We know that everything has been prepared fully when we hear the first ‘hajime’ ring out. This will be Saturday morning, 27th July at 10 a.m. sharp.
Once the draw takes place, we know that there are only a few hours left to wait. While during World Judo Tour events the draw is held the day before the competition begins, at the Games, due to the opening ceremony, it is two days before that the crucial moment, when everything crystallises, takes place.
For this occasion, the Champ-de-Mars press centre was transformed into a venue for the draw. In the presence of the IJF President, Mr Marius Vizer, Dr Lisa Allan, Secretary General, Mr Vladimir Barta, Head Sport Director, Mr Florin Daniel Lascau, Head Refereeing Director, and Mr Alexandre Poutout, Judo Manager of Paris 2024, the draw allowed athletes and delegations from all over the world to be projected into the competition. From now on they are just waiting for the one and only thing that matters: to compete for the Olympic title.
President Vizer declared, "Dear judo lovers, dear judo family members, dear friends, welcome to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in France. First of all, I want to congratulate all the athletes involved in the qualification system, all those who have succeeded to be here in Paris. As well, I congratulate all national federations and continental unions, especially the French Judo Federation, with President Nomis being here with us today, for the co-operation during all of this this period.
I want to thank the IJF staff and all those working to contribute to the finalisation of the venue, supported by the IOC in a ‘Mission Impossible’ which is finally possible. I regret so much that we could not organise the Olympic Games in the temple of judo in Bercy where we have been organising the judo grand slam successfully for more than 25 years.
Under these circumstances, we will do our best to deliver a successful Olympic Games for the world, for judo, for France and for all the judo lovers in the world.
I want to thank all of you for your long and hard work during these years and specifically during the qualification period. I want to congratulate and to wish good luck and success to all participants. I am wishing all of you a successful Olympic Games in Paris. Thank you very much to all of you."
IJF Secretary General Dr Lisa Allan then took the floor to deliver important information regarding the running of the competition, "We are grateful to all the National Olympic Committees, national federations, coaches, team officials and athletes for their respect for the Olympic Charter and IJF rules. Following these we will have a successful, respectful competition. The safety and wellbeing of athletes and other delegation members remains the top priority."
She was followed by Alexander Poutout with further important information for the delegations, that will guarantee that everything is going smoothly. Then Florin Daniel Lascau explained that the best referees will be present in Paris, while Vladimir Barta conducted the regular procedure of the draw itself, both for the individual and mixed team competitions.
The die is cast, nothing can change now. No medals are written yet though. On Saturday morning the Olympic stage will shine and athletes will be ready to show their best. We will get surprises and confirmations. Some will be full of joy, some will be sad. This is the rule of sport and this is what we love. Many years of hard work will be celebrated. In the end, it is the capacity that sport has to bring people together without any kind of discrimination that will prevail. With 122 nations present in Paris for the judo event and with an equal participation of men and women, judo will demonstrate that it is a universal sport.
We can't wait for the competition to begin. You can already discover a first preview of the first categories HERE. Anything is possible, everything will happen, this is the only thing we are sure of and that is very exciting.