With fewer than 100 days remaining until Georgia welcomes Europe’s elite judoka, preparations for the European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 are proceeding smoothly. A three-person delegation from the EJU, comprising Catarina Rodrigues, EJU Vice President for Sport, Janity Tibor, Head of Event Management and Broadcasting and Toth Fanni, Assistant to the President, visited the Georgian capital to ensure all arrangements are progressing on schedule.
The two-day inspection visit was successfully concluded, with Ms Rodrigues providing the following assessment:
“We confirmed that the official hotels are of high quality, providing all necessary services and appropriate conditions for athletes and delegations.
“Although the venue is the same as the Grand Slam, each event has its own individual concept. We therefore agreed on several layout adjustments. These changes align with our commitment to providing athletes and coaches with improved flow and experience, whilst also offering guests and spectators enhanced comfort.
“The team also visited potential locations for the official gala. Following all site visits, we had the opportunity to visit the Judo Academy and federation headquarters, where we held a productive meeting with representatives of the Georgian national federation and Local Organising Committee (LOC) members. We reviewed all operational needs, protocols and athlete services in considerable detail. Despite their extensive experience, the Georgian team remained very receptive to our recommendations.
“The LOC is fully committed to making this event a benchmark for all future European Championships. In a land of Olympic and world champions, with the renowned passion of Georgian fans and a highly experienced organising team, we are looking forward to a truly memorable event.”
David Kevkhishvili, First Vice President of the Georgian Judo Federation, shared his reflections on both the inspection visit and the upcoming championships:
“First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the President of the EJU, Dr László Tóth, for his trust and support, demonstrated by the decision to award Georgia the hosting rights for the 2026 Senior European Championship. This represents yet another recognition of Georgian judo and will undoubtedly be reflected in future successes.
“On 15–16 January, the first official inspection visit took place. During the visit, we reviewed all major and minor details, from welcoming guests to their accommodation and ensuring their overall comfort throughout their time in Georgia during the European Championship. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to each member of the delegation for their highly professional work and valuable guidance.
“I would like to particularly highlight the support of EJU Vice President Catarina Rodrigues in relation to the organisation of the European Championship. This was her second visit to Georgia, which allowed us to address matters more efficiently and thoroughly.
“I must also acknowledge the strong support of the Minister of Sport, Mr Shalva Gogoladze and the Government of Georgia as a whole, in ensuring the successful organisation of this major event at the highest level. This support is reflected both in financial backing and in prompt, professional assistance across all other matters.
“Overall, preparations are proceeding according to plan. In the near future, we will receive an official schedule and action plan from the inspection group, which will be thoroughly analysed and implemented accordingly.
“We have all been waiting a long time for this championship to return home, since 2009 when we last hosted such a tournament. As I mentioned, this represents trust and recognition of Georgian judo, its members, and especially Georgian judo fans who remain devoted to our sport and athletes.
“Personally, I am delighted that our team was able to achieve this honour and truly earned it. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to each and every member, as without our collective dedication and the tremendous effort we invested together, this would not have been possible.”
The European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 will take place from 16-19 April. Stay tuned for all information relating to this prestigious event.
Author: Szandra Szogedi