The mini-Olympics for people with special needs is being held at the Academy

Vushtrri, September 29, 2018 – The Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) is being held Mini-Olympics for people with disabilities organized by the Paralympic Committee of Kosovo and the Organization of Parents and Children with Disabilities, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and supported by the Academy, OSCE, KFOR and Carabineers.

In the opening of the mini-Olympics were attended  General Director of the Academy Mr. Ismail Smakiqi, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Mr. Kujtim Gashi, Deputy Minister of the Kosovo Security Force Mr. Burim Ramadani, Mayor of Vushtrri Mr. Xhafer Tahiri, Director of the Department of Law and Public Security of the OSCE Mr. Ake Roghe, Chairman of the Paralympic Committee Mrs. Njomza Emini, Ambassador of France in Kosovo Didier Chabert, Ambassador of Austria in Kosovo Gernot Pfandler, Italian Ambassador Piero Cristoforo Sardi, Representatives of OPFAKKOS, OSCE Advisor at Academy  Shpresa Muharremi, Director of Kosovo Police Mandate Training Driton Zabërgja as well as other representatives from local and international institutions.

General Director of Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Mr. Ismail Smakiqi, welcomed the participants to the Academy, emphasized that mini-Olympics for people with disabilities is a very important event for the Academy and the country.
“The Academy will continue the commitment to fulfill its mission, to offer all kinds of training and higher education for employees in the Public Safety Agencies. International accreditation from the American Academy Accreditation Agency and its qualification 'Center of Excellence' is also due to the values and culture of the Academy of cooperation with communities, "said Mr. Smakiqi.

Director Smakiqi, mentioning competitions that will be held those days at the end of the "European Sports Week", he wished a good luck to competitors.
"The Academy has the most beautiful days with you, the days when Mini Olympics is held. Of course, competitions are a good pretext for you to show your affinities, including the Olympic slogan “participation is important, "Smakiqi said.
Director Smakiqi thanked all the volunteers from local and international institutions, members of carabineers, embassies of friendly countries in Kosovo, Kosovo Police officers, Kosovo Security Force, public security agencies, the Academy staff, medical teams, youth and volunteers from Vushtrri, Mitrovica and other municipalities of Kosovo, in order to be held this mini-Olympics.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Mr. Kujtim Gashi thanked all participants said that the "European Week of Sport" makes it even more important to held mini-Olympics for people with special needs.
"This event is very special because we have gathered in this activity many special persons to whom the state of Kosovo, the Ministry of Sport and all the mechanisms need to be together to support people with special needs, to feel equal in every process of life and with particular emphasis on sports activities, "said Minister Gashi.


During his speech to the audience, Mr. Gashi appreciated that Kosovo has a low participation in sports activities.
Citing the opening of the sports fields, the opening of the Olympic pools, etc., Mr. Gashi said they are working on advancing the sports infrastructure.

He said that Kosovo by holding the mini-Olympics for persons with special needs is concluding the "European Sport Week", saying it is a good initiative for as many young people to participate in massiveness of sports.

Meanwhile, Director of OSCE Department of Public Order and Security Mr. Ake Roghe said mini-Olympics are a very important event where many people can participate to show their skills in different games.
Being happy to have helped this mini-Olympics to be held said that the OSCE will always be ready to offer support to these people.
“Special thanks are for the heroes of the persons with special needs and they are family members, as they have a lot of work to meet their needs, "said Mr. Roghe, saying that mini-Olympics is a great event during which people with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in contests and various sports games.


Mr. Roghe, calling for more work to remove barriers for people with disabilities, said the OSCE has donated 48 wheelchairs and other aids to the people in question.

Also the mayor of Vushtrri thanked all the actors and the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety that has helped in the realization of the mini-Olympics for many years.
“Vushtrri is more beautiful when it comes to various sports competitions, and where is held such an activity as mini-Olympics for people with special needs, "said Tahiri.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Paralympic Committee, Njomza Emini, thanked all those who helped to realize this mini-Olympics. Emini said that she expects Kosovo to join the International Paralympic Committee very fast.
Otherwise, the mini-Olympics will take two consecutive days to handball, basketball, darts, football, chess, table tennis, wheelchair jogging, shooting and so on.
In this mini-Olympics are attending persons with special needs from all over Kosovo.