This morning, at 10am sharp, the first judoka presented themselves on the tatami of the Arena Champ-de-Mars and it was the lightweight categories, women -48kg and men -60kg, who had the heavy task of opening the ball.
Two hours before the start of competition, it was actually impressive to see the line of spectators patiently waiting to enter the arena and join their seats. This promised us an atmosphere that lived up to the event and the anticipation it generated among judo fans.
We were not disappointed because as soon as the first names were announced, there were cheers from the packed stands. In this case, there was no preference, each judoka was supported equally. The spirit of the Games and the values of judo reign in Paris and it is a pleasure to see.
Now that the competition has begun, there is only one thing left for us to do: sit down and enjoy the show. At the end of the day, we will be able to celebrate our first two Olympic champions, the 2024 vintage.