President Vizer opened the meeting with warm words of welcome, “We are very happy to be here in Baku, Azerbaijan, a country of judo with a rich economy, traditions and culture. On the eve of the world championships, I would like to underline the unwavering support we have received from all the authorities of the country, from His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, the government and the Azerbaijan Judo Federation, chaired by Rashad Nabiyev, who is also a member of our Executive Committee. The professionalism of everyone involved and the excellent collaboration between our teams are a guarantee of success for these championships.”
The meeting began with important appointments and recognition. Mr Oscar Cassinerio, Mr Klaus Glahn and Mr Habib Sissoko were appointed honorary members of the IJF, while Mr Felice Mariani was named IJF Ambassador. Gabor Felegyi was appointed IJF Executive Director and Ruben Houkes Marketing Director.
The Executive Committee was also pleased to welcome two new members elected by the IJF Congress: Juan Carlos Barcos as Head Referee Director and Timur Kemell as Promotion and Development Director. For Juan Carlos Barcos, who has already held major responsibilities within international refereeing, the appointment marks a return to a familiar field. He explained that he was approaching the role “with great humility and with the desire to continue bringing more to judo.” His experience will further strengthen a department for which the importance continues to grow, given the increasing number of events and the demands of the ongoing Olympic qualification period.
For Timur Kemell, who has supported the development of judo for many years, a new chapter is beginning, “I believe it is a sport that deserves a great deal of attention because it carries strong values that our society needs. I am very happy to be here to contribute to the development of judo.”
The meeting then moved through the main areas of IJF activity, including refereeing, education, development and sport. IJF Secretary General Dr Lisa Allan underlined the commitment and responsiveness of all those involved in the decision-making process, an essential contribution to the good governance of the federation. Several important milestones for the coming months and years were also discussed, including the next Ordinary IJF Congress, which will take place in Astana next year, ahead of the 2027 world championships.
In the field of education, Mohamed Meridja, IJF Education and Coaching Director, highlighted the importance of the bow in judo, not simply as a gesture but as an expression of respect, one of the foundations upon which excellence is built.
Refereeing was another major point on the agenda. Head Referee Director Armen Bagdasarov presented key elements from the statistical analysis of World Judo Tour events. A group of 48 referees from around the world and 9 supervisors now officiate regularly across the globe. Examination sessions and numerous refereeing seminars contribute continuously to improving standards at every level, while collaboration with the IJF Academy continues to expand, strengthening education and consistency throughout the international refereeing structure.
There was also much to discuss within the sport sector, led by Vladimir Barta. The World Judo Tour continues to grow year after year, while qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games is now under way. New grand prix events for cadets and juniors have also been added to the calendar, offering younger generations additional opportunities to gain international experience and progress through the competitive pathway.
Mr Barta also highlighted the strength of participation at the Baku World Judo Championships. The latest IJF figures list 633 athletes from 96 nations for the individual competition, while 19 teams are entered for the mixed team event. Practical information relating to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games was presented, as well as updates regarding the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, with Hedvig Karakas sharing the latest elements concerning the latter.
Beyond figures, appointments and reports, the meeting reflected the scale of the work being carried out across international judo. From education and refereeing to sport, development and governance, every sector is connected by the same objective: to provide the strongest possible framework in which judo can continue to develop around the world.
At the conclusion of the meeting, a delegation led by President Marius Vizer and Azerbaijan Judo Federation President Rashad Nabiyev visited Baku’s Alley of Honours to pay a tribute at the tomb of Heydar Aliyev. The site is one of the country’s principal places of national remembrance and is where the former Azerbaijani president is buried. Flowers were laid as the IJF delegation paid its respects, marking a solemn conclusion to a day devoted to the institutional life of international judo.
With the Executive Committee meeting concluded, attention now turns entirely toward the tatami. The draw for the Baku World Judo Championships 2026 will take place on Saturday 3rd October, setting the stage for the opening day of competition on Sunday 4th October. The individual world championships will run until 10th October, followed by the mixed team event on 11th October.
After the discussions, decisions and preparations, the time has come for the athletes to take centre stage. The Baku World Judo Championships 2026 can be followed live on JudoTV.com and across all IJF communication platforms.