This weekend an impressive era in the European Judo Union comes to an end. Otto KNEITINGER (GER), 70, is leaving the European judo stage after 25 years and one month (+300 months, +9,100 days). The Bavarian entrepreneur (master pastry chef, hotelier, Ippon Gear founder) and long-time club manager of TSV-Abensberg served as EJU President, Vice President of Marketing and consultant during this quarter of a century.
“From now on, skiing and holidays in Tuscany are on my retirement program. It is the right time for change. I wish my successor Ivan Todorov and his team every success. I would like to thank you for a very nice, challenging and interesting time,” emphasized Otto Kneitinger at his last executive board meeting in Budapest. “I have made many lifelong friends in these 25-plus years. And of course I will remain connected to judo.”
Otto Kneitinger’s EJU era began in October 1999. “Marius Vizer called me back then and asked whether I would run as his vice president for the EJU. And I spontaneously agreed.” Kneitinger gave his first speech as Vice President of Marketing at the congress in Basel in January 2000. “It was my very first talk and I was incredibly nervous. I still think back to that day.”
For four years, a house in his hometown of Abensberg served as the EJU headquarters, with today’s IJF chief referee director Florin Daniel Lascau as general secretary.
In February 2022, after the outbreak of the war of aggression in Ukraine, Otto Kneitinger took over the office of interim president of the EJU, only to install László Tóth as president in June of the same year. “I had already announced back then that I would be stepping down at the beginning of 2025. “That was agreed upon with my family,” emphasizes the father of three.
Instead of going to the Olympic training camp in Mittersill in January 2025, he is going skiing in Austria, more precisely in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. A vacation to Tuscany is planned for spring. Just in time for his retirement from EJU, the 70-year-old marketing expert has moved into a new house in Abensberg – with an even better quality of life. “I will enjoy my retirement to the fullest and hopefully stay as healthy as I am today for a long time to come.” Of course it won’t be possible without judo…
“Otto Kneitinger has played a key role in the development of the EJU over the last 25 years, especially in the difficult last few years. We owe him a great debt of gratitude,” said IJF President Marius L. Vizer and EJU President Dr. László Tóth in unison.
Otto Kneitinger was awarded 6th Dan at the Ordinary Congress by Jean-Luc Rougé in recognition of his great achievements.
Text and image: EJU
Otto Kneitinger has had a significant and progressive influence on international judo events. He has deservedly been recognized for his wealth of experience; what he has achieved is second to none. Despite all his own drive and ideas, Otto himself has always continued to develop, not only in terms of modern association work, but also in the fact of motivating young people to get involved and providing them with significant support in doing so! Congratulations and THANK YOU SO MUCH! Stay healthy!
Text: Florian Ellmann, teaching assistant
