With just two weeks remaining, excitement is growing across the judo community as Riga prepares to welcome nearly 1000 competitors from 35 countries for the Veteran European Judo Championships 2025. From 21–25 May, Latvia’s capital will host the prime event of the veteran judo calendar, bringing together athletes aged 30 and above.
This year’s championship not only highlights the enduring appeal of judo but also celebrates the strength of the veteran movement, which continues to flourish across Europe. The Latvian Judo Federation is honoured to host this prestigious event and has been working tirelessly to ensure a warm welcome and a high-quality experience for all involved.
Vsevolods Zelonijs, President of the Latvian Judo Federation, shared a heartfelt message ahead of the event:
“Dear Judo Friends,
On behalf of the Latvian Judo Federation and personally, I warmly welcome you to Riga for the European Judo Championships Veterans.
The European Judo Union does an incredible job in developing judo across various sectors, including the important sphere of judo for veterans. Since last year, the European Veteran Cups have been introduced, along with the addition of the ne-waza judo discipline, and it is truly an honour for us to be part of this programme.
Last year, we hosted the first European Veteran Cup in Riga, and this month, we are organising the European Championships for you. We can see how multifaceted and popular judo is across Europe. For many, veteran judo is a great source of motivation, both for achieving personal goals and for staying connected to the judo family.
I would like to extend my gratitude and best wishes to the EJU team and all participants of the European Judo Championships for Veterans here in Riga. Good luck, and may this championship be a memorable experience for everyone involved!”
Provisional Programme
Author: Szandra Szogedi