Serbian judo lovers completed a week of judo which was designed as Zvezda’s First Judo Festival. The timing couldn’t be any better as Serbia will host a European Judo Cup this upcoming weekend. The hall of Crvena Zvezda Sports Association was crammed up with all participants in Zvezda’s First Judo Festival. The promotion of the Olympic sport took place in the heart of Ljutice Bogdana street gathered at one place with champions from the red-white community. Starting from former trophy-winning member of the national team and now President of Serbian Judo Federation, Mr. Ivan Todorov to U23 European Champion, Milica Nikolić, double Junior European champion, Nemanja Majdov and Strahinja Bunčić. Zvezda’s First Judo Festival included different judo school demonstrations as part of the introduction to the upcoming European Judo Cup in Serbia.
“Crvena Zvezda Judo Club has over 250 members. With this promotion we wish to have as many children as possible included in judo. It is known that judo is a skill thanks to which they will gain important knowledge. The most important thing is that they practice and grow up into good people and we are confident that some of them will win champion titles in the future”, Mr. Todorov pointed out.
The experienced marketing team of Crvena Zvezda sports association is in charge of the excellent organisation of Zvezda’s First Judo Festival. “I would like to thank Zoran Avramović, Marketing Director of Crvena Zvezda sports association for the excellent organisation of Zvezda’s Judo Festival. This is also the best invitation for all who love our sport to attend the European Senior Judo Cup. We expect our competitors will achieve great results. In December we will host the Champions’ Cup, when we expect to repeat the success achieved two years ago when we ranked third. Bearing in mind that we will compete at home, we are confident that we can achieve even more than that” – Mr. Todorov concluded.
U23 European Champion, Milica Nikolić, responded with greatness for new members of the red-white community: “It feels good to be a part of this great manifestation. I made my first steps on tatami exactly here in Crvena Zvezda. I am proud to see a great number of young judokas who will practice judo here with us in Ljutice Bogdana street. I am happy because I can give a good example to all these young judokas, to help them become even better than I am.”
Young judokas were eager to test their skills with double Junior European Champion and member of Crvena Zvezda Judo Club, Nemanja Majdov: “It is a true spectacle, a great promotion and an important event for judo and for sport in Serbia in general. Crvena Zvezda is a large family that builds champions. The children had an opportunity to practice and throw real European champions. The intention of Zvezda’s Judo Festival was to motivate them. To show the young competitors and new members that if they work hard and practice, all is possible. Judo is a beautiful sport. It develops body and soul, teaching you to be the strongest when it is the most needed. You can make your dreams come true if you believe in them.”
Guests were attending from all different areas and places, including representatives of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Serbia. “We are delighted with the idea and the organisation of the manifestation. I would like to point out that judo is a presidential sport in Russia. I wish to point to excellent, friendly relations between Russia and Serbia which, also, reflect on the cooperation in judo. I would like to add, also, that we have developed an excellent cooperation with Crvena Zvezda and I am confident that our relations can only improve. I hope that we will organise more manifestations as fine as this one, promoting sport not only in Serbia, but also jointly in Russia”, said the Deputy Director of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Serbia, Mr. Vasily Galaktionov.
The idea on the organisation of the Judo Festival came from the marketing team of Crvena Zvezda Sports Association, which organises all activities of the red-white community. “The realisation of the very idea of having judo in Belgrade started in the hall of Crvena Zvezda Sports Association. We are satisfied that Zvezda’s First Judo Festival passed well with European Champions such as Milica Nikolić, Nemanja Majdov and Strahinja Bunčić . Young judokas and new members had an opportunity to test their skills with the champions and Serbia’s most renowned judokas”, said Zoran Avramović, Marketing Director of Crvena Zvezda sports association, adding, “There is willingness and knowledge in Crvena Zvezda to work with the youngest. A great message indeed was sent to the youngest and we sent it altogether, including the President of the Executive Council of Crvena Zvezda sports association Ivan Todorov and all other officials of the association. I would also like to thank the representative of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Serbia Mr. Vasily Galaktionov, who had an opportunity to see how Crvena Zvezda sports association operates. Step by step, we started this Judo Week, with all manifestations, including promotion of judo in schools, with the European Judo Cup to be held in Šumice as the final event. Belgrade is always ready to host great and interesting events.”
