Hungary and Judo: The Bridge that Promotes The Future of Athletes / IJF.org

Today the International Judo Federation has formalised an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, sealed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, in order to promote higher education and scholarships to judoka, helping them in the transition process towards their post-athletic career.

IJF President Marius Vizer and State Secretary Orsolya Pacsay-Tomassich

IJF President Marius Vizer and State Secretary Orsolya Pacsay-Tomassich signed this agreement in an official ceremony at the IJF headquarters in Budapest, Hungary.

President Vizer said, “We very much appreciate the support and the interest in sport from the Hungarian government. This project offers the possibility for judoka to complete higher education goals abroad while exchanging and experiencing the Hungarian culture, accompanying them and empowering their future.”

State Secretary Pacsay-Tomassich said, "We are very pleased to welcome judo athletes to our country and we are happy that we can support through higher education opportunities. We look forward to launching the programme this year and pursuing a fruitful collaboration.”

Also present during the sigining ceremony were: Mr Miklós Lengyel, Deputy State Secretary, Mr István Perosa, Head of Department for the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme, Ms Renáta Katz, Head of the Secretariat of the State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary and Mr Vlad Marinescu, Director General of the International Judo Federation.

10 scholarships will be granted and the programme will begin this year.

There is now a clear through line of collaboration between judo and education, working at all levels, from the Erasmus SchoolJudo.EU project, also being piloted in Hungary this Spring, to this new higher education initiative and beyond.