As Podgorica prepares to host the European Judo Championships 2025, Catarina RODRIGUES, the European Judo Union (EJU) Vice President, has been overseeing the meticulous process that ensures Montenegro is ready for this prestigious event. Mrs Rodrigues, who is currently in Podgorica for a site inspection, shared insights into the selection process, the progress made, and what lies ahead for the local organising committee.
“Once we had the bids and the allocation of the host city for the European Championships 2025, we agreed internally to develop the organisational team in Montenegro. This is our flagship event and we understood that the country, under the current federation, hasn’t hosted any EJU event before, so we needed to build the team, guide, and support them throughout the process.”- Mrs Rodrigues explains.
“The first step in this plan involved Montenegro hosting two European Cups, a junior and a senior event in 2024. This strategy was essential in allowing both the EJU and the local team to identify strengths and areas needing improvement. Both Cups went well this year and before the European Championships 2025, Montenegro will host another senior Cup in March 2025 to test the venue that will be used for our prime event,” – she further explains.
Mrs Rodrigues emphasised that while many aspects of the organisation have already been successfully tested, there are still some areas to fine-tune. “To date, we were able to test most elements except the venue and transportation. This year’s tournaments took place at the hotel where delegations stayed so transportation wasn’t an issue. We will be able to refine these aspect during the senior Cup in March.”
EJU Vice-President, Mrs Rodrigues’ current visit marks her second time in Podgorica, and she extended her stay beyond the competition to provide detailed support. “I will spend time going through details and visiting key sites such as hotels and the venue. This isn’t the official inspection visit yet, that will be done with a larger EJU team to cover all areas, from sport sector to venue management, protocol, etc.”
Whilst there is still plenty work to be done, Mrs Rodrigues praised the local organising committee of their dedication and willingness to learn. “They have taken a very serious approach to the challenge. They even took their team to Zagreb to learn more about hosting major events. They have strong leaders in each sector but they will need to expand their team for the senior event, as it requires more manpower compared to the Cups. Moreover, The Montenegrin Judo Federation was also attentive from the beginning in seeking help from experienced neighbours like Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Recognising that you need help and asking for it is a strength and it shows a good attitude.”
Next year is set to be significant for the EJU, with several prime events taking place in new locations. In addition to Montenegro hosting the Senior European Championships, North Macedonia will host the Cadet European Championships, and Moldova will host the U23 Europeans. Mrs Rodrigues explained the possibilities for smaller nations as such in organising major events whilst stressing that government support is crucial.
“The allocation of these Europeans involves several factors but the primary consideration is that the local government supports the idea of hosting such events. These events come with a high budget and without government backing, it’s not possible to host them.”
With Montenegro’s government on board and the local organising committee steadily gaining experience and expertise, the 2025 European Judo Championships in Podgorica is shaping up to be a pioneering event. Mrs Rodrigues’ guidance and the collaboration between the EJU and Montenegro’s team ensure that the groundwork is being laid for a successful and memorable tournament.
Author: Szandra Szogedi