Author: Czech Judo Federation
A record 1,088 participants (527 men, 353 women and 208 accompanying persons) gathered at the Nymburk Sports Centre from 9–16 March 2026 for a joint training camp. Organised by the Czech Judo Federation, the Olympic Training Camp (OTC) in Nymburk marked an unprecedented milestone, becoming the largest event ever held under the federation’s auspices. The absolute world elite assembled on the tatami, led by three reigning Olympic champions from Paris.
The prestige of the Nymburk camp was further underlined by the presence of some of the brightest stars in world judo.
The following athletes took an active part in the training bouts:
Hidayet Heydarov (Azerbaijan) – Olympic champion in the -73 kg category,
Lasha Bekauri (Georgia) – two-time Olympic champion in the -90 kg category,
Zelym Kotsoiev (Azerbaijan) – Olympic champion in the -100 kg category,
Lukáš Krpálek (Czech Republic) – two-time Olympic champion.
The opportunity to test themselves against such elite athletes attracted a record number of international delegations, firmly establishing Nymburk as one of Europe’s key centres for high-performance training.
The leadership of the Czech Judo Federation also seized this opportunity to take a significant step in supporting domestic sport. All nominated Czech judoka participated in the camp entirely free of charge, with accommodation and catering costs fully covered by the federation.
Through this initiative, the federation aims not only to raise the level of competition but above all to strengthen cohesion within the national teams. Time spent together on and off the tatami in such a demanding environment is considered vital for the future success of Czech judo.
“I would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the success of this historic event, from the organising team and coaches to the staff of the Nymburk Sports Centre. Your dedication made it possible to host Olympic champions in conditions that meet the highest international standards.”
Pavel Volek, President of the Czech Judo Federation
The participation of Japanese judoka was also notable. Mr Shinichi Nakamura, President of the Japan Judo Federation, and Mr Inoue Kosei, IJF Sports Director, sent a personal letter to President Volek and the organisers expressing their appreciation for the superbly managed event.
Find the full gallery via the following link. The next EJU OTC will take place in Tata, Hungary, between 30 March – 3 April.
Author: EJU Media