The Valencia Judo Olympic Training camp has established a new benchmark for international participation, drawing athletes to the Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Judo de València, according to local reports. The gathering transforms the Spanish coastal city into a primary hub for elite combat sports preparation as competitors look ahead to major global tournaments.
Global Turnout and Record Participation
The scale of this year’s camp reflects a sharp expansion in international interest. According to coverage from MARCA, the non-competitive training event brought together roughly 1,200 participants across its cadet, junior, and senior phases in Benimaclet, with nearly 700 athletes traveling from 48 foreign nations spanning four continents. Foreign competitors account for approximately 60 percent of the field, while athletes from the rest of Spain represent 25 percent and local competitors from the Comunitat Valenciana make up the remaining 15 percent.
Delegations from prominent judo federations—including Italy, France, Japan, the Netherlands, the United States, and Ukraine—converged on the tatami to test themselves against different tactical styles. Organizers structured the camp across distinct developmental windows, separating younger cadets from senior competitors and junior hopefuls to optimize mat space and coaching oversight.
High-Performance Preparation for International Stars
Olympic champions, world title holders, and continental medalists use the Valencia camp to sharpen their techniques during a demanding portion of the international calendar. With qualification pathways and peak competitions on the horizon, elite competitors rely on the high-density randori sessions to adjust their grips, throws, and ne-waza ground strategies against unfamiliar opponents.
“For valencian judo, it is an authentic privilege to count on Olympic, world, and continental champions on our tatami,” Sugoi Uriarte, one of the event’s organizers, told MARCA. “Judo is an individual sport that is trained in a team, and therefore it is very important to train with people and different styles. Here they can train with the best at a global level and learn alongside great judokas.”
Institutional Support and Regional Impact
The training camp operates with backing from regional sports initiatives, having secured recognition through the Emprén Esport 2023 program promoted by the Fundación Trinidad Alfonso in collaboration with MARCA. Representatives from the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), the Federación Española de Judo, the Federación Valenciana de Judo, the Fundación Deportiva Municipal, and the Fundación Trinidad Alfonso visited the facility to inspect the training sessions and meet with visiting coaches.
Training schedules continue daily at the high-performance center, with delegations utilizing the remaining sessions to finalize tactical adjustments ahead of the upcoming international circuit events.
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