Nuno Delgado, a judoka who won the first Olympic medal for Portuguese judo, in 2000, admits to TSF that he is concerned about the instability in the relationship between the athletes and the Federation and asks the various entities, including the Government, to seek to find a “just and adequate solution” to the problem.
“Above all, what I would like to see happen is that the mediation of the responsible bodies, the guardianship, the Olympic committee, the athletes’ associations themselves could, for the good of the destiny of Portuguese judo, find a solution that was fair. and proper,” he said.
The statements of the former Olympic medalist follow the complaint made this Monday by Telma Monteiro. In social networks, the judoka said that the coach Ana Hormigo was fired on the eve of the team’s departure for an Olympic qualifying tournament. Last summer, several judokas signed an open letter complaining about the toxic and unsustainable climate in the Portuguese Federation.
Nuno Delgado does not know what is happening specifically, but he asks the athletes to comply with the Federation’s regulations, because the direction headed by Jorge Fernandes is in office.
“We have to be objective, pragmatic and look at what is essential,” he defends, adding that feeding “this discourse on social networks” is not good for anyone, neither for the athletes nor for the federation. Thus, her wish is only that both Telma Monteiro and all the athletes have the “best possible conditions” and that everything return “quickly” to normal.
In statements to TSF, and before Telma Monteiro’s complaint, Jorge Fernandes denied having fired the national coach Ana Hormigo, although he acknowledged that she “can no longer continue”. The official also explained that he asked the “federation attorney to get in touch” with Ana Hormigo.
The Secretary of State for Youth and Sports already recognizes, also on the antenna of TSFthat it is “strange” that, a few days after the Government agreed to increase funding for the Olympic project, the Portuguese Judo Federation informs two athletes that it has run out of funds for their preparation.
João Paulo Correia also confirmed that he received a complaint accusing the federation of having withdrawn funding from two judokas. The Government is attentive, and it is the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) that supervises
*With Melissa Lopes
Source: TSF
