Led by Dr Borja García and PhD student Ximing Fan (both School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences) the project will be completed in two stages.
Dr García will form part of an international panel of experts to deliver a "concept document" and "impact assessment" for the cabinet. These documents will analyse the current state of sport in Kosovo including the causes of the current situation and the consequences this has for Kosovo sport.
Based on that analysis, the concept document will propose possible legislative solutions, together with an implementation plan.
Once approved by the government, the legislative text of the act itself will also be drafted and submitted for adoption by the parliament of the Republic of Kosovo, together with a new sports strategy over the next five years.
“The new national sports act will bring Kosovo into line with modern western European sports system,” explained Dr García.
“Its focus on good governance and EU and international standards could make Kosovo one of the most modern sport systems in the western Balkans. The main objective of this legislative reform is to improve sport participation and to modernise sport infrastructure and governance in the country, whilst aligning the legislation with the EU acquis for future accession of Kosovo to the EU.”
Dr García was personally selected as an international expert by the Kosovo Sports Minister, Daulina Osmani, due to his extensive research and world-leading expertise on good governance and EU sport law and policy, which are two of the main strategic objectives of the new act.
Daulina Osmani added: “Considering all the changes that have occurred in sport at the national level, the actual legal framework doesn’t correspond to the current needs of our sport community.
“The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports – as the responsible public institution for sport development in Kosovo – has come to the conclusion that the reform of the sport law in Kosovo is a necessary measure that should be taken as a priority.
“We are glad to count with Dr García as part of the team undertaking this very important work for Kosovo”
Dr García’s academic profile can be viewed here: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/schools/sport-exercise-health-sciences/people/borja-garcia-garcia/