The European Judo Champ-ionships for cadets, held at the Cottonera Sports Complex last weekend, featured the participation of around 600 athletes and officials from 40 countries.

Malta first hosted the European Championships in 2007 and European Judo Federation president Sergey Soloveychik had full confidence in the local organisers after the Malta Judo Federation (MJF) was entrusted with the organisation of this year’s tournament.

“We are satisfied that not only the big federations but also smaller ones like Malta are able to organise championships like these,” an MJF statement quoted Soloveychik as saying. “It underlines the development of the EJU and its members. Malta has done a good job.”

Most of the visiting delegations had words of praise for the Maltese hosts with the European Judo Union IT and live streaming team remarking that the level of organisation was better than that at other championships and Grand Slams held in bigger countries.

The referees, some of the best in circulation, also thanked the MJF for their hospitality and organisation.

Several well-known judo personalities attended the championships in Malta as coaches or observers. These included 1991 world champion Daniel Lascau, of Germany, who presently occupies the role of European Judo Union vice-president for sport.

Mark Huizinga, the 2000 Olympic champion, was in charge of the Dutch team while world championship runner-up Sara Alvarez also visited Malta for the tournament as the Spaniard is now focusing on her coaching career.

Meanwhile, the European Judo Union calendar meeting and medical seminar will also take place in Malta next week.

Maltese judokas Marcon Bezzina and Joanna Camilleri will then fly to Rome to begin their Masters in Teaching and Coaching Judo at the Tor Vergata University.