On 4 September, European Judo Union President, Dr Tóth László, held a formal meeting with Rudolf Huliak, Minister of Tourism and Sport for Slovakia, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Bratislava. Also in attendance was Jozef Tománek, Vice-President of the Slovak Judo Federation and Head of the Local Organising Committee of the Junior European Championships 2025.
The discussion centred on the shared commitment to advancing the sport of judo in Slovakia, both at the elite and grassroots levels. A personal highlight of the meeting was the revelation that Minister Huliak himself is a former judoka, bringing unique insight and appreciation to the conversation.
Reflecting on the meeting, President Tóth stated:
“It was a very successful discussion with the Minister of Sports of Slovakia. We addressed the outstanding organisation of the Junior European Championships, which, according to participants and the wider European Judo community, has significantly enhanced the image of both Slovak judo and Slovak sport more broadly. Beyond elite performance, we also spoke about how to further integrate judo into everyday life.”
Both parties explored the potential for hosting major international judo events in Slovakia. Among the possibilities discussed was the Senior European Judo Championships in 2029, signalling a strong ambition to build on the nation’s growing reputation as a reliable and capable organiser on the European stage.
The meeting highlighted the unity of vision between the EJU, the Slovak Judo Federation, and the Slovak government in ensuring that the sport continues to inspire the next generation while strengthening Slovakia’s standing in the international sporting community.
Image: Silvia Tomankova
Author: Szandra Szogedi