DUI denounces exclusion in sports: Albanians receive only 7.51% of scholarships

DUI has responded to data from the Ministry of Sports on the “Sporting Hope” scholarship program, describing it as evidence of unequal treatment of athletes.

According to the published figures, of the 506 athletes who received scholarships, 465 are Macedonians, or 91.90%, 38 are Albanians, accounting for 7.51%, while 3 are Bosniaks, or 0.59%.

The party says such a distribution requires explanations from the institutions and political accountability for how the process was conducted.

According to DUI, the Ministry should disclose how applications were evaluated, the criteria used and the number of points on the basis of which the athletes were selected.

DUI also raises the question of how it can be explained that Albanians, as an important part of society, account for only 7.51% of the athletes who received scholarships.

“This is not a matter of privileges based on ethnicity, but of ensuring equal opportunities, transparency and merit-based evaluation, regardless of ethnicity,” DUI said.

Meanwhile, the party accused VLEN of failing to respond to the situation, despite having promised equality and fair representation.

“Those who promised equality and fair representation must answer Albanian athletes today: Is this the equality you promised?” DUI said.

DUI is demanding the full publication of the criteria, scoring system and selection procedure for the “Sporting Hope” scholarships. “Talent cannot remain invisible simply because it is Albanian,” DUI said./Telegrafi/