At the end of the Triglav Insurance Get Together Tournament in Kortrijk, there was little sense of an ending. Instead, it felt like a beginning, one shaped by emotion, unity, and a renewed sense of purpose. At the heart of it all stood the President of the Belgian Judo Federation, Peter Vermeir, immersed in every moment. From the stands to the tatami, in a suit and in judogi, his presence reflected the spirit of the event itself: hands-on, human and deeply invested. We caught up with him moments after the last medal ceremony.
The tournament is officially over. What is going through your mind?
Peter Vermeir: “You know, the first time that I met Laszlo Toth [President of the EJU], he told me that when you organise something for adapted judo, you will cry. I think it was an emotional day, it was very good. [Peter pauses, sharing tears.] For me, it was an emotional day, also for the Belgian Judo Federation.”
What motivated you and your team to bring this event to life?
PV: “You know, it’s very strange, when we ask in Belgium to organise something, something great happens. It’s teamwork. As you know, we have two federations, the Flemish part and the French part, and it’s the first time in years that we have worked well together. This was the event that we all agreed on without hesitation and that is, as a president, what you want to have, teamwork.
“And also with the team in Kortrijk, they are amazing. There were 60 volunteers helping us with the organisation, and that’s a great job, it’s, again, teamwork. As a president, you need to support them and motivate them. It’s my job to do it and that is what I did. It was very nice to be part of it all, and I love working with my team.”
Many people noticed how hands-on you were, on and off the mat. How important is it for you to lead by example?
PV: “You know, my professors always said, ‘Peter, when you are in a position, go to the mat and see what’s happening. Then you can help as president of Judo Belgium.’
“And I remember these words every day, go on the field. He told me to ‘make your hands dirty’, and that’s what I try to do every day, from morning to evening.”
You even led a training session. How involved are you in adapted judo more broadly?
PV: “Well, you know, I am involved. I train sometimes on Saturdays. I have a club in Ghent and I often give training to people in adapted judo. I also train high-level judoka. It requires a different mindset.
“And when you teach adapted judo, it is very important. If you can teach adapted judo, you can also teach top-level judoka for high-level competition. You need creativity. Creativity is innovation in sport, trying things out, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Is there a personal connection for you within adapted judo?
PV: “Yes, one of my sons participated today in the competition. He was at level 5. And you know, you are sitting there as an official, you cannot really support them but when you see the happiness in the eyes of a child, that is my involvement. I like that everyone is happy, and I go home with a great story, a great dream that has came true here in Belgium.”
In three words, how would you summarise this event?
“Amazing, amazing, amazing.”
What comes next for Belgian judo after this milestone?
PV: “I think for the Belgian Judo Federation, we need to take the next step on the international level. For years, there was no participation from Belgium in the EJU or the IJF. We need to make that step and I think this is the first step we have taken. We also have the Medical Congress in Belgium in October, and we need to move forward step by step. We are preparing for that and as I said, we have a great team, everything is possible.”
Any final thoughts?
PV: “Not for the moment. I am very emotional right now and I look forward to working with the European Judo Union at a high level, and to seeing everyone next week at the European Championships in Georgia.”
In Kortrijk, leadership did not sit behind a desk, it stood on the mat, listened, lifted, and learned. Perhaps that is why, when asked to summarise it all, the answer came so easily:
Amazing.
Author: Szandra Szogedi