The first year of the large Judo in School project, which is implemented in collaboration with the Judo Federation of Serbia and under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Science, Education, and Technological Development, the Olympic Committee of Serbia, and the World Judo Federation, as well as the local self-governments of Tutin, Leskovac, Vranje, Zrenjanin, Brus, Belgrade, Pirot, Temerin and Beočin, was marked by a large public judo class in the šumice Sports Center, where competitions in this sport are traditionally held.
- The reason we gathered here today is the implementation of the Judo in School project. I am really proud to be able to see new boys and girls, because judo is not only about getting the best results, it has a broad educational scope and it is respected in many educational systems in the world. Judo is a mandatory subject in several nations, like France, Japan, and in the future, we plan to establish the Judo in School project in nine new schools around Serbia. I would like you to continue to train hard, to have our support as an Association, because you are the future of our society. We will try to provide you with the best conditions, and you to make your dreams come true - said Ivan Todorov, president of the Judo Federation of Serbia.
In addition to being the founder of judo, systematizing it from several martial arts, and turning it into a sport, Jigoro Kano was the Minister of Education of Japan, one of the individuals who began to spread judo around the world in 1879. He was the first member of the International Olympic Committee as a representative of Asia.
The founder of judo believed that people of all physical types and weights may participate in this sport, including both boys and girls. Due to the popularity of his theory after 150 years, there are already more than 30 million active practitioners worldwide.
More than 300,000 competitors have registered to compete in judo since the Judo Federation of Serbia was established in 1952. It is a strong base, which, with new young athletes from nine schools in Serbia, Elementary School Aleksa Šantić from Tutin, Elementary School Jovan Jovanović Zmaj from Brus, Elementary School Jovan Grčić Milenko from Beočina, Elementary School Pavle Savić from Belgrade, Elementary School Petar Kočić from Temerin, Elementary School Petar Petrović Njegoš from Vrbas, elementary school Radoje Domanović from Vranje, become even stronger for new judokas.
On behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Serbia, Predrag Peruničić, State Secretary, greeted the young judokas in Šumice Sports Centre.
- Thank you for the invitation. Please enjoy today and have fun, so that we can celebrate this occasion again next year, Predrag Peruničić said.
Serbian judokas are certainly expected to win medals in Tokyo. Žarko Zečević, the vice-president of the Olympic Committee of Serbia, greeted the young judokas and sent them a message:
- I am glad to be able to greet you in front of the Olympic Committee of Serbia and congratulate you. Playing sports gives you the chance to develop your personality and to acquire all the Olympic and sports ideals, such as discipline, respect for your opponent, and the notion that defeat is no big deal, that victory is a great result. You have to know that everyone who wants to win has to lose sometimes. In my opinion, judo is an exceptional sport, with a long tradition and great results. I wish you a happy holiday, and that you too find yourself on the list for the Olympics and that you achieve top results.
Young judokas participating in the Judo in School project from Aleksa Šantić Elementary School in Tutin, Jovan Jovanović Zmaj Elementary School in Brus, Jovan Grčić Milenko Elementary School in Beočin, Pavle Savić Elementary School in Belgrade, Petar Kočić Elementary School in Temerin, Petar Petrović Njegoš Elementary School in Vrbas, Petar Petrović Njegoš Elementary School in Vrbas, Sveti Sava Elementary School in Pirot, Petar Petrović Njegoš Elementary School in Zrenjanin, Radoje Domanović Elementary School in Vranje presented what they learned on the tatami mat and received applause.