The last senior European Judo Championships held in Spain took place in Oviedo back in 1998. Now, over two decades later, plans are underway for Spain to once again become a central hub for European Judo. EJU President Dr. TOTH László recently held a successful meeting in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, with key stakeholders, including the Councillor for Sports of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Aridany ROMERO; the President of the Royal Spanish Judo Federation, Juan Carlos BARCOS; the President of the Canarian Judo Federation, Antonio CORUNA and the Councillor for Sports of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Town Hall, Ramón SUAREZ. During the meeting, a clear and ambitious vision for the coming years was established.
The first step in this strategic partnership is the hosting of the EJU Congress in 2025. It was also discussed that the country will be keen to bid for prestigious continental events in the coming years, such as cadet junior, veteran and kata Europeans.
This ambitious plan not only solidifies Spain’s place in the European judo calendar but also sets the stage for a potential return of the senior European Championships in the future. By gradually building capacity and expertise, Las Palmas will be well-prepared to host elite events. EJU President, Dr TOTH elaborated further after the meeting;
The European Judo Union is delighted to have Spain back in the circulation of the EJU and be part of their calendar with interest in several continental championships. Speaking of the calendar, with the Congress being agreed in Las Palmas, our 2025 calendar is now fully completed. This partnership is a great opportunity for both parties and the timing could not be better as the Spanish youth judoka are developing at a rapid pace and become stronger and stronger recent years.
Must commend the enthusiasm of current and former Olympians of the Spanish team too as, in fact, a conversation with some of them had spiralled these plans to be put in place. They asked when Spain will host the next elite event and I can say the first steps have been made, planning. We will both merit from the years to come and once again the eagerness from the elites is admirable.
The Councillor for Sports of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Mr Romero, highlighted that the interest of the European Judo Union and the Royal Spanish Judo Federation in holding new national and international competitions in Gran Canaria demonstrates once again that they have the capacity and the necessary resources to host these types of sporting events.
It is no coincidence that they want to return; they have recognised our solvency, professionalism, and the quality of our facilities, which are essential in maintaining Gran Canaria’s position as a premier destination for high-level sports competitions.
International competitions contribute to strengthening the economy, promoting physical activity and sport, and positioning Gran Canaria as a benchmark in international sports tourism. The Minister of Sport further emphasised:
The success of an international competition requires a unified effort between sports organisations and public administrations. Our commitment at the Insular Institute of Sports of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria is to ensure that some of these competitions can soon be hosted on the island of Gran Canaria.
For Spanish judoka and judo enthusiasts alike, this marks the beginning of a promising journey, with a strong foundation now in place, the future of judo in Spain is bright, and the countdown to 2025 has officially begun.
Images: Cabildo de Gran Canaria / Gabi Juan
Author: Szandra Szogedi