Why Poreč Keeps Pulling the Judo World Back Every Summer

Poreč is again at the heart of international judo as JudoFest brings together athletes, coaches and officials for one of the sport’s key summer gatherings. In Croatia, the European Judo Union Olympic Training Camp and the Porec Cadet Training Camp are once more the main attraction, filling the tatami with proven champions and ambitious young judoka.

Held at Intersport Hall in Zelena Laguna, the event has drawn more than 600 senior athletes from over 40 countries, along with 200 cadets. From 8th to 13th June, Olympic medallists, world champions and rising names are sharing the same training space, giving the camp the kind of intensity that has made Poreč a favourite stop on the international circuit.

For European judo, the line-up is especially striking. Czech star Lukáš Krpálek, a two-time Olympic champion and a familiar face in Poreč, is back once again. Georgia’s team also arrives with major firepower, led by Olympic champion Lasha Shavdatuashvili and joined by world champions Tato Grigalashvili and Eteri Liparteliani.

There is strong European depth elsewhere too. World number one Lara Cvjetko is training in Poreč, as is Germany’s Anna Monta Olek and Portuguese double world champion Jorge Fonseca. The presence of so many established names gives younger athletes a rare chance to measure themselves against some of the best judoka in the world, all in the same camp.

Croatia’s role goes far beyond hosting. More than 50 Croatian senior athletes and around 40 cadets are taking part, supported by a large national coaching team. That local presence matters, especially for a country that can now welcome top-level international judo without sending its athletes abroad.

Barbara Đinović, née Matić, remains closely involved with the Croatian Judo Federation while expecting her first child in three months. Her connection to the event adds another layer to the atmosphere around the camp, and she praised both the training level and the organisation, pointing to the value of bringing so many strong judoka together in one place.

Croatian women’s national team coach Dragan Crnov also underlined how important it is to host an event like this. For home athletes, the chance to work with elite international partners on familiar ground is a major opportunity, and one that Croatia clearly wants to maximise.

Poreč is not just hosting judo, it is shaping a huge week of it.

The appeal is not only on the mat. Participants stay within the Plava Laguna resort, where accommodation, recovery areas and leisure options are all close at hand. Krpálek highlighted exactly that balance, noting the quality of the facilities, the short distances and even the chance to enjoy the sea after training.

JudoFest also stretches beyond the senior and cadet camps. From 14th to 18th June, the programme continues with U14 and U16 training camps led by world champion Ákos Braun, inclusive judo sessions, a kata seminar from Kodokan instructors and a family camp for parents with children under ten.

With total participation expected to reach 1,100 people, JudoFest in Poreč stands out for more than numbers alone. It brings elite preparation, education, inclusion and family activity into one setting, which is a big reason the judo world keeps coming back.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation