Kosovo judoka unable to represent country
With IOC refusing to recognise Kosovo, Majlinida Kelmendi takes Albanian passport to compete at Games.
Majlinida Kelmendi made her way to London after qualifying for the 2012 Judo competition, but she will not be representing her country. Instead, politics have forced Kelmendi, a Kosovan, to participate with Albanian flags on her uniform.
Her small European homeland declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but the tiny nation’s entrance into the United Nations has been blocked by Serbia and Russia.
Consequently, the International Olympic Committee does not recognise Kosovo as a nation, meaning Kelmendi was forced to gain citizenship from neighbouring Albania before she could compete in the 2012 games.
Al Jazeera’s Andy Richardson reports from London.