José Humberto Rodríguez, PJC Director General, and Pedro Kolychkine, PJC Director of Recognitions, were joined by Gilberto García, President of the Caribbean Judo Confederation and PJC Vice-President. Acting on behalf of PJC President Carlos Zegarra Presser and in co-ordination with the International Judo Federation, they gathered for the creation of the federation and met with local clubs and sporting authorities.
The statutes were signed by Terence Daly, Flavio Faneyte and Aruban Olympian Fiderd Vis. The new federation will work alongside the island’s six judo clubs, bringing coaches, athletes and institutions together around a common project to strengthen grassroots judo, developi a new generation of athletes and enable Aruba to take its place once again within the continental and international judo family.
The day also recognised those who have kept judo alive locally. Flavio Faneyte received the PJC President’s Award for his long-standing work with young people and for building a dojo in a vulnerable area of the island. José Humberto Rodríguez presented him with a small locomotive, a symbol of the journey ahead. The first station has now been reached, establishing the federation. The next will be to see Aruba’s young judoka return to international competition under their own flag.
The delegation also met Aruba’s Minister of Sport, whose contribution for equipment and the development of a national team coach offers an encouraging foundation for the work to come. Aruba judo is moving forward with a new federation at the controls and a clear destination: growth, opportunity and a stronger place for the island on the world judo map.
