This week, the City of Light is once again at the heart of international competition, as the Paris World Judo Championships Veterans breathes new energy into a capital still humming with sporting pride. On this second day of action, the atmosphere at the National Judo Institute is electric, alive with excitement, thick with nerves and buzzing with anticipation. You don’t just hear the emotion, you feel it. It beats like a second pulse in the chest.
From the moment the doors opened on day one, Paris knew it was in for a special day. Tricolour flags wave but so do those of Brazil, Georgia, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Canada… a kaleidoscope of nations spinning under the vaulted ceiling. With 2,500 judoka from 66 countries, this year’s edition has broken every record in its category; veteran judo has never seen numbers like these.
The growth is phenomenal: from 973 athletes just two years ago, to over a thousand last year in Las Vegas and now, this astonishing milestone. As the competitors aged 30 to 80+ move across the tatami with precision and fire, they prove something essential: judo is a lifetime journey.
The passion of the competitors is matched by the flawless organisation. Behind every smooth weigh-in and every orderly draw sheet, there's a team working tirelessly to make sure the Paris edition is a benchmark for all future events.
The magic of Paris, its blend of history, elegance and energy, wraps around the arena. You feel it outside, where the autumn sun floods the Seine and café terraces fill the streets. You feel it inside, as thousands of judoka bow, grip and throw beneath the same roof where champions continue to rise.
Today, the M2 and M3 categories took the spotlight for another intense round of competition. The cheers returned, the adrenaline rose and the spirit of judo, alive and ageless, carried on its Parisian adventure. In this city, where legends are born and stories are told in gold, silver and bronze, the veterans are writing a new chapter.
The world is on the tatami and the journey continues, one ippon at a time.