Under the soft light filtering through the Italian spring sky, the tatami in Conegliano became a stage not just for competition, but for courage, friendship, and the unyielding spirit of inclusion. The Open European Adapted Judo Championships 2025 and the Conegliano Adapted Judo Tournament have officially drawn to a close, yet the echoes of applause, laughter, and pure determination will linger long after.
Competitors from across Europe, from Level 1 to Level 5, gathered to demonstrate their skills, not as defined by disability, but by possibility. On these mats stood judoka living with autism, cerebral palsy, genetic conditions, and a myriad of other challenges. Yet, as the day unfolded, it became abundantly clear that this was not an event about disability; it was a celebration beyond it.
Among the many distinguished guests witnessing this unique atmosphere was Gévrise Émane, EJU Education Director, who spoke with heartfelt admiration:
“First of all, I want to say thank you to the Italian Judo Federation, the EJU team, the clubs, and the federations who came today for this competition. Thanks to them, we can now say that Adapted Judo, this journey, is not just words; it’s something real, something powerful.
“Judo is able to welcome all people with different medical conditions but it is really more than that. It’s about sharing, it’s about friendship. When I see all the smiles throughout the day, I truly believe we are doing something very good here.
“I really hope that the Get Together Tour tournaments can now take place all across Europe, north, south, east, and west, and eventually lead to one major championship, a kind of grand finale for this movement. I also hope we can involve even more judoka, and encourage more national federations to host and support these events, because what we offer here is more than just judo, it is community, growth, and inclusion.”
Building on the success of Conegliano, several key priorities have been identified to continue strengthening adapted judo in Europe. Emane further shared that EJU aims to digitalise the pool sheets and draw process to, while also improving the geographical balance of Get Together Tour events across Europe to enhance accessibility and visibility. Regular training programmes for coaches and referees will continue to promote a shared understanding of the EJU’s adapted judo philosophy. At the same time, the development of new partnerships and sponsorships will be crucial in securing the sport’s long-term growth and inclusivity.
What emerged in Conegliano was a vibrant mosaic of diversity, proof that adapted judo has the power to unite people in ways few other sports can. As the medal ceremony brought the event to an official close, there was no sense of ending, only a sense of beginning.
The final bow was a promise: that the spirit of adapted judo would continue to spread, from one dojo to another, from one heart to the next. In Italy, judo wasn’t merely practised, it was lived, loved, and shared without limits.
Author: Szandra Szogedi