On the calm December morning when athletes, coaches and families began arriving in Houlgate for divisioning at the EJU Get Together Adapted Judo event, Stéphane Roost stood with pride welcoming all. As the General Manager of the Centre Sportif de Normandie, he carries both responsibility and heartfelt motivation to ensure that every participant feels safe, valued and supported from the very first moment they step onto the campus.
Roost oversees a regional high-performance and multi-purpose sports centre where the event is held and that stretches across two sites in Houlgate and Caen. With its large dojo, integrated sports-health services and on-site accommodation, the centre is designed to nurture the whole sporting community, professionals and newcomers alike. “Our mission is to support athletes, coaches and organisations in their pursuit of performance, innovation and, of course, inclusion,” he explains. In Houlgate, this mission comes to life in the most tangible way.
A Perfect Home for Adapted Judo
Hosting the Get Together Adapted Judo event feels natural for both Roost and for the region as the venue’s compact campus, with sports halls, medical facilities, catering and lodging all within easy reach, creates an environment where athletes with disabilities can focus on what truly matters: the joy of judo, shared learning and the spirit of the event.
“We can offer both a professional level of organisation and a warm human atmosphere,” he says. This balance is what makes Houlgate stand out. This is a place where excellence and empathy work hand in hand.
A Milestone for France and for Normandy
It is the first time the EJU Get Together Tour arrives in France and Normandy has embraced the honour wholeheartedly. As the General Manager, Roost carries both fulfilment and responsibility. “It is an opportunity to show that we are fully committed to para and adapted sport,” he notes, emphasising that the region is ready to contribute meaningfully to Europe’s most inclusive judo programme.
The event reflects what the Centre Sportif de Normandie stands for. Inclusion is not a slogan here, it is woven into the centre’s daily work with elite athletes, developing talents and people with disabilities alike. Collaborating with the European Judo Union, France Judo and the Ligue de Normandie de Judo only strengthens this shared mission.
What Awaits Participants in Houlgate
Between 5 and 6 December, the centre transforms into a vibrant meeting point for the adapted judo community, welcoming 200 participants from 12 nations. Houlgate now proudly becomes the newest destination on the EJU Get Together tour, which this year has achieved a record number of participants.
For Roost, this event is also the beginning of something greater. His hope is that the Get Together will spark long-term development in adapted judo and para-sport across Normandy. More camps, more educational opportunities, more international exchanges. “If participants leave with great memories and the desire to come back, then we will have done our job.”
A Personal Connection to Normandy
Although not born in the region, Roost speaks of Normandy with unmistakable affection. It is the place of his childhood memories, family roots and now his professional mission. Advocating for the Centre Sportif de Normandie is, for him, both duty and honour. “It means a lot to me to be able to contribute to the attractiveness of the region,” he reflects.
Roost’s own sporting path began in football and rowing. Though he realised early that he would not reach the elite level, sport has remained the compass guiding his life. From the Stade de France to Paris Saint-Germain and later Toulouse Football Club, he has gathered experience across the diverse landscape of French sport. Now, he brings that experience and those values to Houlgate, where inclusion and performance walk side by side.
Author: Szandra Szogedi