Latvia cancels Cadet European Championships

A lost year for cadets. Since 2002 the European children U18 or in the past U17 had championships each year. This year the Championships for cadets would take place in Latva in its capital Riga, but due to the coronavirus it was already postponed until end of November, but also this event will likely be cancelled due to the covid-19 virus and just needs a confirmation by the Executive board. Given the current situation a formality.

This year three European Cups for cadets took place in Follonica, Fuengirola and Antalya before the pandemic but despite a dropdown of the crisis, the risk of organising European Championships and let delegations travel to Latvia is simply hazardous. The EJU decided to cancel the champion for the first time since 2002. Latvia has a good reputation in judo as its current president Vsevolods Zelonijs won Olympic bronze and World bronze in judo history.. The Cadet Europeans would have been the first European Championships in history of Latvia. Riga organises the Riga Open each year but this would have been a huge step for the team of Zelonijs, who is a personal friend of the EJU President.

For many youngsters this postponed championship was the only highlight this year. Not EYOF in this year and not many European Cups made 2020 a lost year for the talents of the World, not just in Europe.

The cadet Europeans is the first European top event that is about to be cancelled by the exective board of the EJU and perhaps not the last event of this year. For now the Junior and U23 Europeans are still scheduled in Porec in Croatia and the senior championships, Europe'a blockbuster event, will still be held in Prague until further notice.