Following a successful edition in 2024, Sarajevo has been confirmed as the host city for the European Judo Championships Kata 2026. The official flag handover ceremony took place this afternoon in Riga, bringing the 2025 edition to a close. Representing the National Judo Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Larisa Cerić, Executive Board Member and triple Olympian, proudly accepted the EJU flag, marking the symbolic transition to next year’s host nation.
Ceric shared her appreciation following the ceremony:
“I am truly honoured to receive the flag for Sarajevo, it means a great deal to me. I have been involved in many competitions with the Judo Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but when they asked me to come here for this, it was something really special. I never expected to be the one chosen, and I am incredibly proud to represent my country in this way, as an ambassador.
“Kata isn’t yet a major focus in our country, but with the European Championships coming to Sarajevo next year again, we are motivated to change that. We are already working on preparing a strong group of judoka to take part in the event, and I am hopeful that we will have a proud and competitive team to represent Bosnia on the kata stage.”
Vsevolods Zelonijs, President of the Latvian Judo Federation and a former Olympic medallist, took a deep breath as he reflected on the culmination of two extraordinary weeks in Riga:
“Yes, I am a little tired, but truly happy,” he shared. “Hosting two top-level events, the European Kata Championships and the European Veterans Championships, was a great honour for us. Riga isn’t just our capital, it’s a city of hospitality, and I hope all the athletes, coaches, referees, and judges felt that during their time here.
“The highlight for me was seeing so many people, from all over Europe, gather in our country. We even welcomed experts from the Kodokan at the seminar. For the Latvian Judo Federation, this was more than just a competition, it was a realisation of our potential, and now, we know we are ready for the next level.”
Images: Carlos Ferreira
Author: Szandra Szogedi