2023 will be the year of Sport for Tirana. As the capital is close to the end of the year as "European Youth Capital 2022", the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, informed this Monday that in 2023 Tirana will hold the title of "European City of Sport". 

Veliaj said that after tireless work, Tirana managed to win another title, which will give a special focus, this time to sports. 

"Today is a fantastic day for our Tirana. We worked hard, to get to this day. We had one of the most beautiful weightlifting championships in Europe, we have champions, like Brikeni and Erkandi – I am very proud of all the work that has been done. I am very proud that our wrestling team, as well as Zelimkhan Abakarov, who is today the World Champion, has the opportunity to train in wrestling gyms. The Albanian Olympic Committee is here and I am glad that today, with the work of Fidel and his fantastic team, we are at the highest levels. For a small country that has produced European champions, world champions, Balkan champions, it is also a compliment to the fantastic work done by the Olympic Committee. Today we are in a situation where, with the rewards, with the way the municipality and the ministry work, we have really done something wonderful. After all these works, you know that we have always tried to raise the name of Tirana. This year we are the "European Youth Capital" - we are not perfect, but we have been original. We have produced an infinity of activities for the youth and they will not end until the end of the year. But, today for the sports community, I have an extraordinary pleasure, a great honor and an indescribable privilege, because we have just been informed, I can tell you that Tirana has been declared "European City of Sports 2023", said Veliaj.