Before all actions got underway in Velika Gorica and the first EJU Get Together event of 2025, the opening ceremony took place with distinguished guests. The line up included, Dr. Sanda Čorak, President of the Croatian Judo Federation; Mr. Krešimir Ačkar, Mayor of the City of Velika Gorica; Tomislav Druzak, Special Advisor of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism and Mr Alessandro Comi, Head Sport Commissioner of the European Judo Union.
First up was Dr. Sanda Čorak, President of the Croatian Judo Federation, to share her thoughts;
“Dear competitors, dear coaches, referees, and all sports officials,
“On behalf of the Croatian Judo Federation, it is truly my great pleasure to welcome you to Croatia, to Velika Gorica, and to this sports hall. Of course, I also welcome you to the second edition of the Get Together Adapted Judo Tournament. I am very pleased that this year’s tournament has attracted around 150 competitors from 12 European countries.
“This is also a great opportunity to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the organisation of this event. My thanks go to the Judo Club Fuji and its president, Marina Drašković. She has made a tremendous effort not only in promoting judo in Croatia but also across Europe. I am glad, and I hope, that this tournament will become a tradition here in Velika Gorica.
“With this tournament, judo as a sport that must be for everyone, shows how it can support people with disabilities and enable them to compete just like all other athletes. I wish you all the best of luck on the tatami. I hope you will take home wonderful memories from your time in Velika Gorica and that you will create new friendships today. Best of luck to all, and enjoy your stay here. Thank you.”
Subsequently, Mr. Krešimir Ačkar, Mayor of the City of Velika Gorica shared his appreciation;
“Welcome, everyone. First of all, I want to thank the organisers, and in particular, Marina Draškovic, for putting together this fantastic event. If there ever comes a time when this tournament needs a location, let Velika Gorica always be your home. Let’s make it a tradition. Through the dedication of your community, volunteers, and supporters, you show us that boundaries are meant to be pushed. This tournament is much more than just a sporting event.
“I won’t prolong this speech any further, but I want to say one thing to the competitors: you are an example to society. Enjoy your day in Velika Gorica, you will always be welcome here. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure your stay is supported with everything you need.Once again, thank you all, and enjoy your time.”
Following, Tomislav Druzak, Special Advisor of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism addressed the crowd;
“Dear athletes, dear athletes, dear athletes, dear athletes, dear athletes,
“First of all, it is a great honour and great respect for all of you to be here today, to be present when these games, this competition, this tournament, traditional here in Velika Gorica in judo with a special emphasis on people with disabilities, are opening. As I said, I greet all of you, especially the organisers, Marina as already greeted and emphasised, who is an extremely valuable and quality organiser with her associates.
“I thank the City of Velika Gorica for recognising this sports competition as a quality gathering,
as a quality competition, but also one that shows exactly what the mayor said. This competition is more than just a sports competition. I also congratulate the Croatian Judo Federation, and I thank the president of the Judo Federation who has given and continues to give support to this competition. On behalf of the Minister of Tourism and Sport, and on behalf of all my colleagues from the Ministry, I warmly greet you all.
“I wish the competitors a good competition, good luck and good health, and that you take back from Croatia, from Velika Gorica, beautiful memories to your homelands and that you return to us again next year. Thank you.”
Lastly, Mr Alessandro Comi, Head Sport Commissioner of the European Judo Union, addressed all attendees on behalf of EJU;
“I am proud to bring the greetings on behalf of the European Judo Union and President Dr Laszlo Toth. Today we celebrate one year of Get Together: we started with the first tournament here in Velika Gorica in May 2024 and we are back in Velika Gorica with more experience and good results. Get Together is not only a dream of a woman called Marina Draskovic and her Fuji Team but is the reality of many athletes, coaches, teams and families all around Europe. Get Together is not only a couple of judo events but a common language to collect different experiences, point of view and stories. Get Together is not only sport but a superpower: the power of judo to adapt to everyone’s abilities. Thank you to the institutions, the city, the National Federations for their support, thank you to Marina, Sanja, Tanja the Fuji family, and thank you to all of you for being part of Get Together: together, we are writing a new page of the history of judo.”
Several other eminent individuals also honoured the event with their presence, such as Lana Krunic, Head of Department of Schools and Social Affairs of Velika Gorica; Ervin Kolarec, Deputy Head of County of Zagreb; Masumi Suzuki, Security Officer and Consul of the Embassy of Japan in Croatia; Sinisa Krajac, General Secretary of the Croatian Olympic Committee; Dragan Katunar, General Secretary of the Croatian Paralympic Committee; Darko Blazincic, General Secretary of the Sport Association of Velika Gorica and official sponsors.
Author: Szandra Szogedi