Following a successful morning of media and marketing presentations and contract signings of sponsors, old and new, a press conference was held.
Opening the floor to the press was EJU President, Dr TOTH Laszlo,
Welcome ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests and family members of the EJU. It is a pleasure to be here with our sponsors, our suppliers, our family, it is very important so thank you for the media interest. It is clear there is a great interest in judo in Serbia, we have government, state and private media in attendance, it is a big honour for us. It is great to be in Serbia with Vice President, Ivan TODOROV, the leader of Serbian Judo for 24 years, a former judoka and since 2023, elected as our Vice President of Marketing.
President Toth continued to discuss the historical nature of this contract signing, as Millennium Team are the first to be signed as a Title Sponsor, and to date, are our biggest sponsors. Vice President Todorov continued the sentiment,
I am glad and very honoured to have been trusted to be the Vice President of the European Judo Union. Also in Belgrade we will have the Marketing Office of the European Judo Union. I am happy that we are entering the new Olympic cycle right from Belgrade. Europe has now shown its dominance in Paris, in terms of the number of medals won. We are sending a beautiful image from Belgrade, and all members of the European Judo Union are starting the new Olympic cycle together with their partners. In addition to the old partners with whom we have renewed contracts, I owe special thanks to Millennium Team, who recognised judo and who will help in the development, especially of young talents, and by that I mean all the competitions within the Cadet European Judo Tour, which will carry the name Millennium Team European Cup.
Stojan VUJKO, EJU Title Sponsor and CEO of Millennium Team, a company that is a regional leader in construction, emphasised that they have been dedicated to socially responsible activities since their founding.
Now I truly feel like a part of the European Judo family. Millennium Team has been committed to socially responsible activities since its establishment. We support projects in the fields of education and ecology, but we are particularly dedicated to investing in sports. As the general sponsor of Red Star Judo Club, Millennium Team has achieved impressive results on both the domestic and international competitive scene. I can confidently say that Red Star Judo Club is the engine and driving force of Serbian judo. Now for the first time in the history of the European Judo Union, all competitions within the European Judo Tour will bear the name of Millennium Team.
As the CEO of the company, I believe that responsibility towards the community in which we operate is the cornerstone of our business. By investing in young talents, we promote the true values that judo embodies. At Millennium Team, we have recognised that we share the same values as the sport of judo: dedication, hard work, discipline, respect for our partners, and the ability and desire to make a positive change in the world. Millennium Team and judo are a perfect match that will last for a long time. Personally, I can still learn a lot from judo, and my wish is for judo to be a source of motivation for other athletes—a way of showing respect to opponents and the sport itself. I also want Millennium Team to embody the discipline, dedication, and desire for constant self-improvement that judo represents.
Alongside Budapest and Vienna, a European Judo Union Marketing Office was officially opened in Belgrade today. This marks the Serbian capital’s place on the European and global judo map, while the national federation, led by Todorov, has once again been recognised for its outstanding achievements.
CEO of IpponGear, Stefan KNEITINGER, has renewed the contract with EJU,
It is a pleasure to be here, I feel we are truly united by judo. My whole personal life has been connected to judo, it isn’t just about the business for me. To be connected to the biggest federation in Europe, I am proud to be able to contribute, and I will be proud to continue for many years.
On behalf of the European Judo Union we would like to thank the extensive media for attending; Radio Televizija Srbije national, Tanjug TV and National Press Agency, Prva Televizija National, Studio B Regional, Happy TV National, Radio Televizija Pančevo Regional, Dunav Televizija Regional, TV Studio B Regional, Arena TV Sport, Sport Klub, Sportski Žurnal, Srpski Telegraf, Alo, Mocart Sport, Judo Federation of Serbia, Judo Club Red Star and Sport Society and Blic.
Author: Thea Cowen