Less Than a Year to Go Until EYOF Lignano Sabbiadoro 2027
With less than a year to go before the event, judo is also entering the crucial phase of preparations, following a recent visit by the European Judo Union (EJU) to assess the facilities, organisation and competition conditions ahead of the event.
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Recently, the European Olympic Committee marked one year to go until the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) returns to Lignano Sabbiadoro, with the event set to take place from 24 July to 1 August 2027. Celebrations to mark the milestone were held in Lignano Sabbiadoro and presented by Alice Gnatta, who represented Italy in rowing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and recently claimed gold in the Women’s Double Sculls at the World Rowing Cup in Plovdiv.
The 2027 edition will carry particular significance, as Lignano Sabbiadoro becomes the first city to host the Summer EYOF for a second time, 22 years after welcoming the event in 2005. Around 4,000 athletes aged between 14 and 18 are expected to compete across 14 sports, coming together for an experience that reaches far beyond competition.
Líney Rut Halldórsdóttir, EYOF Commission Chair and EOC Executive Committee Member, shared during an interview with the EOC: “We are excited for EYOF 2027 and the chance to return to Lignano Sabbiadoro for a second time 22 years on from its first hosting. It is an excellent location for this event in a beautiful part of Italy and offers our young athletes a unique experience of a multi-sport event. It is an added bonus that the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia brings further expertise from its hosting of the Winter EYOF in 2023.”
With less than a year remaining, preparations are steadily taking shape along the Italian coast, and judo is very much part of that process, specifically providing a platform for 16- and 17-year-old athletes to showcase their talent.
A recent site visit was carried out by EJU Vice President Ms Catarina Rodrigues and EJU Head Sport Director Urska Zolnir Jugovar, the two appointed technical delegates for this event, offering an important opportunity to see first-hand the progress being made. The EJU team met EYOF 2027 President Giorgio Brandolin, EYOF 2027 General Director Giorgio Kaidisch, EYOF 2027 Judo Coordinator Maria Grazia Perrucci and EYOF 2027 Sport Manager Anna De Prophetis on site, among other members of the local team, to exchange ideas and discuss preparation plans ahead of the event.
Despite the intensity of the summer heat, the visit left a strong impression, not only because of the venue and the space available but also through the dedication of the Organising Committee and the continued commitment of the European Olympic Committees.
Mrs Zolnir Jugovar shared further:
“Preparations for the European Youth Olympic Festival, EYOF 2027, are already underway. At the beginning of August, Catarina Rodrigues, EJU Vice-President for Sport, and I visited Lignano Sabbiadoro. We met with representatives of the Organising Committee and inspected the venue for the judo competition.
The main focus of our visit was the Palazzetto Polifunzionale sports hall at Bella Italia Village. From 27 to 31 July 2027, the venue will welcome Europe’s best young judoka. Together with the organisers, we inspected the competition hall and the areas for warm-up, training, weigh-in, technical meetings and athlete accommodation. The visit was not only about checking the facilities. Our main goal was to find the best solutions for a safe and well-organised competition. We discussed the competition programme, venue layout, individual and mixed team events, transportation, accommodation, meals, medal ceremonies, medical support, media activities and live streaming.
Special attention was given to providing the best possible conditions for the young athletes. We want EYOF to offer them not only a high-level competition but also an unforgettable sporting experience. This visit was an important step in the preparations for EYOF 2027. Close cooperation between the Organising Committee and the EJU teams will continue over the coming months.
There is still almost one year until the competition but our shared goal is already clear: to organise an excellent event that puts young athletes, their stories and the future of European judo at the centre.”
For now, the focus remains on preparation. With each site visit, meeting and milestone, Lignano Sabbiadoro moves another step closer to welcoming Europe’s young athletes for a week that will be about much more than medals: an opportunity to compete, learn, build friendships and experience the values of sport together.
Author: EJU Media
