TIRANA, Aug  22 /ATA/ The European athletics champion Luiza Gega was received on Monday in a ceremony at the “Mother Teresa” international airport in Tirana.

In attendance of the reception ceremony were Minister of Education and Sports, Evis Kushi, Minister for Children and Youth, Bora Muzhaqi, the President of the Albanian National Olympic Committee, Fidel Ylli, etc.

In her remarks, Minister Kushi said that “Luiza represents much more than a European champion in athletics. She is an excellent role model not only in sports but in every facet of ​​life. Luiza is the source of inspiration for every young Albanian, because perseverance is the key. This year has been full of important events for sport.”

World Cup, Conference League Final, European Weightlifting Championship. These sporting events contribute to the promotion of Albania, to the development of tourism and the Albanian economy. The participation of our athletes in important sporting events in the world has been rewarding. Championships, Olympic Games, Mediterranean Games. And the results have been like never before, Albania is rising to a new level in the international arena,” Kushi emphasized.

For her part, the European Champion Luiza Gega said: “Thank you very much for this reception, I feel very appreciated. Maybe I’m absolutely worn out to be here today, I’ve put in a lot of work and sacrifice for many years to be here not under compulsion but out of desire, I chose to represent myself, but also the colors of my flag, and I will try every day to represent my country with dignity.”

“Today I am more proud than ever of  my flag colors, that was also the reason why I was moved to tears at the finish line, as the victory all of the sudden brought me back to the effort and sacrifice made over the years. I showed Europe that we can make it even though we are a small country with a long way to go, yet if we work hard and love this country and what we do, we can succeed.”

“I have felt the change in sports over these years and my results are the best proof of it, even the law on sports, the bonus have given me an impetus to be here because the effort is incentivized, but also the support from the Olympic Committee or the Ministry of Education and Sports, even Ministry of Defense where I am part of, or even the municipality of Tirana. The medal which was missing in athletics is credited to all the above mentioned,”  said Gega.

The president of the Albanian National Olympic Committee, Fidel Ylli, said that “Luiza Gega made all Albanians around the world proud.” Luiza is a role model for  young Albanians. Athletes are the best ambassadors of Albania and we should welcome them all in this way.”

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