The Rio 2016 Olympic Games Judo Competition at the First Olympiad in South America

The most eagerly-anticipated Olympics in history, the first in Brazil, has welcomed the finest judoka on the planet for an unforgettable Samba show as the hosts’ flamboyance, passion and zest for life will provide the stage and atmosphere for the most spectacular judo competition in history.

Two categories will be contested on each day (one men, one women) over the next week as the format is as watchable as it is compelling for a global television audience. The competition, the first major judo event in the judo-loving country since the World Championships in 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, is spread over seven days moving from the lightweights to the heavyweights with a morning session featuring the preliminaries and the second session featuring the semi-finals, repechage and all the medal contests.

Record participation

Judo is setting a participation record for the second successive Olympic Games as 390 judoka will compete from 136 nations. Those numbers include full delegations of 14 judoka (7 men, 7 women) for only three countries as judo’s powerhouse nations of hosts Brazil, Japan and France could lead the way in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil are granted a full home quota of 14 judoka and have filled those ranks with Olympic and world medallists with the country expecting a mass of medals from their judo stars.

Judo’s flagbearers

In addition to judo’s impressive numbers on the tatami, a host of inspirational judoka will have the honour to lead their country and team into the opening ceremony at the Olympic Games on Friday.

Algeria, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Kosovo, Monaco, Madagascar, Mongolia and Nepal have all picked judoka to carry their flag with the world watching on the eve of the start of the seven-day judo competition.

Refugee Olympic Team to make history

A Refugee Olympic Team (ROT) will compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for the first time and two Congo-born judoka will represent the IOC flag. Popole MISENGA (-90kg) and Yolande BUKASA (-70kg), who both now reside in Rio de Janeiro and train at Flavio Canto’s famed Institute for disadvantaged young people, will be roared on by neutral supporters and carioca alike as their underdog story and desire to be the best person and best fighter that they can be will resonate with the world. ROT’s two judoka will both compete on Wednesday 10 August with Brazilian judo coaching legend Geraldo BERNANDES guiding them in his fourth Olympics.

The road from London 2012 to Rio 2016

The success of judo at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and during the build-up throughout the flourishing IJF World Judo Tour, saw judo move to a category C classification.

Judo’s two-year Olympic qualification cycle for Rio 2016 started in 2014 as the IJF World Judo Tour has grown in stature and provided a thrilling stage for the best athletes on the planet who battled to qualify for Rio 2016 until the invite-only World Judo Masters in May of this year, the final qualification event.

Seven Olympic champions out of 14 from London will return to the stage of their greatest feat as they all aim to become two-time Olympic champions.

The official draw took place on Thursday afternoon at the Teatro Bradesco in the Village Mall, Barra da Tijuca.

Mr. Marius VIZER, IJF President, made the opening address in Rio de Janeiro having hosted a popular Twitter Question and Answer session earlier in the day. Click here to follow the Q&A.

"Ladies and gentlemen, media representatives, colleagues, we have come to the end of a four-year Olympic cycle with you and we hope to deliver a successful event at the Olympic Games. In our #JudoForTheWorld series we show that judo has social and education values.

"At the Olympics we are the third largest sport in terms of universality with 136 countries and 390 judoka taking part in the judo competition. All the judoka here at Rio 2016 are winners and champions but unfortunately only a few of you can be champions. I wish you all good luck, I hope you pay attention to the values of our sport, your focus has to be to set an example to those who are not only watching on television but also other sports.

"I encourage you to all keep your emotions under control by showing discipline and self-control. I wish you all a successful Olympics in Rio."

Mr. Jean-Luc ROUGE, IJF General Secretary, also addressed the mass of delegations, media and officials.

"Ladies and gentlemen, guests, it is a pleasure to welcome you all here to Rio for the Olympic Games. I have a message for the ethics of the Games from the IOC who have created a system in regards to match-fixing. I have to remind you as officials and sports people, you are not allowed to bet on the Olympic Games. There is an electronic system in place to monitor this in all sports events.

"I wish you all good luck at the Olympic Games and as our President Mr. Marius VIZER said your behaviour is paramount to having a successful competition and projecting a positive image of our sport."

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