Parents with children in front of the Sports Hall in North Mitrovica: Our right to practice sports has been denied

More than a hundred children, together with their parents, gathered this morning in heavy rain in front of the sports hall in North Mitrovica to protest what they describe as the unlawful seizure of the facility by the Kosovo Police.

About ten police officers were stationed at the entrance to the sports hall, preventing access. Citizens gathered in front of the building with their children, who train in local sports clubs. They are demanding that the children be allowed to continue their training in the hall without interruption.

Despite the bad weather and heavy rainfall this morning in North Mitrovica, citizens gathered to declare that this sports facility belongs to the youngest and to their healthy, active upbringing.

Basketball coach Bratislav Dzogovic addressed the crowd, saying that the key held by the police is not just a key to the building, but to the future of the children of Mitrovica.

"The key they hold in their hands is not just the key to a building, it is the fate of our children. I appeal to everyone to let us continue our sports activities and resume our training process," Dzogovic said.

Young athletes at the gathering emphasized that they want the sports hall to be returned to its previous state, before it was taken over by Kosovo institutions, so that children can continue their training.

Mateja Veskovic, who trains at the "Trepca" football school, said that children have been denied their right to sport.

"Sport is an opportunity for young people to get off the streets, to find meaning and purpose. So when you deny someone the right to sport, you are not just denying physical activity, you are taking away hope. We choose to stay here, on our land and under our sky, no matter how hard it is. Today, we are not just talking about sport; we are talking about dignity. We are talking about the chance to be part of the world, to be accepted and supported, and to have the right to dream, no matter where we come from. Our message is clear: we are not asking for privileges, we are asking for opportunities. We don't want your pity, we want a fair start. That is why we raise our voices today, not so that they hear us, but so that we can bring change, for all of you who believe that sport belongs to everyone,” Veskovic said.

Danica Dancetovic, a player for the "Centar" basketball club, told those gathered that the seizure of the hall has taken away children's right to play sports.

"Our hall has been taken by illegal institutions and our right to play sports has been stripped away. We are children, and we have the right to play sports, that right has been taken from us. Our imagination has stopped, and our dreams have been destroyed. That is why I call on all adults and their children who are able, to join us here at the hall and help us reclaim our right to play sports. We want to be heard because we are children and we want to do sports," Dancetovic concluded.

As a reminder, Kosovo Police yesterday entered the sports hall during a basketball training session for children aged 10 to 15 and ordered them to leave the premises immediately.

The director of the Sports Hall, Goran Kovac, told Kosovo Online yesterday that he was shocked by what he saw upon entering the facility after the police raid.

“When I went upstairs, I saw that all the photos in the Sports Hall, photos of our great athletes like Novak Djokovic, swimmer Cavic, and Aleksandar Sasa Djordjevic, had been taken down. They even tore up a photo of a local humanitarian, Branko Djordjevic, who has done a lot for the people in Kosovo and Metohija,” Kovac said.