Behind us are two intense days of competition at the Millennium Team Cadet European Cup Bielsko-Biała 2026. Nearly 800 athletes from 36 countries travelled to Poland, with the arena in Bielsko-Biała once again becoming a meeting point for some of the brightest young talents in European judo. The tournament delivered huge emotions, spectacular contests and countless reminders that the future of the sport looks incredibly promising.
Throughout the weekend, spectators witnessed a remarkably high sporting standard, enormous determination from the young athletes and the atmosphere of a true international judo celebration. There was no shortage of spectacular ippons, dramatic golden score battles or last-second victories that kept the crowd engaged from start to finish.
For many of the young competitors, the opportunity to face Europe’s elite on home soil represented both a valuable learning experience and an important step in their sporting development.
The smooth running of the event, the high organisational standards and the atmosphere created by volunteers and supporters once again confirmed Bielsko-Biała’s place among the most important youth judo events in Europe.
Speaking about the event, Vice President of the Polish Judo Association, Sylwester Gaweł, summed up the atmosphere in one word:
“I think the best word would be ‘energy.’ During the event you could feel it everywhere, on the tatami, in the stands, and in the work of the entire organising team. This is a tournament for young athletes who compete with huge ambition and emotions, while at the same time it is an event of a very high sporting and organisational level. This combination of sporting passion and professionalism creates a truly unique atmosphere.”
With nearly 800 athletes, alongside coaches, referees and officials, the event resembled a small city dedicated entirely to judo for one weekend. Gaweł highlighted the importance of teamwork and experience in delivering an event of this scale.
“You could definitely say that for a few days Bielsko-Biała became the European capital of judo. With such a large number of athletes, coaches, referees, and officials, organising the event resembles running a small city. The key is excellent cooperation between many people and institutions, from the Polish Judo Association and local organisers to volunteers, partners, and technical services.”
He also underlined the long-term value of hosting major international tournaments for the development of Polish judo.
“Definitely yes. Hosting an event of this level in Poland gives our young athletes the opportunity to compete against the best European judoka without the need for long-distance travel. It is a huge sporting and educational value.”
Away from the spotlight of the tatami, a huge team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the tournament ran smoothly. Referees, volunteers and technical staff all played a crucial role throughout the weekend.
Anna Soloducha, Vice Referee Director of the Polish Judo Association, praised the efforts of the refereeing teams during the demanding competition schedule.
“Assessing the work of referees with such a huge number of athletes and bouts is truly a very difficult task. We are talking about matches lasting practically the entire day, where not only knowledge and experience are crucial, but above all concentration and attentiveness maintained for many hours.”
She also explained the complexity behind refereeing an event of this size, where every role contributes to the overall rhythm and quality of the tournament.
“Everything must function like a precise mechanism, according to the rules, in full synchronization and under time pressure.”
Importantly, events such as the Millennium Team” Cadet European Cup also provide young referees with valuable opportunities to develop and prove themselves at a higher level.
“If someone is seriously aiming for a refereeing career beyond the national level, these tournaments are the best moment to verify their skills and draw conclusions for the future.”
The Millennium Team Cadet European Cup Bielsko-Biała 2026 will be remembered as a weekend filled with sporting emotion, international rivalry and youthful passion for judo. For many of the athletes, it marked another important step towards the biggest events on the calendar, with the Cadet European Championships already waiting at the end of June in Gran Canaria.
Author: Ewa Kempka
Author: EJU Media