The importance of this seminar, organised by the IJF in collaboration with the African Judo Union, was highlighted by the presence of Mr Fall Cheikh Tahirou (member of the Senegal Ministry of Sport), Mr Maluki Shadrack (AJU Chairman), Mrs Estony Pridgeon (AJU General Secretary), Mr Alain Kingue Dihang (AJU Head Sport Director), Mr Faisal Raguib (AJU Head Education and Coaching Director), Mr Youssouf Abderahmane (AJU Sport Director), who followed the activities with particular interest and participated in the entire event.
A special mention to the Senegal Judo Federation for the excellent organisation, which in addition to the seminar, also proposed continental and international exams during the African Open, Cadet and Junior Cup.
The seminar saw the participation of 87 referees and coaches from 23 countries. It was led by Mr Ki-Young Jeon (IJF Head Referee Director) in collaboration with Tonino Chyurlia (IJF Refereeing Commission Secretary), Ababacar Ngom (AJU Head Refereeing Director) and Khaled Anwar (AJU Refereeing Director).
Mr Jeon provided an overview of the educational activity of the IJF Referee Commission and the work developed with the World Judo Tour referees and then presented a video recorded by Mr Florin Daniel Lascau, IJF Head Referee Director, focusing on the upcoming events that will bring updates to the refereeing rules, updates made necessary after the experiences of the last Olympic cycle while maintaining the cornerstones of the search for ippon and the safety of the judoka.
The seminar continued with the presentation of a new IJF Referee Commission project led by Armen Bagdasarov, Ki-Young Jeon and Florin Daniel Lascau, called ‘Refereeing Basic Education’ which will be the driving force of education, training and specialisation for those who want to approach the world of refereeing. The project begins with the fundamental principles of the founder of the judo method, Jigoro Kano Shihan, moving on to their application, through the refereeing rules, to competition.
Ki-Young Jeon illustrated points with video clips and also with practical demonstrations on the tatami. There were many topics covered, including referee education, safety, fair play and medical matters.
In the three days following the seminar, theoretical and practical exams were held, which registered 10 new continental referees and 16 international referees.