Peja, Kosovo* – 25 March 2026. The city of Peja hosted the international conference of the EU-funded project #FairGame: Gender-equal Access to Movement and Exercise. Organised by the Municipality of Peja and LDA Kosovo, the event brought together local authorities, European partners, and sports professionals to address one of the most pressing challenges in sport today: women’s participation and equality.
Opening the conference, Xhenet Syka, Director of Culture, Youth and Sport at the Municipality of Peja, welcomed participants and outlined the objectives of the #FairGame project, focusing on removing barriers to women’s participation in sport while fostering European cooperation.
The first panel, “Local Challenges & Barriers to Women’s Participation in Sport”, highlighted cultural, social, and structural obstacles faced by women in Kosovo and beyond. Speakers included Ardita Bala, Executive Director of the Women Wellness Center / Safe House; Armenda Filipaj, founder of Women’s Football Club Prishtina, who presented the establishment of Peja’s first women’s football team; and Erina Berisha, a Kosovan basketball player. The discussion emphasised the role of local institutions and encouraged an interactive exchange with participants. It also marked the official announcement of the creation of the first women’s football club in Peja.
The second panel, “European Perspectives on Gender Equality in Sport: Policies, Practices and Cooperation”, broadened the discussion to the European level. Maurizio Camin, member of ALDA’s Governing Board, stressed that European values must evolve from coexistence to co-creation, highlighting resilience and community-building as key elements.
“It is time to change the modalities of co-existence… We need to rediscover the feminine point of view… In order to change the paradigm, we need to start from schools and include gender in education from a young age.”
Katica Janeva, Director of ALDA Balkans, emphasised the importance of dialogue and mutual learning:
“Openness and dialogue are essential. Projects supported through broader programmes create valuable opportunities to exchange practices, understand progress, and move forward together.”
Roberto Sani, City Councillor at the Municipality of Trento, underlined that the persistence of the gender gap in 2026 remains unacceptable, calling for stronger inspiration from younger generations.
The panel explored EU priorities under the CERV Programme, shared best practices from across Europe, and reinforced the importance of cross-border cooperation in advancing gender equality in sport.
In the afternoon, participants visited the National Judo Centre in Peja, celebrating the legacy of Olympic champion Majlinda Kelmendi. Her achievements continue to inspire women and girls in sport. Participants met with athletes and technical staff, gaining insight into how role models can reshape perceptions and create new opportunities.
By bringing together local and European perspectives, Peja positioned itself as a platform for dialogue on gender equality in sport. The conference combined policy discussion with cultural exchange, reinforcing the idea that sport is not only about competition but also about inclusion, inspiration, and shared values.
This event was organised within the framework of the project #FairGame: Gender-equal Access to Movement and Exercise.
