Not only 396 judoka from 30 nations were put to the test last weekend as part of the Junior European Cup at the Raiffeisen Sports Park in Graz, but also 30 referees from 20 nations (from A for Azerbaijan to U for USA). IJF Head Referee Director Florin Daniel LASCAU, EJU counterpart Alexandr JATSKEVITCH and EJU Commissioners Cathy MOUETTE and Franc OCKO and IJF Referee Commission Secretary Tonino CHYURLIA took the three-day test. They had to pass an oral and written theory section as well as a practical test (as part of the two-day Junior European Cup).
Of the 26 referees who passed the IJF Continental Examination, no fewer than 24 were European. ‘It hurts me personally to see sad referees. Four did not pass the exam. I have to say something about the 24 new European IJF referees. We are pleased about the great interest and thank them for their commitment. The majority of the successful candidates still need to develop in order to be able to officiate at the European Open,’ said Alexandr Jatskevitch. ‘The level of judo in Graz was exceptional and the organisation ran smoothly. We can generally be very satisfied with the weekend.’
The IJF has already announced that the IJF Continental Test will also be held in Graz in the next three years.
The new IJF Continental Referees at a glance: Angelina Adina ADINAIEV (ISR), Lisa Ann CAPRIOTTI, Tracy Michelle CRAWFORD (USA), Ilaria FORTINI (ITA), Dominika KINCELOVA (SVK), Natasha Maria MASLEN (GBR), Tanja MIJAJLOVIC (MNE), Danijela MUCIBABIC (BIH), Ana Isabel SILVA GARCIA (ESP), Maria TREPINSKI (FRA); Stephan BENEDEK (AUT), Philipp GEISLER (GER), Parviz HUSEYNOV, Mehman IMAMGULIYEV (both AZE), Natan LITMANOVIC (ISR), Stefan MAJDOV, Nemanja MALBASKI (SRB), David PÜHRINGER (AUT), Pawel RADGOWSKI (POL), Didac RODRIGUEZ SEVILLANO (ESP), Daniel SACK (GER), Andrii SEREDA (UKR), Niklas Göran STRANDBERG (SWE), Robert William TROJNAR (CZE), Thibault Michel Pierre VASSEUR (FRA), Mattheus Frederica J. VERMEULEN (NED).
Author: EJU Media