Badminton regains its status as a core sport of the Mediterranean Games
Following information provided by the President of the Kosovo Badminton Federation, Lulzim, confirming that badminton would not be included in the programme of the Kosovo 2030 Mediterranean Games, the COMEBA Executive Board immediately activated a strategic institutional action plan.
During this process, it became clear that the situation was not due to a lack of willingness from the Kosovo Olympic Committee, but rather to a prior structural issue: badminton had lost its status as a core sport of the ICJM in previous editions, specifically Oran 2022 and Taranto 2026.
In both cases, Algeria and Italy were able to include badminton through their right as host countries to invite additional sports, but the recovery of core sport status had not been institutionally managed, leading to badminton’s exclusion from the Kosovo 2030 programme.The first concrete action takes place when Ratko Giljer, COMEBA Vice President, decides to travel personally to Split (Croatia) to hold a first direct meeting with Iakovos Filippousis, Secretary General of the ICMG.
This proactive, energetic and committed approach is highly appreciated by Iakovos, opening a genuine channel for dialogue.
Subsequently, a formal meeting is held in Skopje (North Macedonia) during the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), led by Andoni Azurmendi and Mario Carulla, together with Iakovos, where the key arguments, institutional approach and roadmap are clearly defined.
The process is further strengthened by a high-level meeting in Paris, held during the BWF World Championships, with the direct participation of Iakovos, BWF President Khunying Patama, and Secretary General Thomas Lund, clearly demonstrating the firm support of the BWF for COMEBA.
Finally, several meetings take place in Athens with the ICMG, the Greek Ministry of Sport and the Hellenic Olympic Committee, with Iakovos personally involved in this final coordination effort, serving as the last step prior to the ICMG’s final decision-making process.
As a result of this coordinated effort, badminton officially regains its status as a core sport within the ICMG programme, ensuring its presence in all future editions of the Mediterranean Games.
