It is an honor to receive the call from Harvard Kennedy School* to participate in a podcast. It is an honor to debate among professionals from all fields about everything, to share and analyze points of view as varied as they are different.

It is also an honor to see that the honor is shared and that the International Judo Federation is respected throughout the world.

Nicolas Messner, IJF Media and Judo for Peace Director participated a few days ago in the official launch of the Flame Bearers campaign.

There was much and good talk, in this case about a Syrian athlete, Sanda Aldass, who resides in the Netherlands and wants to qualify for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Come and see, listen and draw your own conclusions.

In new #FlameBearers, podcast series, @kennedy_school's @jamiemittelman features female @Olympics @Paralympics athletes on their journey to the rescheduled @Tokyo2020 Games. Learn how #judo promotes peace and how judo has been a huge part of Sanda Aldass' @refugeeolympicteam journey:

Listen to the episode: http://bit.ly/SandaAldass

*The John F. Kennedy School of Government (also known as Harvard Kennedy School and HKS) is the public policy school of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

See also
Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
First Points, First Statements on the Road to Los Angeles

21. Jun. 2026 / The final day of the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam 2026 brought ...

Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
+100 kg: Kim Overcomes the Giants to Claim His First Grand Slam Gold Medal

21. Jun. 2026 / The heavyweights always attract attention.

Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
+78 kg: Arai Rises as Dicko Falls in a Day of Surprises

21. Jun. 2026 / She had not travelled to Mongolia to leave without ...

Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
-100 kg: Pirelli Prevails in a Day Full of Surprises

21. Jun. 2026 / It was a difficult day for many of the favourites in ...

Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
-78 kg: Experience, Surprises and Gold for Lytvynenko

21. Jun. 2026 / Few could have predicted the final that would unfold ...

Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
-90 kg: Murao’s Masterclass Ends with a Ninth Grand Slam Gold Medal

21. Jun. 2026 / To say that Sanshiro Murao (JPN) was the favourite ...

Interview
Li Haiyang Chasing Olympic Dreams at Home

21. Jun. 2026 / For athlete Li Haiyang, competing on the international ...

Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
The Vision Behind the Journey

21. Jun. 2026 / As the Head Sport Director of the International Judo ...

Judo for Children
Judo Global Association Inaugurates a new Judo School

21. Jun. 2026 / On 14th June, the Judo Global Association of São Tomé ...

Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
Under the Eternal Blue Sky, Mongolia Celebrates Judo

20. Jun. 2026 / There are some places on the IJF World Judo Tour that ...

Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
-81 kg: Joonhwan Lee Ends a Perfect Day with a Spectacular Gold

20. Jun. 2026 / At just 22 years of age, Timur Arbuzov (RUS) is already ...

Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
-70 kg: Shiho Tanaka Confirms Her World Champion Status

20. Jun. 2026 / The -70 kg category was packed with quality, featuring ...

Ulaanbaatar GS 2026
-73 kg: Ankhzaya Lavjargal Gives Mongolia a Golden Moment

20. Jun. 2026 / The category delivered exactly the kind of surprises ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...