This week the EJU OTC in Mittersill was opened by EJU president Sergey Soloveychik. More than 400 participants are training in the Austrian mountain area and next week more judoka will follow after the IJF World Masters in Baku.
The OTC in Mittersill is one of the nine expected training centres this year in Europe. Mittersill was also a combination of the European Referee Seminar where coaches came together to debate and practise about the new rules and innovative discussions to improve judo.
Also many coaches were present to join the training and improve the skills. In the beautiful environment of healthy air and sunny circumstances the judoka had the perfect training accomodation in the good sports hotel in Mittersill. Not only federations, but also club coaches and their pupils took advantage to train with the best athletes in Europe.
A strong team of Russia was present, one of the leading nations participating at OTC’s. As well as a big team from Germany, obviously many Austrian judoka and team from Israel, Slovenia, Italy, Belgium, Ukraine, Switzerland and Hungary.
When new teams arrive after Baku the number of partipants will reach more than 700 this year.
The Directing Committee of the European Judo Union was present to have their meetings near Mittersill and were able to open the training camp on Monday.
The EJU is setting up the OTC’s for the rest of the year and many federations have already committed to organise such training centre in order to raise the level of European judo. Europe is in a heavy battle with the other continents where Asia is remarkably strong. The bigger countries benefit from the fact that two judoka can participate in one category, but for the Olympics that rule is not applicable. This year the EJU follows with the double participation at its own European Championships.
Scheduled OTC’s in 2011:
08-21 Jan, Mittersill, AUT
10-19 Mar, Nymburk, CZE
21-25 Mar, Tata, HUN
10-25 May, Orenburg, RUS
2-9 Jul, Perpignan, FRA
17-22 Minsk, Minsk, BLR
08-12 Aug, Dartford, GBR
16-30 Oct, Rome, ITA
04-11 Nov, Madrid, ESP
Dates can still be changed, follow our calendar for updates
European judoka ranked in the top of the World Ranking List will be supported to participate. Sports Director of the EJU Densign White who is responsible for the OTC’s will communicate a list of athletes soon for the forthcoming training centres. Also the EJU will support some of the smaller states to join. All nominations will be judged and reconsidered a few times per year and communicated via our website.
For pictures of the OTC in Mittersill visit our media gallery:
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