal is to represent the country as worthily as possible," the KOK statement reads.
"A special moment during the closing ceremony will be the handover of the Mediterranean Games flag to Kosovo, as the host city of the next edition, Prishtina 2030."
Kosovo will also compete in judo, boxing, athletics, badminton, cycling, kayaking, karate, wrestling, padel, swimming, weightlifting, table tennis, sport shooting, archery, taekwondo, tennis and triathlon.
Medals are expected from judo and boxing, but there are hopes for other sports as well.
In Tarragona, Spain in 2018, gold medals were won by Distria Krasniqi, Nora Gjakova and Akil Gjakova. Meanwhile, Loriana Kuka won a silver medal. All medals were won in judo.
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In Oran, Algeria, the number of medals increased to six. Distria Krasniqi, Laura Fazliu and Loriana Kuka won gold medals. Akil Gjakova and Flaka Loxha won bronze medals. So five of the medals were from judo. Shpëtim Bajoku also won bronze in boxing.
It is hoped that the number of medals will increase, although in judo, where the greatest hopes are, a generational change is gradually taking place.
