MaltaMedia.com

The annual international seminar organized by the European Judo Union in Malta, this year took on a very formal and important role. The top administrators of the 50 European Federations, who, together, organize 106 European Judo activities, were welcomed by the Chairman of the Malta Sports Council, Mr. Bernard Vassallo, and the Head of the Secretariat of the Ministry for Sport, Mr. Angelito Sciberras.

The Vice President for sport, Mr. Daniel Lascau, the Head of the Sports Directors, Mr. Densign White, both World Champions, accompanied by Mr. Envic Galea, General Secretary, addressed the delegates. The target was to reach an agreement on the 2011 calendar, which objective has on various occasions created problems to the European Judo Union Secretariat in Malta, when an organizer meets with problems to fulfill his commitment. With only 52 weekends in a year, this seemed a difficult task. However, after 2 days of intensive debates and presentations, the calendar for 2011 was finalized.

The EJU events are now more professional and the presentation, since January this year, has also turned very professional, with the National Federations committing themselves to a large investment in the competition furniture and equipment. Most of these events are now televised and nearly all streamed on the EJU website www.eju.net During the last European Championships in Vienna, the guest of honour was nonetheless his Excellency Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation and Honorary President of the European Judo Union and the International Judo Federation. His arrival in Vienna took months of planning and a big headache to the security.

But this seminar, in the very two short days, did not only cover the EJU calendar but managed to fit in a three hour interactive lecture on how to run the EJU dedicated competition software. The EJU Federation administrators could also listen to the progress achieved in the judo coach qualification certified by major universities. These degrees range from Diplomas to Bachelor Degree in Science to Masters, delivered through the revolutionary block route, “Open University” style of delivery.

The Medical Commission meeting for the 13th time and 10th time in Malta also managed to update the participants on the last news from WADA and delivered during the medical symposium some very interesting lectures related to sports medicine and judo.

Before the farewell dinner hosted by the Malta Judo Federation in Marsaxlokk, thanks to the Malta Tourism Authority, Clive, a very talented Tourist Guide, took the delegates for a panoramic tour of the island and then a walk around the 3 cities. The European Delegates, most of them repeat visitors, could not fail to be fascinated with the history of such a small island and went back thanking the Malta Judo Federation, particularly Louisa, Alexis, Marcon and Isaac for again a great Malta experience.