Concluding the year, the European Judo Union are collaborating with the French Judo Federation for one of the greatest celebrations of judo in the calendar. Once again, Montpellier will play host to a prime event, the European Club Championships – Champions League 2024. The city can also celebrate that they took the award for Best European Event in 2023 following the Senior European Championships.
Prior to the draw, a panel gathered for a press conference, welcoming President of the EJU, Dr Laszlo TOTH, President of the French Judo Federation, Stephane NOMIS, Vice President of the EJU, Ivan TODOROV, Vice President of the French Judo Federation, Frederique JOSSINET, Advisor to the Montpelliier Mediterranee Metropole, Christophe BOURDIN and Kamel CHIBLI, Vice President in charge of Education of Sport in the Occitanie Region.
President TOTH echoed the joy of Bourdin regarding the return to Montpelier, addressing the new format of this years Champions League,
This is the last competition of 2024, and this year was very long and difficult year but also beautiful and a huge celebration for the European Judo Union. Thank you to coaches and athletes who created this success. This year, during the Abu Dhabi World Championships, I was sitting with with President Nomis, analysing the competition and looking to the future. One vision was to develop the club system. Until last year, there were men and women teams with seven categories, with these changes to a mixed team, this is first time in judo history we can welcome Team Luxembourg. It is a positive message, we have Olympic medallists, from Japan and Uzbekistan as well.
We have opened a new door, thank you Stephane.
Nomis addressed the media and his colleagues,
Champions League is very important for the clubs, and in France, for the first time, we have it in Mixed Team format. It is amazing for us and for Montpellier, this is a great area for judo and now is a capital for the sport in Europe. I hope we can continue to host international competitions in Montpellier, we always have a wonderful crowd. I hope the French will win! I’m sorry! [he laughs] Teddy RINER will compete tomorrow, four months after the Olympics and this is great for us and for the EJU.
Newly elected Vice President Todorov, who is also President of the Serbian Judo Federation was pleased to give kind words on behalf of the EJU, but an extra delight was held as he addressed Red Star Belgrade who will be competing.
Dear presidents, dear representative and judo friends, congratulations to all of you for your esteemed and beautiful judo competitions in this period. I hope that in the next Olympiad, the best Mixed Team will again be from Europe. I think this format of mixed teams will be the new power. First of all I am very glad to be here in Montpellier, and I’m sure that it will bring us good luck, I’m sure the club from our country will have excellent results tomorrow. I’m sure the competition will be on the top level, good luck to all competitors and may the best win!
From Red Star Belgrade, coach Vladimir JOVICIC was requested to attend the conference, joined by athletes Marica PERSIC and Miljan RADULJ,
Good afternoon, thank you for this wonderful conference and organisation, it is always nice to be in France, the country of judo. Our ambitions are always great, we have many medals but the goal is always gold. The pressure will be on you guys this year like we had it last year but we hope this pressure helps us to achieve. We know there will be great fights and this event is so important for us. As well as the Europeans, Olympics, Worlds, this is a big one for us, we are very well prepared and have big ambitions!
Author: Thea Cowen