OREANDA-NEWS. March 22, 2012. The Judo Grand Prix in Dusseldorf has a acquired a new sponsor: Energy Consulting Group. The Russian IT and Consulting Company will be an important partner of the event organised by the German Judo Federation in cooperation with sport., reported the press-centre of Energy Consulting.

“We have built up a main pillar for the European market here in Dusseldorf with the Energy Consulting Europe GmbH and are already supporting Fortuna Dusseldorf as Premium Partner. Judo enjoys a great tradition in Russia. So it was obvious to support the Judo Grand Prix in the sports city of Dusseldorf as a sponsor”, disclosed Mikhail Ponomarev, Chairman of the Board of Energy Consulting Group.

To Christina Begale, spokeswoman of the Executive Board of sportAgentur Dusseldorf, the engagement of Energy Consulting Group underlines the importance of the Judo Grand Prix and the attractiveness of the sports city of Dusseldorf: “To have an international consulting company with Energy Consulting Group at your side shows that we are on the right road with the organisation of the Judo Grand Prix in the sports city of Dusseldorf.”

The third edition of the Judo Grand Prix at Mitsubishi Electric HALL in Dusseldorf once again promises top sport. There are not only World Cup medals and prize money to be gained by the approximately 500 judokas from more than 60 nations, but also important points in the qualification for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London.

Once again judokas from Japan will be competing. The athletes from the mother country of Judo clearly dominated the nations rankings in 2011 with six gold, two silver and two bronze medals, ahead of Germany (1-3-1). Andreas Toelzer achieved the German triumph when he defeated 2004 Olympic and 2005 World champion, Japanese Keiji Suzuki, by Ippon after 1.41 minutes in the over 100kg category.

Peter Frese, President of the German Judo Federation, DJB, always likes to come to Dusseldorf with his „baggage“: „Thanks to the close partnership with the sports city of Dusseldorf and the support of the County of North-Rhine Westphalia we can here focus fully on the sporting aspects.” The competitions begin at 9:30hrs on both days.

Further information about the 2012 Judo Grand Prix Dusseldorf can be obtained at www.judo-grandprix.de