Following the conclusion of the Senior European Judo Championships Tbilisi 2026, EJU President Dr Tóth László sat down to reflect on a week that transformed Tbilisi into the heart of European judo.
“First and foremost, I must express my gratitude to our Georgian hosts. While we came here for the Senior European Judo Championships, it became clear very quickly that this week was about much more than just the elite competition on the tatami.
“Of course, the tournament was our main focus, and the level of judo was world-class but if you looked across the various venues, there were several activities ongoing that truly represent the soul of the EJU. I was particularly pleased about the success of the Kids Camp. It is wonderful that several of our champions attended to inspire the next generation, including the great Varlam Liparteliani. Having a 2016 Rio silver medallist and local hero like Varlam, engaging with the children is exactly the kind of heritage we want to foster.
“On the third day, we also saw a fantastic Adapted Judo demonstration. This was a vital moment, as it allowed us to showcase several elements of the broader judo activities we are constantly promoting within Europe. It’s about inclusion and the values of our sport reaching everyone. Furthermore, our EJU representatives had the opportunity to visit the French School of the Caucasus, which further strengthens our ties with the local community. There were really plenty of activities happening aside from the continental championships themselves.
“However, as we always say, the work never stops. As always, we learn from every event. Now, we go home, we analyse everything, and we keep aiming to do better the next time, we owe that to our athletes, our fans and our community as a whole. Continuous improvement is at the heart of the EJU mission.
“We leave Tbilisi very happy but we won’t be gone for long. We are already looking forward to returning to this great judo city for the Junior Europeans next year.”
Author: EJU Media