Judo fever is raging in Croatia’s capital ZAGREB. To celebrate, the leading Croatian daily newspaper Jutarnji List featured a blue judo belt on its front page. Hashime! The EUROPEAN JUDO CHAMPIONSHIPS premiere has been running since 10.30am on Thursday. No fewer than seven world number one rankings, four Olympic champions, 17 world champions and 35 European champions are competing for world ranking points and European Championship medals. The Croatian hosts are sending four judoka into the competition on the first of four days. Ana Viktorija PULJIZ is considered to have the best chances (on day one). The 22-year-old local heroine already has a second place in Tbilisi and a third place in Antalya to her name at Grand Slam level this year.
At the last European Championships in Montpellier in November, two-time world champion Barbara Matic (-70) won the only (bronze) medal for Croatia. Matic: “This time we are speculating on three to four medals. For me, it’s about winning my first European Championship title (after a total of 3 bronze medals). That would be twice as nice in front of my own fans!”
The most important facts and figures about the European Judo Championships Zagreb 2024:
- 427 judoka from 47 nations will be competing at the 72nd edition of the European Judo Championships in Zagreb. In comparison: 386 athletes from 46 countries took part in the 2023 European Championships in Montpellier. On the four days of competition, 14 weight classes (7 per gender) and the mixed team competition are on the programme.
- With Germany, France, Italy, host Croatia, the Netherlands, Serbia, Spain and Ukraine, no fewer than eight nations made up the maximum contingent of 18 athletes (9 women, 9 men).
- Olympic qualification for Paris runs until mid-June. The European Championships in Zagreb and the World Championships in Abu Dhabi each count 100 per cent. The European Championship title is rewarded with 700 points, reaching the final with 490, and 350 points for third place.
- More than 20 TV stations are announced. Up to 10 cameras are in operation on the three mats each day.
- A total of 17,000 meals will be prepared in the hall or in the team hotels.
- A total of 433 paid employees and 30 volunteers will be responsible for the smooth organisation.
- A good 300 kilometres of cable were laid in the Zagreb Arena for the European Championships.
Author: EJU Media