Kosovo’s flag flew for the first time at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, with athlete Grevist Bytyqi set to become the first to represent the country at the international games.
Kosovo took part in the Paralympics opening ceremony for the first time in Paris on Wednesday evening, as athlete Grevist Bytyqi also prepared to make history by representing his country in the 1500 metres running event.
Grevist Bytyqi holding Kosovo’s flag at the opening of the Paris Paralympics, August 28, 2024. Photo: Paralympic Games YouTube Channel/Livestream.
“History is being written,” the Kosovo Paralympics Committee wrote on Facebook prior to the opening for the 2024 Paralympics.
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani hands over Kosovo’s flag to para athlete Grevist Bytyqi prior to the team’s travel to Paris. Photo: Kosovo President’s Office
On August 20, President Vjosa Osmani handed over the flag of Kosovo to Bytyqi, 33, who will be the country’s sole competitor in Paris.
The Kosovo team for the Paralympics Paris 2024. Photo: Kosovo Paralympic Committee/Facebook
“A special honour to hand over today the flag of the Republic of Kosovo to the para-athlete Grevist Bytyqi, who will carry the colors of Kosovo,” Osmani wrote on X.
Kosovo’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics. Photo: Kosovo Paralympic Committee/Facebook
The Paris Paralympics will include 4,400 athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments competing in 22 sports from August 29 to September 8. France 24 has reported that 2 million tickets have been sold so far.
Para athletes holding the Paralympic Torch during the lighting of the cauldron at the Hotel de Ville, Paris, August 28, 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE/Mohammed Badra
Kosovo has taken part in three summer Olympic Games since 2016 and earned a total of five medals, all won in judo by female athletes.
Artists perform during the opening ceremony in Paris. Photo: EPA-EFE/Teresa Suarez
Judoka Majlinda Kelmendi won Kosovo’s first Olympic gold medal in 2016.Two more gold medals came in 2020 from Nora Gjakova and Distria Krasniqi.