Kosovo was a part of several international sports federations in the 1990s, and has applied to become a member of many more after its 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia.
Background
Kosovo is a full member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the European Olympic Committees (EOC); membership by the former was granted to Kosovo's Olympic Committee on 9 December 2014. The country has participated in both the Winter and Summer Olympics. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Kosovo won a gold medal, and in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, it won two.
Before IOC and IPC recognition, Kosovar athletes took part in the Special Olympics starting in 2003.2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games > EE.SO Kosovo A body known as Special Olympics Kosovo was established to provide support for Kosovan Special Olympics athletes. The Paralympic Committee of Kosovo won granted provisional membership status by the International Paralympic Committee on 16 July 2022. Full membership was granted at the following IPC General Assembly in Manama, Bahrain on 28 September 2023. Kosovo made its Paralympic début at 2024 Summer Paralympics.
Kosovo participated in a wide multi-sport event for the first time at the 2015 European Games held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The first participation from athletes from the country were at the fourth 'World Dwarf Games' in Rambouillet, France in 2005, Kosovo also participated at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia, and in 2015 IHF Emerging Nations Championship, among others.
Membership in sport federations The following sports federations have either admitted or have received an application from Kosovo for membership:
International federations and associations membership Entity Notes Status Date Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) FAI admitted Kosovo as a full member. Member 25 September 2015 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) FIFA admitted the Football Federation of Kosovo as its 210th member at its 66th Congress in Mexico City. Member 13 May 2016 Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) FIA admitted the Federation of Auto Sport of Kosovo as a member at its annual assembly in 2015. Member 4 December 2015Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB)The Volleyball Federation of Kosovo is a full member of the FIVB.Member10 October 2016 International Archery Federation (FITA) FITA admitted Kosovo as a full member. Member 1 July 2011 International Tennis Federation (ITF) ITF admitted the Tennis Federation of Kosovo as a full member. Member 25 September 2015 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) The IAAF admitted the Kosovo Athletic Federation as a provisional member "with full rights and obligations" on 15 April 2015"Application for membership – Kosovo" iaaf.org 15 April 2015 Link accessed 2015-04-15 On 19 August 2015, full membership was granted to Kosovo after a vote, with 187 in favour and 13 against. Member 19 August 2015 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) FIBA admitted the Basketball Federation of Kosovo as a full member. Member 13 March 2015 International Boxing Association (AIBA) Kosovo became AIBA's 195th federation in July 2012 (provisional). Full membership was granted to Kosovo on 14 November 2014. Member 14 November 2014 International Chess Federation (FIDE) The Kosovo Chess Federation became a full member of FIDE in 2016. Member 2016 International Committee of Mediterranean Games (ICMG) ICMG admitted the Kosovo Olympic Committee as a full member on 30 October 2015 during its Extraordinary General Assembly in Washington D.C. Member 30 October 2015 International Committee of Sports for the Deaf Kosovo became a member in July 2017. Member 18 July 2017 International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) FILA admitted Kosovo as an associated federation, but not as a full member.] Associate 9 June 2008 International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) The FIG admitted the Kosovo Gymnastics Federation at its 80th Congress held in Uzbekistan on 29–30 October 2014. Member 30 October 2014 International Handball Federation (IHF) IHM admitted the Handball Federation of Kosovo as a full member at the IHF Congress held in Sochi, Russia. Member 7 November 2015 International Judo Federation (IJF) IJF admitted the Kosovo Judo Federation as a full member.Ministri Krasniqi takoi kryetarin e Federatës Ndërkombëtare të Xhudos, z. Marius Vizer, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport of the Republic of Kosovo, 2012-04-20 (in Albanian)The Kosovo Judo Federation was accepted as full member of the International Judo Federation , International Judo Federation, 2012-04-20 Member 10 April 2012 International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) IKF admitted the Kickboxing Federation of Kosovo as a full member. Member 18 March 2015 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) The Kosovo Mixed Martial Federation became a member of the IMMAF in June 2020. Member 12 June 2020 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 International Olympic Committee (IOC) The IOC admitted the Kosovo Olympic Committee as a full member on 9 December 2014 during its 127th IOC session in Monaco. Member 9 December 2014 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) The IPC admitted the Paralympic Committee of Kosovo as a provisional member on 16 July 2022 and as a full member on 28 September 2023 allowing athletes from Kosovo to participate