The event, in Timóteo, will bring together more than 700 children from 12 municipalities in Minas Gerais.
Timóteo will be the state capital of judo, this Saturday (28), with the 24th Judo Festival of Ajudôu.Org. From 8 am to noon, more than 700 judokas will gather at the York José Martins Gym (Ginásio Coberto), on Avenida 31 de Outubro in the city center, for an event with many emotions and competitions for athletes.
Since its founding in 1995, every year this type of festival, even if only between a few nuclei, is carried out by the project. Ajudôu.Org works with the vision that the universal values of sport, such as: discipline, cooperation, altruism, overcoming, respect for diversity, integrity and honesty, have the power to transform young people into true and healthy citizens. When they participate in an event of this size, these values are even stronger, creating a sense of belonging to a universal sports community.
Ajudôu helps keep the judo tradition alive in the region
Vale do Aço has always been one of the biggest judo centers in Minas Gerais, since the 1970s. Not by chance, Ajudôu.Org was born in Timóteo and insists on keeping this tradition of Japanese martial art alive in the region. In the city, Ajudôu is supported by the municipal administration, with more than 600 children practicing the sport for free in six municipal schools and Apae.
In the vast majority of other municipalities where the ONG operates, the discovery of judo came through the project. In addition to the Timorese judokas, 11 other cities where Ajudôu operates will bring their delegations, namely: São José do Goiabal, Belo Oriente, Bugre, Córrego Novo, Virginópolis, Santa Bárbara, Periquito, Naque, Antônio Dias and Nova Era.
Júlio César Lana Jaques, manager of Associação Ajudôu.org, believes that the festival is a great opportunity for society to see well-executed public policies that really make a difference in people’s lives. “We understand that our role transcends sport. Social inclusion is also achieved with quality information, promotion of friendships and socialization of young people. With the festival, we encourage students to exchange experiences and give them the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge acquired in training”, says Júlio.
About the Ajudôu.Org
Ajudôu is a Non-Governmental Organization, recognized for its public utility in the municipal and state spheres. It was founded in 1995, in Timóteo-MG, and has already served more than 23,000 children and adolescents with free judo and other sports classes. Currently, Ajudôu is present in more than 20 cities in Minas Gerais.
