In Villorba, the tatami is transformed into a place of meeting and growth, where barriers are broken down and inclusion becomes the protagonist. On Sunday 24 November, at the municipal gym of Catena di Villorba, the national inclusive judo championship will be held, an event that promises to be much more than a simple sporting competition.
Organized by the ASD Judo Opitergium, under the guidance of master Alan Semenzin, 4th dan, the championship is sponsored by the Municipality of Villorba and supported by prestigious bodies such as the Ministry for Sport and Youth, the Italian Paralympic Committee, INAIL and the Veneto Region . Free entry underlines the intent to make this day accessible to all, promoting participation and sharing. Inclusive judo, inspired by the principles of respect, mutual help and personal growth, aims to create an environment in which each participant can express their potential. Master Alan Semenzin explained that judo is not just a sport, but a journey of personal transformation, and added that sharing the tatami with athletes of different abilities allows us to overcome prejudices and grow together, following the principle of “mutual benefit” that guides this discipline.
The day will begin at 9am with the national games, followed, from 10am to 11am, by the national inclusive judo championship “Libertas”. The competitions will culminate with awards and lunch, but the event will not stop there. In the afternoon, at 2 pm, a conference on sports inclusion will be held with Dr. Nicole Maussier, an expert in the sector, and Dr. Fabio La Malfa, author of texts on inclusive judo. This will be followed at 4pm by a workshop dedicated to crisis management in sport, led by the psychologist Emanuela Fornasier and the maestro Vittorio Casellato. Practical and theoretical training sessions for judo technicians and teachers will also be organized throughout the day, along with entertainment spaces designed for athletes. A program that leaves no room for boredom and offers opportunities for learning and growth for all participants.
The mayor of Villorba, Francesco Soligo, underlined the importance of this event, declaring that there cannot be sport without inclusion and that the administration strongly supports events that promote these values. Sports councilor Egidio Barbon also expressed his enthusiasm, stating that sport is everyone’s right and that events like this demonstrate how fundamental it is to offer sporting opportunities that leave no one behind.
