In a world where facts are increasingly disregarded, whereas resentment and wrath are steadily becoming an alternative to the facts, the Albanian social-political establishment has become “a bedlam” that is driving everyone crazy every day!
This is not something new and I wouldn’t be writing these lines if I were not to be utterly flabbergasted by the madness that openly unfolded along with the historic triumph of the athlete Luiza Gega. The madness’s early symptoms were noticed from the very beginning, when voices congratulating Luiza and lambasting the government started too. The “vile” government had abandoned and had expelled the poor girl of the Albanian sports orphanage to Africa, while in fact Luiza has been supported by the Tirana Municipality and Tirana Mayor to train at an altitude of over 3,000 meters in Kenya, where growth of blood cells is stimulated.
But the madness outburst spread all over, when the new European athletics champion extended a reception at the Prime Minister’s office to honour her as she deserves it following her unprecedented triumph in the history of Albanian sports. The very champions of professional hatred, evil public models, who incite bitterness and resentment and fuel the anonymous rage of the social media, were unleashed totally furiously on the TV channels and news sites, commenting on the event as a hostage taking action for propaganda purposes or even accusing Luiza for selling her soul to the regime. !…
More than once, the newly-declared champion spoke using her own words, telling how much things have changed, how sports and she herself have been granted support, and how financial support granted to her has made her path to the peak easier. That exceptional girl with an impressive gallantry didn’t even forget to send a thank you message from Munich, though it was only the one who deserved all the appreciation. But do those have ear to hear at a time when they are even claiming to defend the United States of America from the U.S. Ambassador herself, let alone defending Luiza from me!
The grave issue about it here is that the evil and the worst thing has taken the shape of astounding whirlwind of the fake news, fabrication of the alternative facts, media blackmailing and political assaults, combined with the old ladle of provincial savagery, has outstripped and surpassed any boundaries of the most elementary humanity. The society’s daily blood poisoning has become the norm and facts are seen as opinions, while opinions are imposed as facts with inconsolable anger, malice and hatred. They raise outcry when you propose to impose some legal rules before this avalanche of unprecedented wickedness would bury every human value and every norm of social coexistence, burying like a dead dog the whole endeavour and hard work of our parents and our schools to educate children! However, this is not the goal of this long comment.
Today, I would like to insist on facts! Hopeless that someone would ever show up and apologize to Luiza Gega, because offering an apology to the readers is out of question. But, being however confident that facts are still valuable to those who still respect themselves and the evidence-based truth.
FIRST, there are no longer abandoned sports protagonists now, but a system of rewards and remunerations for these protagonists is already in place, after being approved under a government decision long time ago and pursuant to which:
In 2021, 14 protagonists, seven sportsmen and sportswomen and their trainers have benefited a bonus according to their performance results in international sports competitions. A total of 22 individuals, 22 sportsmen and sportswomen and 22 coaches have benefited in 2022 for high results in international sports tournaments. Likewise, for the first time, special bonuses have been granted to sports protagonists, including runner Luiza Gega, for winning Balkan championship.
SECOND, there are no more spontaneous rewards for those honouring the national red and black flag in the international sports arena and there are no longer delays in granting due payments under the respective government decision. Find the attached Council of Ministers’ decision, which I am convinced that the professional haters showing up on TV screens and news portals, who wish and strive to stain Albania’s image as much as possible, and who used even Luiza Gega’s triumph to pour it as a tar over the political adversary, won’t read it: https://qbz.gov.al/eli/vendim/2021/12/15/789/024170e9-1ddf-429b-b0f6-8705f4bd33ff
THIRD, not only rewards are paid out to sportsmen for high results, but also a permanent bonus for Albanian sportsmen winning international championship titles, including Kosovo sportsmen and sportswomen! Based on an earlier government decision on “On the criteria, the method of reward and the benefits of treatment for the training of athletes, who are entitled to the high level status,” the following prominent sportsmen and sportswomen have been employed by the Ministry of Defense:
1.Athlete Luiza GEGA.
- Weightlifter Briken CALJA.
- Judoka Nora GJAKOVA.
- Judoka Distria KRASNIQI.
- Judoka Indrit ÇULLHAJ.
- Athlete Ilir KËLLEZI.
- Weightlifter Ilirian SULI.
FOURTH, there are no more halts on the path of progress, which also means constant improvements and adjustments of our work to serve the country and the people in this country. Some time ago, the Ministry of Defense forwarded legal changes, which will allow for recruitment of the international champions in the hierarchy of ranks of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Albania and the creation of a special structure, where they will be tasked as mentors of our soldiers, benefiting a monthly wage according to the rank until they retire. These changes serve the long-term exaltation of the red and black champions in promoting and sublimating the name of our country in the international arena. The bill is now being discussed with the relevant institutions, after the public consultation process has completed, it will be included in the parliamentary procedure by mid-September.
The athletes currently employed by the Ministry of Defense and entitled to benefit under the new legislation and currently holders of the colonel rank:
- Luiza GEGA – “Colonel”
- Briken CALJA – “Colonel”
- Nora GJAKOVA – “Colonel”
- Distria KRASNIQI – “Colonel”
AND FINALLY, when it comes to sports, we all owe a debt to this country and its youth, but when it comes to facts about support for sports, no imaginable comparison line can be drawn between these years since our government took office and all the previous years combined. Without exaggerating it, day and night do not even differ as much as these two periods for sports do. We would have certainly wished to do a lot more and sooner, but when recalling where we started from, I praise God that we managed to do what we did. Definitely, in sports too, the difference between where we are and where we should and want to be is still huge.
Concluding, I am convinced that even all these facts won’t succeed in shedding light on the black pitch souls, where the professional hatred of the ill-wishers is born to haunt this country every step of the way, since the day the Albanian alphabet was created. We can’t help but follow the example set by Luiza Gega: RUN FASTER
By Edi Rama
