Thessaloniki was the hotspot for police athletes at the beginning of November. At the congress of the official continental sports association USPE of the European member countries, which is an “official police sports association” in Europe, the member countries take part with two delegates each. Germany is represented in the USPE by the German Police Sports Board (DPSK). “So of course they took part Chairman of the DPSK, Dr. Maren Freyher, took part as a delegate and I was given the great honor of being the second delegate of the DPSK,” reports Johannes Daxbacher great joy.
There was a reason for that too. Johannes Daxbacher was awarded the USPE Fairness Award 2022 – 2024. On the one hand, this honored his many years of work in the DPSK and thus also in the European Association. His international commitment to judo for peace and his continuous promotion of judo and police values were also recognized. Ultimately, the deciding factor was his behavior and that of the entire German team at the last European Police Championships in Sofia in June. “We have always shown ourselves to be fair losers,” is how he emphasizes his attitude towards stronger opponents.
“This award came as a surprise to me and I was very happy about it.” Johannes Daxbacher was already honored by the USPE with the Medal of Honor in 2019, and now with the Fairness Award. “It’s great that a judoka receives these awards,” he says, proud of the honors.
In addition, he was elected by the delegates to the USPE Technical Commission. “I will primarily be able to take care of “Judo for the European Police”. This includes, among other things, the preparation and organization of the next European Police Championships in 2027 or 2028.” But he will also continue the pioneering role he played in Germany at the European level. He is striving for an agreement between the police and the respective judo association to improve cooperation in other countries. “Both sides can participate in this offer and judo is particularly suitable for this.”
Johannes Daxbacher has built up a good network on both a continental and global level, which he would like to use for his new role. “It is a great pleasure for me that the former USPE General Secretary Andreas Röhner from Thuringia has now been elected Vice President. I am looking forward to my task and will do my best, together with Andreas Röhner, to represent judo and Germany well in the USPE sense. It will definitely be interesting.”
