Peter Gardiner
Director of Sportif Judo

Peter Gardiner is founder of Sportif Judo. Peter has had a life time in judo and has coached players as beginners who have gone on to become Olympians.

Peter Gardiner

“While working in India as National Coach I witnessed the daily hardships that many people living in poverty have to face. I remember stopping in a Delhi street to talk to a severely disabled boy who was begging. As I walked away I thought this is not good enough, someone has to do something to help these children…….. and then I realised we all have to do something. “

Sportif Friends of Judo

The Sportif International will be the official launching for Friends of Judo, a social project on a global scale. Through this project our aim is to provide support, education and in some cases food for children living in poverty. The wheels are in motion and we have started to mobilize key figures in World Judo, these are the Friends of Judo.

Judoka, Olympic Medallist, Lawyer, CNN Hero

Flavio Canto is an Olympic Medallist in judo. Over the past 10 years he has established a judo project called “Reaction” for young people living in one of Rio de Janeiro biggest Favelas (slums). His work is amazing, inspiring and life changing. Flavio has been made a “CNN hero” and you can see him talking about his project with Larry King on Larry King Live. The interview is on the CNN site.

Working with Flavio, Friends of Judo’s aim is to find sponsorship funding to bring 5 boys, 5 girls and 3 coaches from the Reaction project in Brazil to the Sportif International in 2012. To provide them with an opportunity to travel, experience different cultures, to learn and to share their experience with other children in Reaction.

Nuno Delgado

Judoka, Olympic Medallist, Portuguese Depute Chief de Commission for London 2012 Olympic Games

Nuno Delgado is also an Olympic medallist in judo. Nuno is the founder of a social project in Portugal called “Champions for life” which aims to develop positive young people through judo. “Champions for Life” has been so successful that both the Portuguese Government and the “Nelson Mandela Foundation” now work closely with Nuno on the future development of this project.

In 2012 leading to 2013, through a joint collaboration Friends of Judo and Champions for life aim to roll out a project in Africa to improve children’s life and welfare through judo.