FIFTH MAJDOV ACADEMY BEGINS WITH A RECORD 986 JUDOKAS

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, JULY 31 /SRNA/ - The fifth edition of the Majdov Academy gathered a record 986 judokas, 88 coaches, and about 150 parents from 23 countries across four continents, meaning that more than 1,200 guests, including Olympic and world champions, will stay in Istočno Sarajevo over the next three days.

The founder of the Academy, Nemanja Majdov, said that this year's edition is the largest since its inception and that he is particularly proud that children have the opportunity to learn from the biggest names in world judo.

"We have participants from four continents and 23 countries. The children will learn from Olympic and world champions, and for our sport, Lasha Bekauri and Lukáš Krpálek from the Czech Republic are what Ronaldo and Messi are in football," Majdov emphasized.

He said that preparations for the Academy were demanding, especially organizing accommodation for a large number of participants, but that he is satisfied that interest is growing from year to year.

Majdov thanked President Milorad Dodik for enabling participation in the Academy to be free of charge for all children.

The President of the Judo Federation of Serbia and Vice President of the European Judo Union, Ivan Todorov, said that over five years the Majdov Academy has grown into a recognizable regional sports event that provides young judokas with the opportunity to refine their knowledge alongside the world's greatest champions, as well as to make new friendships.

"This is already a tradition, and I want to congratulate the Majdov family on their perseverance. I am convinced that the attendees of the Academy will be the future, not only of judo in BiH, but of the entire region, because children come here from numerous countries," Todorov said.

He believes that the Academy has the potential to grow into an Olympic training center in the future.

"Nemanja Majdov is still an active competitor, and I believe he is only halfway through his career. He has won six major senior medals, and I hope that at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles he will realize his dream and win an Olympic medal. We also expect a great contribution from him to the development of judo after he finishes his competitive career," Todorov stated.

The coach of the Great Britain national team Max Stewart, who is attending the Academy for the second time, said that its greatest value is that attendees can learn techniques used by top competitors and later refine them with their own coaches.

Judokas from Serbia, BiH, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic, France, Georgia, the United States of America, Romania, Moldova, Austria, Great Britain, Egypt, Malta, Greece, and Jamaica are participating in this year's Academy.

The Academy lasts three days, and the organizers expect that over the coming days all registered participants will undergo training sessions and workshops led by celebrated world judo champions.