Kosovo Olympic Committee’s 10th Anniversary with the IOC

CELEBRATING A DECADE OF EXCELLENCE

On the night of 9 December, the vibrant city of Pristina hosted a gala dinner to mark a monumental milestone: the 10th anniversary of the Kosovo Olympic Committee’s (KOC) acceptance to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The event celebrated Kosovo’s incredible journey in the international sporting arena, honouring a decade…

10 December 2024

Tokyo Grand Slam 2024 - Tokyo, Japan

KANIKOVSKIY SPOILS JAPAN'S CLEAN SWEEP

On day one of the Tokyo Grand Slam, Japan heard their national anthem played seven times for the seven gold medals won in the lightweight categories, however on day two, the celebrations were somewhat stopped in their tracks. Storming through the -100kg category was current European Champion, Matvey KANIKOVSKIY (IJF),…

8 December 2024

Tokyo Grand Slam 2024 - Tokyo, Japan

FAWAZ AND ZACHOVA CLAIM THEIR FIRST

The odds were stacked against any European glory on day one of the Tokyo Grand Slam 2024 with a small entry from the continent, nevertheless, the odds didn’t write off medallists completely, and for two athletes, it was their first time to take a Grand Slam medal, what better place…

7 December 2024

European Judo Championships U23 (Ind.+MT) 2025 - Chisinau, Moldova

MOLDOVA IS ON THE MAP

Preparations are already well underway for the U23 European Championships 2025 which will be held in just under a year. For the first time, Moldova will host the championship event, welcoming the judo community to Chișinău. This week, Vice President for Sport, Catarina RODRIGUES, Head Sport Commissioner and Sport Assistant,…

6 December 2024

SPAIN'S RETURN TO THE VEINS OF EUROPE

The last senior European Judo Championships held in Spain took place in Oviedo back in 1998. Now, over two decades later, plans are underway for Spain to once again become a central hub for European Judo. EJU President Dr. TOTH László recently held a successful meeting in Las Palmas, Gran…

5 December 2024

WILKOMIRSKI ANNOUNCED NEW PRESIDENT

On the 1st of December, a new board for the Polish Judo Association came in to play. Following a very successful period, this new board will continue the hard work by its predecessors. Announced as the new President of the Polish Judo Association was Krzysztof WILKOMIRSKI. The Vice Presidents and…

3 December 2024

Tokyo Grand Slam 2024 - Tokyo, Japan

IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE

The Tokyo Grand Slam is unlike any other, with the origins of judo rooted in the nation, it is unsurprising that this event brings together some of the best performers in the world, and will conclude the IJF World Judo Tour of 2024. Though there will be some well-known names…

3 December 2024

THE GOLDEN TOUR - CHAPTER 2

Alice BELLANDI has continued her remarkable Golden Tour with recent stops in Castel Maggiore (Bologna) and Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza). Despite slightly lower participation, around 400 on Saturday and 300 on Sunday, the energy and focus of the coaches and athletes were palpable. Reflecting on these events, Alice shared her thoughts…

2 December 2024

SPANISH JUDO SHINES BRIGHT IN EUROPE

The Spanish National Judo Championships, held for the first time in the picturesque setting of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria this weekend, brought together the best of Spain’s judoka for a thrilling day of competition. The event culminated in the annual Gala Dinner, which celebrated not only the achievements of…

1 December 2024

THE GOLDEN TOUR - CHAPTER 1

In October, Andrea REGIS, a board member of the Italian Judo Federation, received a call to plan a celebration for Alice BELLANDI and her remarkable Olympic gold medal from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Together with the marketing team, they devised with the idea of the Golden Tour, a seven-stage…

30 November 2024

NEW ADDITIONS TO IJF ROSTER

It is with great pleasure that the European Judo Union can announce that during 2024, 18 European referees passed examination and received the IJF International license. The three most recent include; Mladen VUKOVIC (BIH), Mathieu DECLARON (FRA) and Vaselieos TOPALIDIS (GRE). Along with this celebration, it has been announced that…

29 November 2024

EJU Ordinary Congress - Budapest, Hungary

FINANCIAL OPERATIONS MOVE TO MALTA

Following the 76th Ordinary Congress of the European Judo Union, it was announced that after a two-year period in Vienna, the Executive Committee decided that with effect 1 January 2025, the Financial Matters and accounting will be transferred to Malta so that they can be under the direct scrutiny of…

28 November 2024

EJU Ordinary Congress - Budapest, Hungary

THE IMPACT OF OTC SUPPORT

For many years now, the European Judo Union have supported athletes from small nations, in the hope and desire to have as many member federations medal at major tournaments as possible. It is our role to provide judoka with equal opportunities and avoid limitations at all costs. In the past,…

28 November 2024

Ljubljana European Open 2025 - Ljubljana, Slovenia

LJUBLJANA IS NEW ADDITION

Opening the European Judo Tour in 2025 will be Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. In a bid to enhance the profile of more nations in Europe, the European Judo Union has created a strategy that places limitations to hold numerous events, and so Slovenia has upgraded from a Senior Cup, to a…

27 November 2024

EC MEETING CONCLUDES WITH A PARLIAMENT TOUR

The European Judo Union (EJU) held its latest Executive Committee meeting with resounding success, marking another chapter in its dedication to the development and promotion of judo across Europe. Following the conclusion of the formal discussions, attendees were treated to an exclusive tour of the Hungarian Parliament, a gesture that…

26 November 2024

Mittersill EJU OTC 2025 - Mittersill, Austria

SIX WEEK COUNTDOWN

Though we still have the Tokyo Grand Slam around the corner, and the European Club Championships: Champions League to finish off 2024, eyes are already moving to the grand opening of 2025. As tradition states, athletes will be flocking to the Austrian OTC in Mittersill, gathering hundreds of athletes from…

26 November 2024

EJU Ordinary Congress - Budapest, Hungary

HISTORIC RECOGNITION

For the first time in the European Judo Union history, there will be two women acting in Vice President roles; Catarina RODRIGUES for Sport and Kristiina PEKKOLA for Education.  Rodrigues has been in the position for some months now, and Pekkola more recently. Now within a new cycle, we find…

25 November 2024

ECC Champions League 2024 - Mixed Team - Montpellier, France

(FAN) STORM ON MONTPELLIER

Will Teddy Riner attend the European Club Championships – Champions League 2024, especially as they are being staged in France at the FDI Stadium in Montpellier on 21 December? Where the Karabatic brothers once wrote French handball history, this year judo history will be written in front of 2,900 spectators.The…

24 November 2024