A lot has to be organized and planned around the Wolfgang Welz Memorial Tournament. The planning team meets months in advance and prepares the tournament. The Lilli-Gäber-Halle is reserved with the city of Mannheim a year in advance. Of course, in addition to the planning team, many other members are at the tournament or support the tournament. Like every year, there were T-shirts for all helpers this year. After various colors in recent years, this year it was a light blue T-shirt. Ergo, the helpers were little brownies in light blue, magical helpers! Magical helpers for this magical tournament!
Hands, hands and more hands
Each year we laid out several hundred square meters of matting on 4 combat areas. Pretty much everyone pitched in to set up and take down the mats. The mats are usually stored in a hall in Schwetzingen, so the mats have to be transported from there to MA-Friedrichsfeld on Fridays.
The beautiful flags, banners and tables also have to be set up or hung up. On Saturday evening after the tournament, many people were again active in dismantling everything as quickly as possible. In order to bring the mats back to Schwetzingen, some members came together at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning to help. The hall in Schwetzingen is only available until 10 a.m., so you had to get up early on Sunday. Thanks to all!
At the table, in another sense
The core business of the tournament, the fights, would not be possible without the cast at the various tables. Those at the tables who correctly interpret the judges’ signals and write down the correct results for the correct winner. Thank you dear table crew, you were on point!
The little ones are BIG
After the final fights, the award ceremonies took place in the various weight classes. In addition, the judges received, among other things, a gift of tea for their participation in the Welz tournament. Many young judoka were helpful, helping Marco with the handover and doing a really, really great job. Thanks to you, great job!
Responsible for the hungry crowd
With the fighters, supervisors, visitors and helpers, several hundred people are in the Lilli Gräber Hall on Saturdays at the Welz tournament, from morning to evening, for a whole day! These hundreds of people are hungry and not everyone brings something with them. That’s why the team in the kitchen and sales in the foyer is one of the largest teams. In addition to drinks such as water, apple spritzer or Fanta, there was also coffee and beer. In addition to the rolls and pretzel sticks, there was also warm food such as various sausages with various side dishes. There was also a cake sale, where the cake donations were used! Thanks to the food team for the delicious food!
Our frenzied reporter
Irena from the press team was at the tournament to take the best and most beautiful snapshots with her SLR. As you can see here and in the other articles about the Welz tournament, the sporting part and Norbert’s 6th Dan, she was able to capture many great photos! In addition, other members were there with cameras and smartphones and took many pictures. Thanks to all the photographers, thanks Irena!
In the background
To ensure that the right fighters, i.e. the winners of the respective fights, advance in the tournament, the results must be recorded and entered by those at the table. The winners are then shuffled back together in the system to allow the next fights to take place in the knockout rounds. Furthermore, the certificates for the people on the podium must be printed correctly. Those responsible for these activities, the technology and the computer system, sit in a side room behind an inconspicuous door in a corner of the hall. Great work from you, thank you!
The jumpers for everything
In addition to the permanent staff at the various locations in the hall, the jumpers are also important, who help out here and there where the man or woman is in need. They sometimes mix in with the hustle and bustle and sometimes look on, but are immediately there. They also often help with setting up and dismantling mats. In addition, helpers were also active at the specially designated parking lot on Steinzeugstrasse to instruct those arriving and show them the way to the hall. Due to construction work, the parking lot in front of the Lilli Gräber Hall was hardly usable. Thanks to the guides and jumpers outside and inside!
The “Master of Tournament”
As the sporting director of the tournament and an important member of the planning team, the Welz tournament is not possible without Marco Welz. He talks to the other planners long in advance and plans as much as he can! As sporting director, he is also responsible for welcoming everyone and holding the award ceremonies. With his work at the Welz tournament, Marco not only sets a sporting exclamation mark in the German tournament landscape, but also honors the memory of his father in a very special way! Thanks Marco!
The main thing: have fun for everyone!
While most of those who came had fun and enjoyed the fights, the light blue brownies from the 1st MJC of course didn’t miss out on having fun either! At the Welz tournament, team does not stand for “It’s great for someone else”, but rather for special cooperation between all departments. All helpers pull together and support each other. If you have any questions, especially from new members, the more experienced ones are there to help and advise. This means you quickly get to know people from other departments that you rarely see otherwise. Working together creates a special sense of community and a lot of joy!
A big THANK YOU to all members who were there!!!
Without you, our members, the Welz tournament could not take place! Every hand is helpful, even every cake donated helps. The Welz tournament can only run so well thanks to your voluntary commitment! Above all, a very big thank you goes to the members of the planning team, who once again organized the Welz tournament first-class this year! The feedback was consistently positive from the fighters, trainers and judges. Only together can such a first-class tournament be put together.
Many, many thanks to all the helpers, the light blue brownies! See you next year at the 48th Wolfgang Welz Memorial Tournament!
