The Secretary of State for Youth and Sports announced on Tuesday an adjustment to the amount given to judokas as travel aid, among other measures, after a meeting with the Portuguese Judo Federation and the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) .
The meeting between the three parties, which brought together governor João Paulo Correia with the president of the COP, José Manuel Constantino, and the judo federation leader, Jorge Fernandes, after an open letter from seven judokas criticizing the functioning of the sport in Portugal and denouncing an “unsustainable and toxic climate”.
Oppressive and discriminatory attitudes, toxic climate, intimidation: seven Olympic judoka denounce the Federation in an open letter
According to João Paulo Correia, who made the meeting and its results public on the social network Twitter, Fernandes “thanked the suggestions made by the group of athletes“, giving rise to a series of measures agreed between the parties, from the beginning “to respond to the request made that participation in international practices, as well as competitions outside the country”, result from a planning agreed upon by the federation, coach and athlete.
me and the president @COPPORTUGAL We met today with the President of the Portuguese Judo Federation (FPJ), who thanked the suggestions made by the group of athletes who signed an open letter and decided the following:
(1/4)– João Paulo Correia (@jpcorreia_sejd) August 16, 2022
According to the Secretary of State, who also met later with the athletes, it was agreed “adjust the amount paid to each athlete for travel supportaccording to the official tables of the public administration”.
After the Judo World Cups, which will take place in Tashkent between October 6 and 13, “a re-evaluation of the national practice system is planned, listening to the respective coaches and selectors”.
We also met with the group of athletes who signed the open letter, to whom the decisions of the Portuguese Judo Federation were transmitted and discussed”, revealed João Paulo Correia.
Reunimos também com o grupo de atletas que subscreveu a carta aberta, ao qual foram transmitidas e debatidas as decisões da Federação Portuguesa de Judo.
— João Paulo Correia (@jpcorreia_sejd) August 16, 2022
The letter is signed by seven of the 10 athletes of the Olympic project of the modality: Telma Monteiro, Bárbara Timo, Rochele Nunes, Patrícia Sampaio, Catarina Costa, Anri Egutidze and Rodrigo Lopes.
In the letter there are many criticisms of the president of the Portuguese Judo Federation, Jorge Fernandes, accused of discrimination and threats, in what they say is an “unsustainable and toxic climate”.
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One of the points repeatedly pointed out by the judokas, five of whom are Benfica athletes, is the need to carry out 70/80% of the 52 internships in Coimbrawhich, according to them, causes them “emotional exhaustion” and prevents them from “participating in international internships and training with the best”.
However, Jorge Fernandes rejected the criticism directed at him by the seven Olympic judokas and pointed out that there is a model for competition and that the same must follow.
Reactions have emerged from various places, including the coach Ana Hormigo, who expressed solidarity with the athletes, but also from the Portuguese Olympic Athletes Association, who took the same position.
Source: Observadora
