The moment we have all been waiting for is almost here. In a few hours, the first set of referees will enter the contest area, followed by the athletes and coaches. These athletes will soon be known as Olympians, while their coaches will be officially recognised as Olympic coaches. In a few hours, the Champ-de-Mars Arena will be filled with judo fans. As we prepare to rest up before watching our favourites, we would like to share the final thoughts from EJU President Dr TOTH Laszlo.
A lot has happened in the world in the last 3 short years since the Tokyo Olympics, but I am more than proud to say that our judo community has held together strongly. Over the past two years of Olympic qualification, the journey of European judoka, and indeed all judoka, has been nothing short of extraordinary. Despite some unprecedented challenges, our athletes have shown dedication and excellence in their quest to secure their place in Paris.
The relentless spirit and dedication of our athletes, coaches and support teams has been truly inspiring, resulting in outstanding performances at numerous successful qualifying events around the world. As we look forward to the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, I am filled with great pride and optimism. We have many European athletes seeded number 1 and many more in the top 8. Their incredible hard work and skill will undoubtedly serve them well on the world’s biggest stage.
I am confident that European judo will achieve significant results at the Olympic Games, demonstrating the depth of talent and strength of our community. Our judoka will be competing against the highest calibre of opponents from Asia, Pan-America, Africa and Oceania, each of whom will present a very demanding challenge. This competition will require the highest level of performance, but as President of the EJU, I am confident that our athletes are ready to rise to the occasion.
I extend my heartfelt best wishes to the volunteers, athletes, coaches, organisers and all those involved in this historic event. May everyone’s hard work and dedication be rewarded. Let us celebrate together and make the Paris 2024 Olympic Games unforgettable.
Author: Szandra Szogedi