Delegates from 39 nations gathered in Athens for the official Team Managers Meeting ahead of the IFMA European Championships 2025, an event organised by the International Federation of Muaythai Associations –IFMA– and the European Muaythai Federation. The meeting marked the final stage of coordination before the European championship, which will take place from November 17 to 25 in Greece.
The session was led by IFMA Director General Charissa Tynan, who outlined the schedule, competition flow and operational procedures for the days ahead. She stressed the importance of maintaining clear communication between delegations and highlighted the federation’s strong institutional commitment to clean sport, a core principle across all IFMA events.
Technical procedures, education and the electronic draw
The meeting also covered entry processing, category verification and the confirmation of divisions—key steps before the official draw. The Technical Delegate for the event, Dr Erdogan Aydin, explained the importance of early registration and the advantages of IFMA’s electronic draw system, a tool that allows match-ups to be completed in advance and supports strategic preparation for athletes and coaches.
Mandatory education sessions for International Technical Officials, coaches and Athlete Support Personnel were also reiterated, focusing on integrity, safety and unified standards. Regulations for youth and senior divisions, count procedures and athlete-protection measures were reviewed in detail, consistent with IFMA’s competition framework.
The role of the host nation
The President of the Panhellenic Muaythai Federation –PMF–, Ioannis Papadopoulos, officially welcomed all delegations and expressed his pride in hosting an event that strengthens the presence of muaythai in the country. He emphasized Greece’s historical significance and the importance of coordinated work between national federations and international bodies.
Meanwhile, the President of the European Muaythai Federation, Hasan Yildiz, thanked the host nation for its dedication and recognized the contribution of technical teams, international referees and trained local officials. He pointed out that the experience gained by Greek referees through extensive preparation will be essential for delivering fair and well-managed competition throughout the week.
Evolution of the IFMA operational model
Similar meetings in previous European and World Championships have played a key role in validating accreditations, revising conduct and uniform regulations, confirming weigh-in procedures and ensuring compliance with anti-doping protocols. In recent events such as the IFMA World Championships in Abu Dhabi, these gatherings have become fundamental for operational standardisation and alignment across delegations.
In this edition, Dr Erdogan Aydin reminded teams that managers play a decisive role in applying the championship’s specific rules, particularly regarding age categories and athlete safety. He closed the meeting by thanking all nations for their continued cooperation and commitment to safe, transparent and professionally managed tournaments.
