e-ISSN: 2671-3659
p-ISSN: 2671-3675
Founded: 2021
Period: Biannually
Publisher: Balkan Studies Foundation

Articles

The Role of the Sport of Judo and Football in Promoting Kosovo’s Statehood in the International Arena

Ylli Sokoli MA Student, Univerity of Prishtina Author 0000-0002-1638-8404

DOI:

10.51331/A032

Abstract

This research focuses on the role the sports of judo and football have in promoting Kosovo’s statehood in the international arena. Through this research, I will analyze the challenges Kosovo has with regard to sports and show the opportunities Kosovo has in its international promotion of statehood, in which sports diplomacy plays a very important role. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but has yet to become a member of the United Nations. Since it became a part of international sports organizations, it has played against countries that do not recognize its independence. Kosovo uses sports to gain recognition to some extent, with the sport that has most influenced its international promotion being judo due mainly to the Olympic medals that Kosovo won and the fuss this created in the international media. Still, other sports such as football have also had a positive impact. The sport matches the Republic of Kosovo has held in countries and against countries that do not recognize its independence have had great importance in promoting Kosovo’s statehood because the audiences in these countries recognize Kosovo.

Keywords:

Sports Diplomacy, Judo, Football, Kosovo, İnternational Promotion

References

  • Abdi, K., Talebpour, M., Fullerton, J., Ranjkesh, M. J., & Nooghabi, H. J. (2018). Converting sports diplomacy to diplomatic outcomes: Introducing a sports diplomacy model. International Area Studies Review. doi:10.1177/223386591880805
  • Alaj, I., Arifi, F., & Metaj, Z. (2018). Structural Characteristics of Sport Organizations. Sport Mont, 45. doi:10.26773/smj.180210
  • Argumentum. (2022, November 01). Ukraine won’t recognize Kosovo, says its Ambassador to Belgrade. Tirana, Albania: Argumentum. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https:// www.argumentum.al/en/ukraine-wont-recognize-kosovo-says-its-ambassador-tobelgrade/
  • B92. (2017, November 21). Georgia will not recognize Kosovo, says Georgian PM. Serbia. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics. php?yyyy=2017&mm=11&dd=21&nav_id=102853
  • Brentin, D., & Tregoures, L. (2016). Entering Through the Sport’s Door? Kosovo’s Sport Diplomatic Endeavours Towards International Recognition. Diplomacy & Statecraft, 361.
  • British-Broadcasting-Corporation. (2022). Cyprus vs Kosovo. BBC. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61677892
  • Bytyçi, F., & Berisha, I. (2021). Kosova rrëmben dy medalje të arta në Tokio. Pristina: Radio Evropa e Lirë. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://www.evropaelire.org/a/kosova-medalje-te-arta-ne-tokio-/31377933.html
  • Cerkini, V. (2021). This is discrimination: Challenges of being an athlete from Kosovo. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://www.dw.com/en/this-is-discriminationchallenges-of-being-an-athlete-from-kosovo/a-59768212
  • Dubinsky, Y. (2019, February 7). From soft power to sports diplomacy: a theoretical and conceptual discussion. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy. doi:10.1057/s41254-019-00116-8
  • Euronews-Albania. (2022). Xhudistja Distria Krasniqi fiton medaljen e artë në Gjeorgji. Euronews Albania. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://euronews.al/sport/2022/06/03/ xhudistja-distria-krasniqi-fiton-medaljen-e-arte-ne-gjeorgji/
  • Eurosport. (2022, September 27). Kosovo vs Cyprus UEFA Nations League. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from https://www.eurosport.com/football/uefa-nations-league/2022-2023/ live-kosovo-cyprus_mtc1326406/live.shtml
  • EWB. (2020, September 18). Dodik voted against recognition of Kosovo, Džaferović and Komšić in favor. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: European Western Balkans. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2020/09/18/dodik-voted-against-recognition-of-kosovo-dzaferovic-and-komsic-in-favor/
  • Gallarotti, G. M. (2011, March 30). Soft power: what it is, why it’s important, and the conditions for its effective use. Journal of Political Power. doi:10.1080/2158379X.2011.557886 Giulianotti, R., Collison, H., Darnell, S., & Howe, D. (2016, December). Contested states and the politics of sport: the case of Kosovo - division, development, and recognition. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 7.
  • Hajdari, U. (2021). Kosovo wins international recognition... at the Olympics. Prishtina: Politico. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://www.politico.eu/article/kosovo-tokyo-olympics-medals-judo-international-recognition/
  • ICJ. (2010). Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo. Hague, Netherlands. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https:// www.icj-cij.org/en/case/141
  • Isufi, P. (2018). Kosovo Accuses Bosnia of Delaying Basketball Players’ Visas. Prishtina: Balkan Insight Research Group. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://balkaninsight. com/2018/08/09/kosovo-accuses-bosnia-of-delaying-basketball-players-visas-08-09-2018/
  • Jennings, P. (2019). The remarkable Mr Vokrri: Kosovo’s football rise. BBC Sport. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49625260
  • Konushevci, A. (2021). Pa diplomaci të sportit e kulturës. Radio Evropa e Lirë. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://www.evropaelire.org/a/diplomaci-sporti-dhe-arti-/31358561.html
  • MFAD. (2022). Lista e Njohjeve. Prishtina, Kosovo. Retrieved October 15, 2022, from https://mfa-ks.net/lista-e-njohjeve/
  • Murray, S. (2012). The Two Halves of Sports-Diplomacy. Diplomacy & Statecraft. doi:10.1080/09592296.2012.706544
  • Nye, J. S. (2011). The Future of Power. New York: Public Affairs.
  • Ozturk, T. (2022, April 29). Russia will not recognize Kosovo’s independence: Envoy. Belgrade, Serbia: Anadolu Agency. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://www. aa.com.tr/en/europe/russia-will-not-recognize-kosovos-independence-envoy/2576505
  • Rexhepi, R., & Sahiti, V. (2021, August). The impact of sports diplomacy on improving Kosovo’s international image. Prizren Social Science Journal, 31-32.
  • Rotham, S. B. (2011, March 30). Revising the soft power concept: what are the means and mechanisms of soft power? Journal of Political Power. doi:http://dx.doi. org/10.1080/2158379X.2011.556346
  • Saliu, H., & Llunji, V. (2022). Cultural Diplomacy of Kosovo after the Declaration of Independence. Vilnius University Press, 69-72.
  • Shergold, A. (2019, November 19). ENGLAND FAN VIEW: After racism and Nazi salutes in Bulgaria and Montenegro, we had a VERY different reception in Kosovo, as grateful locals bought beers, waved St George’s flags and thanked their ‘liberators’. England, United Kingdom: Daily Mail. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ sport/football/article-7701565/How-Englands-visit-Kosovo-left-warm-glow-ugly-experiences-Montenegro-Bulgaria.html
  • Turp-Balazs, C. (2021, February 2021). Explainer: The EU’s Kosovo awkward squad. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://emerging-europe.com/news/the-explainer-the-eus-kosovo-refuseniks/
  • UEFA. (2022). Kosovo vs Greece. UEFA. Retrieved June 5, 2022, from https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/match/2034445--kosovo-vs-greece/
  • Young, A. (2022, August 13). Kosovo. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Kosovo