EJU convinced about continuation of European Judo Championships despite Covid-19 threats

The European Judo Union is dedicated to make this year’s flagship event to a success. The European Championships will be held in Prague after it was postponed twice. EJU President Soloveychik wishes the athletes health to everyone and victories at the European Championships. However how fair will the Championships as an increasing number of nations is going into a lockdown. Despite the Budapest Grand Slam, Czech Republic is currently one of the countries where the increase is huge with 166,000 new cases over the last 14 days.

Federations will not be able to compete at the European Championships because of their own lock-down measures. England looks set to join France, Germany and Belgium in a second lockdown as more countries announce new national restrictions. The British Judo Association unanimously agreed that due to the ongoing high risk concerns around the Coronavirus Pandemic in the UK, in Europe, and specifically, in the Czech Republic, British Judo have taken the very difficult decision to withdraw the whole of the Great Britain Delegation.

People in France will only be allowed to leave their homes until 1 December, to buy essential goods, for medical reasons and to exercise for an hour a day. Anyone who wants to go outside will be required to fill out an "attestation" - a form that was also required to leave home during the first lockdown. Let alone for a sports event in a risky area. For now the French Judo Federation announced a selection for the European Championships. Without front runner Teddy Riner who said: "I hope that soon we can all play the sport we love without restriction. While waiting for prudence and patience."

Germany will impose a partial lockdown from 2 November, which will last for four weeks. Both Junior and U23 teams will not travel to the European Championships this year. The Senior team for Prague was announced on Monday. 

Due to rising Coronavirus cases the Austrian government have decided to implement a second lockdown per 3 November until 30 November. However the Austrian Judo Association will compete at all events with a big team.

Belgium has imposed a partial lockdown after being hit harder by the virus than any other country in the European Union, but both the junior as senior teams won’t be allowed to travel to the Europeans Junior and U23 Championships. Understandable reactions by the athletes not to go to the events. For now, the Senior team will go to Prague due to the exception for elite athletes at potential Olympic level. 

In Italy, a record high of 24,991 cases was reported on Wednesday, which came as thousands of people protested against re-imposed lockdown measures. In Budapest the Italian team was not able to participate as four team members tested positive after arriving in Budapest, while in Italy there were tested negative. A scenario that might happen in Czech Republic as well.

In Spain territorial restrictions are in place and meetings of more than six are banned across the country, let alone to travel with a team.

The EJU stated at its web site: “Despite the current difficult situation in Europe and, in particular, in the Czech Republic, which has resulted in a new wave of infection, the EJU Executive Committee has decided to hold the Senior European Judo Championships.”

Talking about all the sports factors, the European Championships seems a safe haven but travelling and equal chances are not taken into account in the reasons to continue the championships in Croatia (Juniors and U23) and Czech Republic (Senior Europeans). World and Olympic Champion Lukas Krpalek who couldn't compete at the Budapest Grand Slam due to his corona infection is the big eye catcher in Prague.

EJU” We see the rationale for making such a responsible decision in the following factors. Firstly, the IOC announced that the Tokyo Olympic Games will be held in 2021, and we are obliged to prepare European athletes for their main event in life, which is impossible without participation in such a high level competition. Secondly, we are guided by the brilliant example of the IJF and Hungarian Judo Association that hosted the Grand Slam in Budapest at a high level, including epidemiological safety measures. The EJU experts and Task Force Team together with the Czech Judo Federation are ready to ensure the safety of the European Championship participants.”

Traditional judo countries won’t be able to send a team to Czech Republic or Croatia for the European highlight of the season, which seems to become prestigious events.

EJU: “The third factor of our confidence is the solidarity and discipline of the European National Federations and the members of national teams. I believe that with the awareness of their responsibility to their families and colleagues in sports, all of the participants of the European Championships will demonstrate their judo qualities: discipline, responsibility, honesty, mutual assistance, courage, respect for others and unity.”

More than 400 athletes have been registered for the European Championships in Prague, coming from 42 nations. That still includes the women's team of Georgia where four of the team members tested positive for Covid-19 last week.

Athletes raised concerns about the fairplay of the qualification events. The European Senior Championships will be held from 18 November in Prague. The Junior and U23 Europeans will be held this week and next week in Porec, Croatia.  Not only this year's events are doubtful but also next year the major Olympic Qualifications are threatened. Rumours go that the Paris Grand Slam may be postponed to May and the Grand Slam in Düsseldorf is under fire due to financial problems.