“We have about twenty athletes who earn a good living, but for everything else, it’s a hassle”, explained Stéphane Nomis during the development of the Judo Pro League. Faced with this observation, the French Judo Federation launched its very first professional championship on Saturday, November 5.
12 professional teams will compete in mixed teams of 6 judokas from November 15th. The first evenings are planned in Montpellier, Blanc-Mesnil, Bordeaux or even Asnières. But major French judo clubs are missing.
In July 2021, more than 5 million spectators vibrated in front of their television. France goes gold by teams at the Tokyo Olympics, under the noses and beards of the Japanese. But the rest of the year, apart from the appearances of Clarisse Agbegnenou et Teddy Riner, judo is far from being the most publicized sport. A deficit that the Federation intends to fill (370 000 practitioners in 2021).
The Judo Pro League, a new era for French judo. #JudoProLeague pic.twitter.com/dK1nzF60p3
— Judo Pro League (@proleaguejudo) November 5, 2022
“The Judo Pro League adds to the existing one. It does not replace the French championship, but it mediates judo throughout the year, drawing inspiration from league 1. It is an innovative championship with matches on weekdays, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and a short format over 2 hours”, exposes Jean Mesnildrey, president of the Normandy Judo League, which is one of the 12 teams involved in the championship.
To find its audience, the professional league relied on the existing one. Namely, a championship by mixed teams which surfs on the popularity of the format with the general public: “The formula was well received, especially during the last world championships and soon during the European championship by mixed teams, in Mulhouse, on November 12th. This will attract public and private partners because today athletes are struggling to make a living from their discipline.” adds the president of the Normandy league.
Made up of 12 teams of six athletes (féminines : -57kg, -70 kg, +70kg et masculins : -73 kg, -90kg, +90kg), the competition is held in two parts. Four evenings make up the first round, after which 8 teams will qualify for the final draw. “We are going to do an ambitious new project, televised, and we are going to compete with all the other sports”, aspired to the president of the Federation, Stéphane Nomis, when the championship was made official.
If the professional judo league project had been in the federation’s pipeline for some time, its launch was not unanimous. Several major clubs are missing: no PSG Judo or Champigny, the leading club for girls (3 titles last week during the French championship). “The cThe sports calendar is very busy at the end of 2022 at national and international level and it is a financial commitment. Some clubs are waiting to see how it will be structured before launching. Moreover, of the 12 clubs present, three gave the green light 8 days ago.recognizes for his part Jean Mesnildrey.
Because with a starting budget of 100,000 euros per participating club and without a TV broadcaster for the moment, the launch of the Judo Pro League is a leap into the unknown. “DNegotiations are underway with two major media groups for the 2023 season. This is important for the clubs.”concludes the Norman official.
