"I feel really good to be here. It's my second appearance at a judo event as Secretary General. I visited the EJU training camp in Porec, Croatia, and I am now in Ulaanbaatar. It's so different compared to what I used to do before, but I love my new job.
It's a little strange, because I know every bit of the organisation. Sometimes, I'd love to say something but I stay now in my new role. Actually, to be honest, I am really happy with what I see. Claudiu Chimoiu, who replaced me as Events Director, is doing a fantastic job and with all the team working with him, the World Judo Tour is in really good hands. I don't have to say anything because everything runs smoothly.
Talking about my new position within the organisation, it is so interesting. I knew little about the job. I mean I knew the sectors of the general secretariat that, as Events Director, I was in contact with. I now discover a totally new world. It's thrilling. After ten years in charge of the events, I knew every bit of event management. Now, I entered a new sphere. I have already started to learn a lot and I can tell you that I love it.
It's a different life. I used to travel non-stop. I am now based in Budapest at IJF headquarters. I have more of an office job and I can work in close collaboration with the IJF President, Mr Vizer, and the Director General, Mr Vlad Marinescu.
Being here in Mongolia gives me the possibility to meet the team I was working with until the World Judo Championships - Doha 2023. It's so nice to see all those amazing people, who make the World Judo Tour a huge success. I can see that they can work without me and that is exactly the power of our organisation. No-one is invaluable or irreplaceable. Everyone is capable of covering different sectors. We, judo people, are adaptable and flexible.
The IJF is an amazing bunch of human beings who work together and support each other, to make judo bigger and more successful. Under the leadership of President Vizer, a lot has been done. Judo has progressed massively and we still have the feeling that there is room for improvement.
I am very lucky to have people within the General Secretariat, who have a massive amount of knowledge. Marine, Michel, Anastasia are here to help me and the transition between Mr Jean-Luc Rougé and me was so smooth. I want to thank them.
My idea is to work very closely with the national federations to find solutions to their problems so we have sustainable active federations throughout the globe. I want to work also hand in hand with the continental unions. We will reinforce our policies and procedures and keep living by our judo values.
It's not only about improving, it is also to adapt to an ever changing world. Society is different from twenty years ago. People are less active and have a wider choice of activities to chose from. We want to encourage them to take judo as a sport. For that we need to improve our product, which is already efficient.
When I see what has been going on in Mongolia for many years, I am very optimistic. I came here in 2009 and later on we had several events held in the country. Where we were ten years ago and where we are today is a totally different world. This is thanks to judo and thanks to the beautiful team of judo people in Mongolia. They love the sport and the positive outcome is just amazing.
If I tell you that I just love judo and that it is so addictive, would you believe me?"
Yes Lisa, we believe you and we know that you will be as dedicated in your new position as you were before. Judo is definitely in good hands.