IMMAF President Visits Kosovo Olympic Committee in continued campaign for Olympic recognition

IMMAF President Visits Olympic Committee and Ministry of Sport in Kosovo (Photo: IMMAF)

In a campaign for Olympic recognition, IMMAF President Kerrith Brown most recently interacted with the Kosovo Olympic Committee which accepts their National MMA Federation as part of the Olympic family.

International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) President Kerrith Brown recently visited Kosovo on an official trip to the Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sport.

During his visit with the Olympic committee, Brown met with president Ismet Krasniqi and secretary general Besim Aliti while he also interacted with secretary of Kosovo Mixed Martial Arts Federation Visar Alimehaj.

The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the development of the sport in Kosovo, along with what support and information IMMAF can provide.

Youth growth was also a primary topic of discussion as the federation aim to build its youth setup.

A long term goal of the IMMAF was gaining Olympic recognition to eventually become an Olympic sport.

While this may be a long way off, various National Federations have been working to garner membership with their National Olympic Committees.

IMMAF President Kerrith Brown has expressed frustrations in the past over the long wait for Olympic recognition and the lack of transparency in the process. At this time he had said the Federation is focused on building and developing structures and assets in youth development, officiating, coaching, and all areas fundamental to the sport.

The Kosovo MMA Federation has been accepted via a committee vote to receive full membership within the Kosovo Olympic Committee.

The federation’s current president, Besart Berisha, has previously represented Austria on the IMMAF stage and is due to return representing Kosovo at the 2022 European Championships.

He will become the second athlete to represent the nation after Arlind Berisha became the first in his gold medal run at the 2021 World Cup.

To date, the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation has over 120 national federations as members, with around 50 recognised by their National Olympic Committee or National Sports Authority.