It's a big blow for the French judo federation.
Its flagship tournament, the Grand Slam of Paris-Bercy, will no longer be able to take place before the Olympic Games.
At the same time, as a consequence of the health crisis, licenses are in free fall.
ANALYSIS
The prestigious Paris-Bercy tournament, which is traditionally held at the start of the year, had been postponed to early May.
But the international judo federation has just given the date to Russia (in Kazan from May 5 to 7) and proposes to postpone the Parisian Grand Slam until October.
It will therefore no longer be an Olympic qualifying tournament.
And at the same time, licenses in France are in free fall, illustration of a particularly complicated year for hexagonal judo.
A decision deplored by the president of the FFJ
"It's a tournament that allows the French to glean points, to win their place for the Olympic Games. Losing the qualifying tournament in your country is still embarrassing, since when you organize a tournament in your country, you have four entered per category. While outside, you have one or two participants per category ", laments the new president of the French federation, Stéphane Nomis, with Europe 1." In addition, it was our 50th anniversary. It's the biggest judo tournament in the world. "
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The international federation justifies its choice for an unsigned contract problem and proposes a postponement to October.
"It's not the same party", underlines Stéphane Nomis.
"I know very well that after the Olympics the best athletes will not be there."
In 2022, however, the Grand Slam would return to its usual dates.
180,000 licenses lost and 300 clubs closed
But the Paris tournament is just one problem among many, for the one who dethroned Jean-Luc Rougé at the end of November.
The newly elected president also has to deal with the drop in licenses, the dojos being closed due to the epidemic.
"We lost 180,000 licensees, which is huge. And we will have to put a big recovery plan to recover everyone", insists the leader.
To date, the FFJ has only registered 328,950 licenses and also deplores the closure of 300 clubs!
The problem is all the more serious as licenses constitute the main source of revenue for the federation.
A mode of operation that Stéphane Nomis wants to change.
2 belts in a year for children?
As for the children, who "in normal times are more than 300,000", the president of the FFJDA hopes to pass them two belts this year, if the skills are acquired.
"As soon as we are able, we will try to make up for lost time. It means that they will have to work more, but they will be happy to work more, since the dojos will be reopened", he wants to believe.
Stéphane Nomis concludes: "We must reform our sport to make it more attractive and more dynamic. We have ideas!"