The message reads, in part:
“Over time, the tournament has earned greater recognition and became a prominent international sporting event that brings together police officers, military personnel, rescue workers, and representatives of security and law enforcement agencies from Russia and other countries.
Participants will engage in intense, tough competition and impressive matches. But more importantly, these traditional competitions offer a valuable opportunity to reconnect with old friends and comrades in a warm informal setting. I should also note the vital role played by the tournament’s organisers – the National Union of Judo Veterans and the Defenders of the Fatherland State Foundation to Support Participants in the Special Military Operation, whose dedication has allowed for implementing a large-scale charitable programme, We Remember. This highly popular initiative fulfils an important humanitarian mission of supporting the families of those who have fallen in the line of duty as well as preserving the memory of our fallen heroes.”