in the Paralympic Games. Member 16 July 2022 (provisional)28 September 2023 (full)International Sailing Federation (ISAF) ISAF admitted Kosovo as a full member. Member 8 May 2012 International Ski Federation (FIS) The Kosovo Ski Federation was granted full membership on 7 November 2015. Member 7 November 2015 International Softball Federation (ISF) ISF admitted Kosovo as a full member."Dhurata për 7 vjetorin e pavarësisë: Federata Ndërkombëtare e Notit pranon Kosovën" newkosovareport.com 14 August 2008 Link accessed 2008-08-14 Member 12 August 2008 International Swimming Federation (FINA) FINA admitted the Kosovo Swimming Federation as a full member."Kosovo Softball Federation wins international recognition" Koha.net 17 February 2015 Link accessed 2015-02-19 Member 17 February 2015 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) The Table Tennis Federation of Kosovo became a full member in 2003, before it declared independence.kosovo-faces-uphill-task-for-sporting-recognition.html "Kosovo faces uphill task for sporting recognition" , EarthTimes.org, 27 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-28. Member 21 May 2003International University Sports Federation (FISU) The Kosovo University Sports Federation (FUSK) became a member of FISU in 2017. Member 2017 Jeux de la Francophonie As an associate member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Kosovo has participated in the Jeux de la Francophonie since 2017 Associate 2014 Special Olympics Special Olympics Kosovo was founded in 2002, and athletes representing Kosovo have participated at the Special Olympics World Games since 2003. Member 2002 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) IWF admitted Kosovo as a full member."More recognitions for Kosovo sports" newkosovareport.com 28 June 2008 Link accessed 2008-06-28IWF affiliates new members, International Weightlifting Federation Member 18 June 2008 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) The UCI admitted Kosovo as a full member. Before this, the ICU gave Kosovo temporary membership in February 2015 enabling Kosovo to participate in ICU affiliated competitions. Member 25 September 2015 United World Wrestling (UWW) The UWW admitted Kosovo under associate membership on 16 January 2015, with full membership yet to be finalised. Associate 16 January 2015World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)The Kosovo Baseball and Softball Federation became a member of the WBSC in 2016.MemberAugust 2016 World Curling Federation (WFC) The WFC admitted the Kosovo Curling Federation as a provisional member at its 2012 annual general assembly in Scotland.Kosovo Curling Federation becomes provisional world body member, Inside the Games, 21 October 2012 Provisional 21 October 2012 World Karate Federation (WKF) The WKF admitted the National Karate Federation of Kosovo to provisional membership on 13 December 2014. Provisional 13 December 2014 World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) The WTF admitted the Kosovo Taekwondo Federation (KTF) at its 2013 Annual Congress. From 14 July 2013 to 12 May 2015 the KTF was a provisional member of WTF. The KTF was granted full WTF membership at the WTF assembly on 12 May 2015. Member 12 May 2015World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF)Kosovo is a full member of WMF.Member
European federations and associations membership Entity Notes Status Date European Athletics Association (EAA) Kosovo became a full member of the EAA on 16 October 2015. Member 16 October 2015 European Handball Federation (EHF) Kosovo became a full member of the EHF on 20 September 2014. Member 20 September 2014 European Minigolf Sport Federation (EMF) Kosovo became a member of the EMF in April 2012.Ministri Krasniqi: Minigolfi një shembull, jo vetëm në Kosovë, por edhe në rajon, për organizim të mirëfilltë, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport of the Republic of Kosovo 2012-04-20 (in Albanian) Member 20 April 2012 European Olympic Committees (EOC) The EOI automatically admitted the Kosovo Olympic Committee as a full member after Kosovo received full membership in the International Olympic Committee on 9 December 2014. Member 9 December 2014 European Paralympic Committee (EPC) The Paralympic Committee of Kosovo became a member of the EPC when the International Paralympic Committee admitted Kosovo as a provisional member in July 2022 and a full member in September 2023. Full 28 September 2023 Tennis Europe Tennis Europe admitted Kosovo as a full member. Member 28 March 2015 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Kosovo became a full member of UEFA on 3 May 2016. Member 3 May 2016European Karate Federation (EFK)Kosovo is a full member of EFK. Member 25 October 2016European Judo Union (EJU)Kosovo is a full member of EJU.MemberJune 2012 European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) Kosovo is a provisional member of EPBF. Provisional European Union of Gymnastics (EUG)Kosovo is a full member of EUG.Member24 November 2015European Volleyball Confederation (CEV)Kosovo is a full member of CEV.Member21 January 2017European Shooting Confederation (ESC)Kosovo is a full member of ESC.MemberLigue européenne de natation (LEN)Kosovo is a full member of LEN.MemberEuropean Chess Union (ECU)Kosovo is a full member of ECU.MemberRugby EuropeThe Kosovo Rugby Federation became a member of Rugby Europe on 3 December 2021.Member3 December 2021
See also List of national sports teams of Kosovo International recognition of Kosovo Membership of Kosovo in international organizations Kosovo precedent
References