The IJF referee seminar and examinations were held in Győr, Hungary, from 6 to 8 November, alongside the city's Cadet European Cup. Thirty-seven of the thirty-nine candidates passed and gained a qualification.
Twenty-three of those who passed earned continental referee qualifications, and fourteen moved up to international level. Candidates came from twenty-four nations across four continents.
The opening seminar drew 84 participants from 36 countries, including referees and coaches. It was led by IJF Head Referee Directors Armen Bagdasarov and Juan Carlos Barcos, with EJU Head Referee Commissioner Cathy Mouette and EJU Referee Commissioner Annamaria Fridrich, and covered video analysis, technical discussion and interviews.
The examinations ran over three days and included theoretical and practical assessment.