I think you have noticed our website is changed but our goal and determination are still the same as before.

The only different is special Needs Judo is no longer participating in the European judo union. This has only one reason, money, but the fact that the EJU represented by Mr.Capalletti, who is now vice director and became responsible for the SN committee, helped a lot to liquidate the whole European Special Needs Judo project by erasing the special needs committee.

I will not bother you in the way this board is treating volunteers, but I ask your attention for the contrast in which the board of the EJU perform their in-policy and the articles of association of the EJU, which declares after the ordinary congress 2009 in article 20:

The EJU shall have the following standing commissions:

• a Sports Commission

• an Education Commission

• a Refereeing Commission

• a Medical Commission

• a Media Commission

• a Marketing Commission

• an Ethics, Disciplinary & athlete’s Commission

• a Special Needs Commission

• a Veterans Commission

• a Judo for Children Commission

• a Kata Commission

20.1. The Administrative Board shall nominate the chairperson of each respective commission. The composition of these commissions is defined by the AB. In 2003 I was officially appointed as coordinator for the Special Needs Committee.

In June 2010, I received a mail from Mr. Capalletti, that the SN Committee no longer exists, since the ordinary congress in December 2009. 

 

Articles of association are legally binding where I come from, but also:

art. 8.19: the Congress shall decide by a simple majority of the votes cast unless otherwise defined in the Articles of association.

To my knowledge, this neither happened, nor did I receive a letter of recognition.

The ways this board acts, astonish me and I wonder if they understand the ethics of judo.

 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights subscribes clearly: 

that all human beings are entitled to live their lives in freedom and will not be restricted in their way of life. No organization can exclude a person on his race, ethnic backgrounds, religion, freedom of speech or disability.

In the convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.

Worldwide government bodies  are required to promote, protect, and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities and ensure that they enjoy full equality under the law.

 

Most members of the European Judo Union which exist of over 50 National judo federations have accepted judokas with a disability and these judoka pay their fee like every other judoka in their federation. Unfortunately only in some judo federations are SN-judokas equally treated, they have the right to learn the art of judo, can train, compete and graduate beyond black belt. 

In my believe to ignore and only tolerate Special Needs Judoka is discrimination. Read more