Friday, August 12, in the evening of the judo tournament of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the International Judo Federation celebrated its champions and the success of the event, at a gala which brought together all medalists and all delegations that participated in the competition.
On this occasion, Mr. Marius Vizer, the President of the IJF, had the opportunity to directly congratulate the champions and all those who participated in the success of judo. During a colorful evening, Mr. Vizer handed the Diploma of Judo Ambassador to Mr. Castro Soto del Valle Antonio, the son of the Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro. Mr. Castro Soto del Valle Antonio has been supporting judo for many years, especially during the organization of the Judo Grand Prix in Havana, Cuba. (Read, ANTONIO CASTRO-SOTO PRAISED THE IJF FOR ITS SUCCESSFUL STAGING OF A GRAND PRIX IN HAVANA: http://intjudo.eu/News/cikk3746).
During the evening, each of the 14 Olympic Champions received the statue of Kano Jigoro, produced by the Herend company. Indeed, in 2015, the IJF partnered with the world-renowned Herend Porcelain manufacturing company, specialising in luxury hand painted and gilded porcelain, to launch a special statue of judo founder Kano Jigoro.
IJF President, Mr. Marius Vizer (right) and Mr. Jean-Luc Rougé, IJF General Secertary
While, all participants, athletes and officials, were celebrating the end of judo at the Rio Games, famous Romanian singer, Marcel Pavel, performed and concluded with a powerful ‘We are the champions’.
Champions and medallists of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games
Majlinda Kelmendi (KOS) Olympic Champion -52kg - Mr. Marius Vizer, IJF President
Beslan Mudranov (RUS) - Olympic Champion -60kg - Mr. Naser Al-Tamimi, IJF General treasurer
Tina Trstenjak (SLO) Olympic Champion -63kg - Mr. Jan Snjiders, IJF Head Refereeing Director
Ono Shohei (JPN) Olympic Champion -73kg - Mr. Daniel Lascau, IJF Sport Director
Tachimoto Haruka (JPN) Olympic Champion -70kg - Mr. René Jaggi, IJF Marketing and Strategic Director
Khasan Khalmurzaev (RUS) Olympic Champion -81kg - Mr. Armen Bagdasarov, IJF Sport Director
Kayla Harrison (USA) Olympic Champion -78kg - Mr. Jose Rodriguez, IJF Development Director
Baker Mashu (JPN) - Olympic Champion -90kg - Mr. Marius Vizer, IJF President
Mr. Jean-Luc Rougé, IJF General Secretary
Mr. Franco Capeletti, IJF Hall of Fame - Mr. Naser Al-Tamimi, IJF General Treasurer