On Thursday evening, things got a little hectic in the hall in Mittersill (AUT). EJU Vice President Otto KNEITINGER, Salzburg’s Provincial Sports Councillor Martin ZAUNER, Mittersill Mayor Wolfgang VIERTLER and Judo Austria President Martin POIGER were joined by IJF President Marius VIZER, who took to the microphone to wish both athletes and coaches “a happy and successful New Year”. He then found time for a brief interview.
What brings you to Mittersill?
Marius Vizer: “Mittersill is the number one training camp in the world. I have been here many times, first as President of the European Judo Union and most recently in my role as President of the World Judo Federation. I was on holiday (30 km away) in Kitzbühel and came to congratulate the local organisers and the Austrian Judo Federation on the 30th anniversary of the Olympic Training Camp.”
How do you feel going into the 2024 Olympic year?
Vizer: “It will be a particularly intense year for us. The state of the Olympic preparations could – frankly speaking – be better, some things are not going one hundred per cent according to plan. But I hope it will be successful Games for Europe. As IJF President, I am of course fundamentally neutral, but it would be helpful for the event if the Games were held in a peaceful atmosphere and the Europeans were successful. At the moment, we can assume that all nations will compete in Paris. That would be in the spirit of the sport. We must not forget the World Championships in Abu Dhabi in May – as the final highlight of the Olympic qualification. Judo at the highest level will be on offer there too.”
When will we next see you in Austria?
Vizer: “Even if I’m currently living in Budapest, Austria is and will remain my home and both my children are Austrian. You can assume that I will be at the Upper Austria Grand Prix in Linz at the beginning of March. I’m looking forward to it…”
Author: EJU Media