Tbilisi camp puts young judoka close to their heroes at European Championships week

Around 200 young judoka from Georgia, Greece, Ukraine and Armenia stepped into a special atmosphere at the EJU Kids Camp in Tbilisi. Held during the European Senior Championships Tbilisi 2026, the camp brought together athletes aged 8 to 16 at the Georgian national training centre, a place that already means a lot in the country’s judo story.

There was a clear European feel throughout the camp. Young athletes from Greece, Ukraine and Armenia shared the tatami with the host nation, turning the week into more than just a training session. It became a chance to learn together, meet new people and feel part of a wider judo community.

A major moment came when 2016 Olympic silver medallist Varlam Liparteliani and 2023 European Junior Champion Tengo Zirakashvili demonstrated techniques for the group. Watching elite judoka up close clearly left an impression on the kids, and the photo session with the stars added another memorable moment.

For many of the athletes, the biggest lesson was how close top-level judo can feel.

Among the participants was 14-year-old Zarina Akimova from Kyiv, one of 24 athletes from Ukraine at the camp. She has trained for about five years and works five times a week, with a special interest in Japanese style judo. For her, the camp offered both new ideas and new connections.

Armenia was represented by eight judoka, including 12-year-old Viacheslav Poghosyan, who spoke about how seriously he takes the sport and how important it was for him to gain experience from champions. Greece also had a strong presence with 32 athletes. Sixteen-year-old Iris Valsami, who started judo as a small child after following her older brother onto the tatami, highlighted the family feeling around the sport.

Most of the children came from host nation Georgia, and their excitement was easy to see. Demetre Bakuridze, 12, described judo as fun, beautiful and something that brings friends together. The EJU Kids Camp continues this week alongside the European Senior Championships Tbilisi 2026.

Source: EJU_News