FIP Platinum Albania, the show arrives in Skanderbeg Square from 26 to 30 May. Carraro: “Padel as a driver of tourism, our champions will experience unique emotions in a unique venue”. Gonxhja: “An important opportunity for the country: benefits for both sport and the economy”

For the first time in its history, Albania is preparing to host one of the most prestigious tournaments on the International Padel Federation circuit. FIP Platinum arrives in Tirana: from 26 to 30 May, the iconic Skanderbeg Square will become the home of Padel, a sport that has achieved global status at a record pace.

 

FIP Platinum Albania, organised in synergy between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Albanian Padel Federation and the International Padel Federation, will, for one week, host some of the best male and female players in the world. With free entry to the stands of the centre court and the three additional courts that will be set up in Skanderbeg Square, high-level competition and entertainment are guaranteed. FIP Platinum Albania will represent a major opportunity to discover Padel and to strengthen the country’s image as a destination for leading international sporting events.

 

The tournament was presented today at a press conference attended by the Albanian Minister of Sport, Tourism and Culture, Blendi Gonxhja, and the President of the International Padel Federation, Luigi Carraro.

 

“FIP Platinum Albania is not only a competition, but also a concrete demonstration of the country’s organisational capabilities, both at national and local level. It sends a message of openness towards the world’s best athletes, coaches, experts and international media, and contributes to making the country more visible and competitive on the global sporting stage”, said the Albanian Minister of Sport, Tourism and Culture, Blendi Gonxhja. “Although it is a relatively new sport, Padel has experienced extraordinary growth in recent years across Europe and worldwide: countries such as Spain, Italy and Sweden show how it has become a true sporting and social phenomenon. This success stems from the fact that Padel is accessible, dynamic, social and suitable for all ages. For Albania, this tournament represents an important opportunity, especially considering the large number of young people and their interest in new sports. Padel is not seen only as a sporting discipline, but also as a tool to increase citizens’ participation in physical activity, promote a healthy lifestyle and create more active communities. A key element of the initiative is investment in sports infrastructure. Four Padel courts will be built for the tournament, but they will not be temporary structures: they will remain as a lasting legacy and will be used by the Albanian federation to further develop the sport in the country. These facilities will allow the organisation of further national and international events, the development of new talents and the strengthening of the sports system”.

 

Minister Gonxhja also broadened the scope beyond sport: “The benefits of the event are multiple: the FIP Platinum will increase Albania’s international visibility, promote tourism, generate flows of visitors and consumers, and support sectors such as hotels, transport and catering. This translates into economic revenue for the territory and the development of sports tourism, which is increasingly important in modern economies. Another relevant aspect is education: involving young people in sporting activities brings them closer to new environments and opportunities, encourages an active lifestyle and keeps them away from negative situations such as crime or marginalisation. Cooperation between institutions, local authorities, federations and international partners has been fundamental in organising this event: only by working together can high organisational standards and lasting results be achieved. The FIP Platinum Albania can represent a turning point for the development of Padel in Albania, also stimulating new public and private investments and creating new sports facilities, including in urban and tourist areas”.

 

“For me, it is a great honour to be here to present the first historic FIP Platinum Albania”, said the President of the International Padel Federation, Luigi Carraro. “I would like to start with my thanks. I would like to thank your outstanding Prime Minister Edi Rama: a person who loves Albania, promotes Albania and is truly a friend of sport. Thank you to Minister Blendi Gonxhja for your practical, swift and pragmatic approach, and for your commitment, even on New Year’s Day, to ensure that this event could be organised. We were already in Albania in 2023 with a smaller tournament; we are very pleased to return with the most important one, the FIP Platinum”.

 

Carraro then highlighted the figures that are establishing Padel among the most popular sports: “Padel today has more than 35 million players, it is played in over 170 countries and broadcast in more than 190 countries. These figures give you an idea of the impact this event will have: tourism and sport must go hand in hand, because through sporting events, in this case the FIP Platinum in Albania, we will have the opportunity to promote Albanian tourism for two reasons. A large number of people will come here, not only athletes, their families, their teams, coaches and physiotherapists, but also fans and enthusiasts from neighbouring countries to watch this tournament. For those who cannot attend, there will be the opportunity to follow the FIP Platinum Albania through international television distribution, with Albania featured in every broadcast image, as the tournament bears its name. And then there is the venue: there is no Padel tournament location as beautiful as the one we will have here. The square is magnificent, elegant and vibrant, and will allow athletes to compete in an exceptional environment”.

 

FIP Platinum Albania will mark the return of Padel to Europe after a month of May in South America between Asunción and Buenos Aires. “We have been in Riyadh, Miami, Brussels and Egypt. Upon returning to Europe, we will have the Major in Rome, then Valencia, then Paris, and we will also come to Albania, with great pride. It will be an edition that will go down in history, in the most beautiful venue in the world. We are coming here for the first time, but our intention is to remain here for the future”.

 

To stay updated on the FIP Platinum Albania, the official tournament website, www.fipplatinumalbania.com, and the Instagram profile (https://www.instagram.com/fipplatinumalbania/) are now live.