North Mitrovica Municipality announced on Thursday that the city’s sports hall is now operational, following its takeover by municipal inspectors with the assistance of Kosovo Police. However, the statement offered no clear details on who is in charge of scheduling activities in the facility.
„The sports hall is functional. For booking time slots for sports activities, citizens and sports clubs may contact the Department for Culture, Youth and Sports or the responsible persons at the North Mitrovica Municipality,“ the municipality said in a brief public notice.
The announcement came a day after local authorities, accompanied by police, entered the hall and ordered trainers, staff, and children waiting for their regular training sessions to leave. Serbian sports memorabilia were taken down, the entrance lock was replaced, and the building was subsequently sealed.
The move follows a municipal regulation adopted three months ago by the North Mitrovica Assembly, concerning the use of sports facilities—including this hall.
Goran Kovač, the hall’s long-time director, said he was unaware of the latest announcement and expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as a disrespectful and forceful handover. He also claimed there was pressure to use the Albanian language during the process, which he refused, insisting on his right to use Serbian.
Although he had previously stated he would return to his post the next morning, Kovač told KoSSev he decided against it. “Because I didn’t want to. I don’t see the point after what they did yesterday,” he said.
He reiterated today that the takeover was aggressive and uncoordinated. “They should have come and arranged things through dialogue. Instead, they forcibly changed the lock. They probably plan to do something different now, so I don’t see any point in going.”
Around 100 people, including children, parents, coaches, and Serbian List representatives, gathered this morning in front of the Sports Hall to demand the restoration of access to the facility. Police officers were stationed at the entrance, and access to the building was blocked.
The hall had been regularly used for training and matches by various local sports clubs in volleyball, basketball, handball, football, martial arts, and recreational activities. These clubs operate within the Serbian sports system. For years, Kosovo authorities have not allowed Serbian League competitions to take place in the North or elsewhere in Kosovo.
The sports hall was built using funds from the EU-funded North Fund, with the consent of the North Mitrovica Municipality. It was opened in 2019 during a mayoral election campaign, despite not being fully completed at the time. The opening ceremony included then-candidate Goran Rakić, Aleksandar Spirić (head of the „Provisional Authority for Kosovska Mitrovica“), and Kovač.
This is the latest in a series of municipal takeovers of facilities previously operating under Serbian structures. Over the past four days, Kosovo institutions have, with police backing, taken over several such facilities, including the water supply company in North Mitrovica and its pump station in Suvi Do, appointing new leadership and ordering Serbian employees to vacate the premises.
Authorities also closed the building housing the Institute for Sports, Youth and Specialized Services, the Sports Federation, and the cultural society “Kosovski božur.” The water utility in Zubin Potok, the local Sports Hall, and a building used as the City Museum in North Mitrovica have also been taken over. Most recently, today, Kosovo institutions assumed control over the building of the National Employment Service.
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Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
