After almost three weeks of exciting sporting action, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will come to an end with the Closing Ceremony at the Stade de France in the late hours of Sunday 11 August (CET). The Closing Ceremony will be live-streamed and broadcast around the world.
Unlike the Opening Ceremony, which took place along the River Seine, the Closing Ceremony will be a more traditional event, held inside a full-capacity stadium with 80,000 spectators. The ceremony will honour the athletes’ achievements and celebrate the successful hosting by the city of Paris. In the coming hours, the world will reflect on all the memories of the past few weeks. Joining that, Dr TOTH Laszlo, President of the European Judo Union.
As President of the European Judo Union, I am more than proud to reflect on the incredible achievements of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Champ-de-Mars Arena was filled with unforgettable moments that will undoubtedly go down in the history of judo. We saw exciting and very entertaining fights from all the top judoka.
This event was not only a triumph for France, but also a monumental achievement for European judo. Europe won 7 of the 14 Olympic titles and the mixed team gold medal, with 31 of the 56 individual medals going to European athletes. While these results are undoubtedly incredible and commendable, we can’t be too presumptuous, as we have seen many nations from other continents on the rise, thanks in part to the guidance of some talented European coaches, it is clear that judo is thriving internationally.
Many of our athletes won their and their nation’s first Olympic medal in judo, and we had many new and already legendary champions, showcasing the depth and diversity of talent within European judo.
We witnessed incredible moments of true sportsmanship as athletes interacted with each other after and during their bouts to achieve their dreams, embodying the principles of judo that we hold so highly. This 8-day celebration of our sport, where judo was truly on a different level, will undoubtedly be one of my most cherished judo events that I have been fortunate enough to attend.
The Mixed Team event was nothing short of extraordinary, with Team France triumphing over the formidable Team Japan. This victory on home soil was particularly special given the anticipation of a rematch after Tokyo 2020.
The organisation of the event has been exceptional, with the International Olympic Committee and the International Judo Federation devoting outstanding efforts to make these Olympic Games a lifelong experience. The IJF team, led by President Marius Vizer, achieved an incredible mission despite all the difficulties and hurdles that arose during the demanding preparations. This dream event came true thanks to everyone’s hard work and diligence in the face of difficulties.
The Paris 2024 Games set the stage for many new judo legends. It was an event that in many ways symbolised the passing of the torch. As we look forward to the next four years, we look forward to seeing these athletes continue to inspire and achieve.
Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to all the EJU National Federations for their hard work over the past 3 years. I wish everyone in our judo family good health and continued success in the future! Thank you very much!
Images: Gabi Juan
Author: Szandra Szogedi