Albanian Olympic Committee President Viron Bezhani and secretary general Stavri Bello have welcomed two Japanese Parliamentarians, Hiroshi Hase and Minoru Kiuchi, to the body’s headquarters in Tirana ©EOC

Albanian Olympic Committee (KOKSH) President Viron Bezhani and secretary general Stavri Bello have welcomed two Japanese Parliamentarians, Hiroshi Hase and Minoru Kiuchi, to the body’s headquarters in Tirana.

The deputies were accompanied by the Albanian Ambassador to Japan, Gjergji Teneqexhiu, and Japanese Ambassador to Albania, Mokoto Ito.

The meeting took place in the framework of the promotion and preparations for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Bezhani acknowledged the good work of the KOKSH leading up to the Games.

Bello continued his commitment to put forward concrete cooperation opportunities for KOKSH, such as assistance for Olympic education projects in schools as well as the training of officials and athletes in view of Tokyo 2020.

Long jumper Izmir Smajlaj is one of eight Albanian athletes to have recently received an Olympic Solidarity grant for Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
Long jumper Izmir Smajlaj is one of eight Albanian athletes to have recently received an Olympic Solidarity grant for Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

The meeting was also attended by Albanian Wrestling Federation President Martin Biba.

The KOKSH recently organised a special ceremony for the eight athletes receiving an Olympic Solidarity grant for Tokyo 2020.

The athletes are long jumper Izmir Smajlaj, middle-distance runner Luiza Gega, weightlifter Evagjeli Veli, swimmer Nikol Merizaj, judoka Jon Vrenozi, wrestler Eriglent Prizren, taekwondo player Elord Cose, and karateka Xhino Toli.

Scholarship agreements were signed between the KOKSH, athletes and national federations.

Bezhani used the occasion to highlight the continued support from the KOKSH to ensure athletes the best-quality preparations for Tokyo 2020.