During the senior European Judo Championships in Lisbon in April, a contract signing took place between the EJU and our long-time, Diamond Supplier, IPPON GEAR.
The worldwide well-known company from Bavaria has been involved with the EJU for a long time. They have been the first of our sponsors to continue with their support of the EJU despite a very difficult period during this pandemic.
For CEO Stefan Kneitinger was it an easy decision to prolong the partnership with the EJU.
Judo is experiencing the most critical period for decades. Nearly all schools, gyms and sports clubs are shut down or are facing restrictions to prevent the spread of infection.
Even though we see light at the end of the tunnel, the most difficult time is still ahead, the time after COVID-19. This will be the time, when we have to bond all the power of the Judo family, to re-build the clubs, to bring Judoka back to the gyms, to attract new members and to convince the people out there of the important values of our sport. Values that have suffered a lot during the last months and will be more important than ever before.
The deal with IPPON GEAR will initially run for 1 year and is the first partnership under the new EJU Sponsor Strategy (Premium Partner, Official Supplier, Supporter).
The contract extension should also be a positive signal for our other partners to respond to this pandemic and to overcome this challenge. Only with strong partners we are able to contribute to the rebirth of our sport and to support clubs and national federations along the way.
The EJU has been like a family to us, for many years. We are a European brand, and through this partnership we can contribute to the development of judo in Europe. Especially in times like this, we all need to stick together and make sure that judo will survive this pandemic. It will take some time but through this collaboration we can support clubs and federations to make sure judo is stronger than this. For us, there was never a doubt to extend the contract as the main equipment partner with the EJU. Now or ever. We look forward to the upcoming years with the EJU. They will be exciting years but we are positive that together, we can overcome this difficult period.
CEO of IPPON GEAR, Stefan Kneitinger
We are proud to have such a great and motivated partner on our side and we are looking forward for the future.
Author: Thea Cowen