The national A-Judotag of Special Olympics Switzerland took place in Uster on Sunday, February 13th. The Judo Club Uster was the local organizer and host of this event. Due to Corona, the field of participants was a little smaller than usual, but there were judoka from various judo clubs, including Wohlen, Weinfelden, Rheintal and Uster. Everyone was very happy to see each other back on the mat.
In the morning there was a technical course: here the judoka practiced many important details of their nage no kata (prescribed forms of throwing). This was the last opportunity to practice together for the Special Olympics National Games in St. Gallen in mid-June. The National Games are the largest national event of Special Olympics Switzerland for the judoka and only take place once every four years. Here you will fight for valuable medals in all judo disciplines together with almost a hundred other judoka. What is special about the National Games is that competitions in about ten other sports take place parallel to judo.
That’s why the second discipline was on the program in the afternoon: a mixed team event. Mixed teams are put together here with judoka from various clubs, various forms of impairment and various levels of experience.
Experiencing together, thriving together, having fun together and fighting together was the motto of the National A Judo Day in Uster.
The Judo Club Uster has been offering judo for children, young people and adults with disabilities or autism spectrum disorders for more than 20 years. Special Olympics has adapted the processes and competition rules in such a way that this target group can also compete fairly and in a safe environment.
Text: Cecilia Evenblij
