Cadiz will host the Raúl Calvo Memorial in October

The Cádiz City Council and the Andalusian Judo Federation have announced this Tuesday that this year the city recovers the International Raúl Calvo Memorial Tournament, which will be held on October 23 and 24 its 49th edition. In addition, complementary activities have been designed that, within the ‘Judo for everyone’ program, will be carried out from the month of September to promote this sport through exhibitions for the general public and specific actions focused on schoolchildren and the elderly through the Health Club of the Municipal Sports Institute (IMD).

This was explained at a press conference by the Councilor for Sports, José Ramón Páez, together with the President of the Andalusian Judo Federation, Carlos Calvo, and Miguel Padial, vice president and arbitration director of the federation. Páez has emphasized the importance of this sporting event returning to Raúl Calvo’s hometown, as well as the effort developed jointly with the federation to “open it up to the public”.

As you have recalled, this international tournament pays tribute to Raúl Calvo Clavero, a Cadiz judoka who died on November 5, 1971 in an unfortunate sports accident when he was just 20 years old, treasuring an outstanding record despite his youth. The city of Cadiz and numerous institutions paid tribute to him, deciding the Higher Sports Council and the National Judo Federation to perpetuate his memory by creating the International Junior Championship of Spain that would bear his name. In 1976 he receives the World Championship category and in 1984 the European Championship category.

The Memorial has always been recognized and valued by the large number of countries that have participated in its various editions, also being a pioneer when it comes to promoting the participation of women in sport, since in this team competition women and men compete from the beginning under equal conditions, with the same rules and requirements.

As for the 49th Raúl Calvo Memorial Tournament, they have advanced that it will begin on Saturday October 22 with a seminar of international experts in this sport discipline. That same day, the Raúl Calvo Memorial Trophy will be held at the Ciudad de Cádiz Sports Complex, as well as a children’s judo party. A day later the seminar will continue with international experts, in addition to including a visit to the city by teams and international press.

On the other hand, the City Council and the Andalusian Judo Federation have collaborated in the design of a program of activities and exhibitions of a sporting, social and health nature that, under the title ‘Judo for everyone’, will take place from September covering different audiences and spaces in the city.

Thus, judo exhibitions will be held in different Cadiz schools to promote this sport, which “It has been shown that it generates habits of good behavior in youth and childhood, creating awareness and respect towards others”, meaning that the students who practice it tend to play “a mediating role in situations such as bullying”.

On the other hand, the ‘Safe Falls’ project will be developed with the elderly in the IMD Health Club launched by the Andalusian Judo Federation with the universities of Seville and Granada, mainly focused on how to avoid injuries when a fall occurs. Likewise, ‘Judo for everyone’ also includes different activities to revitalize local clubs.