Mr. Vizer was joined by Hon Chris Agius, Parliamentary
Secretary for Sports, and Mr. Envic Galea president of the Malta Judo
Federation at the the Auberge de Castille and Leon, situated in Castille Place,
after receiving a special invitation from the Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Muscat.
Mr. Vizer, Hon Joseph Muscat, Hon Chris Agius, Mr. Galea
The eighth edition of the IJF Kata World Championships took
place on Saturday and Sunday and featured 300 judoka from 30 counties and five
continents attended.
The delegation reviewed the Kata Worlds in the private
office of the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Muscat said that the Government was more than
pleased to help the Maltese Judo Federation finalise their new training centre.
He thanked Mr Vizer for supporting the Federation and for the work he is doing
for judo around the world as Malta.
Mr Vizer Presenting Gold Medal to Maltese Prime Minister
Mr. Vizer thanked the Prime Minister for the invitation and
presented him with the IJF Gold Medal. The IJF President also presented Hon
Chris Agius with the IJF Tournament plaque for his support to Maltese Judo.
The reception also followed a visit by the IJF President to
Malta’s new judo academy.
Mr. Vizer led a delegation which included Mr. Mohamed Meridja,
IJF Education and Coaching Director, Mr. Uemura Haruki, IJF World Promotion
Director and Kodokan President, Hon Dr Joe Mizzi Minister for Transport and
Infrastructure and Envic Galea President of the Mala Judo Foundation and Alex
Bezzina, Malta Judo Federation Sports Director, who was responsible for the
planning of the new training centre.
Mr Vizer, Hon Mizzi, and VIPs visiting the Malta Judo Academy
The delegation toured the new light structure, with
insulated roof and walls designed to be able to serve the Maltese Judo
community. This centre will serve as training centre for the National team and
will attract school children to the sport. It will also host the Andrew Bertie
Sport Science institute in the annexes.
Group Photo Kata Seminar Malta Judo Academy - 120 Kata Students from 30 countries attended
Under the dominant three metre picture of Jigoro Kano, Hon Minister
Mizzi showed how his ministry and that of Sportmalta helped to make the dream a
reality for the Maltese Judo community. Mr Vizer liked the innovative modern
structure and said this type of construction could be ideal in many countries
around the world as it is an easy economical solution for a good dojo.
Mr. Galea thanked Mr Vizer for the support of the judogi and
tatami which the will be very useful in the introduction of judo in schools and
he also thanked Minister Mizzi for the support he gave the Malta judo
Foundation in relation to the infrastructure and completion the centre. He also
thanked Hon Chris Agius PS for Sport and Sportmalta for financing the
structure.
The very first activity in the academy was the IJF Kata
Worlds Training Camp, where experts of the Kodokan reviewed the five kata under
the vigilant observation of Mr. Uemura Haruki and Mr Franco Capelletti, Chairman
of the IJF Kata Commission.