Around 130 athletes from 20 countries are expected to compete, representing all five Special Olympics ability levels. It will be the first international Special Olympics judo event developed with the IJF to include all five levels and to be integrated into an IJF world-level championship programme.
The event follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2025 by Special Olympics International and the IJF confirming their shared ambition to expand opportunities for judoka with intellectual disabilities and strengthen inclusion throughout the sport.
“Sarajevo offers a powerful demonstration of our commitment to providing high-quality opportunities for athletes of all abilities,” said Special Olympics Europe Eurasia President and Managing Director Sven Albrecht. “It also reflects the dedication of our team in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the value of working with partners who share our belief in inclusion and sportsmanship. We are proud to be part of this important moment for adaptive judo.”
For the IJF, the Open is a natural expression of the values that have always defined judo. “Since 1968, Special Olympics has shown what becomes possible when barriers to achievement, health and enjoyment are removed,” declared IJF President Marius L. Vizer. “The International Judo Federation is proud to be an integral part of this essential sporting pathway.”
He added, “Sarajevo will offer excellent organisation and warm hospitality in a venue where every participant can feel at home. Inclusion, equity and human connection are principles that underpin our sport and will be celebrated here in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
The host city carries particular significance. A city of history, culture and sporting tradition, Sarajevo will again bring people together through sport. Working closely with the Bosnia and Herzegovina Judo Federation and local partners, Special Olympics Bosnia and Herzegovina will welcome more than 240 athletes, coaches, officials and delegation members.
“We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us to host this event,” said Kada Delić-Selimović, National Director of Special Olympics Bosnia and Herzegovina. “It is a great honour, particularly as it is our first major international Special Olympics competition since the Southeast European Friendship Games in 2004. This is much more than a competition. It brings international Special Olympics sport and its message of inclusion back to Bosnia and Herzegovina on a major scale.”
The Special Olympics Judo Open Sarajevo 2026 will celebrate performance, commitment and the capacity of every judoka to grow through judo. By placing athletes with intellectual disabilities within a world championship setting, the event will offer a clear message to the global judo family: there is a place on the tatami for everyone.