The international judo family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of IOC Member Alex Gilady at the age of 79. Mr Gilady was a good friend to judo and attended the World Judo Tour events regularly.
Mr Alex Gilady presenting medals during the 2021 Tel Aviv Grand Slam

A pioneer of television coverage of the Olympic Games, he began as a sports commentator, before becoming the Head of Sports, Special Operations, Vice President and eventually Senior Vice President of NBC Sports.

NBC began to broadcast the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, the same year Mr Gilady started his career as a journalist in his home country of Israel.

Following his 1984 to the Radio and Television Commission of the International Olympic Committee, in which role he served through to 2015, 10 years later, in 1994, he was elected as an IOC Member.

Mr Alex Gilady (left) and Mr Marius Vizer (right)

IJF President, Mr Marius Vizer said, "It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of IOC Member Alex Gilady. Mr Gilady’s extensive expertise and devotion to the service of sport and its values will be reminisced. He was a great visionary in the world of sport and his specialisation in TV Broadcasting definitively added to the revolution in modernising all sports and how they were presented on television and a result of that was an increasing interest and viewership of sport content throughout the world.

He added great value also in judo, supporting us with the inclusion of 4D replay during the Tokyo Games. Moreover on a personal level he was a great friend to movement, a person filled with passion and life.

On behalf of the International Judo Federation I would like to express our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of our dear colleague Alex and to the entire sport family.

Our thoughts accompany you in these difficult moments. He will be greatly missed."

See also
Veterans Paris 2025
Special Recognition for Icons of Judo

05. Nov. 2025 / On 5 November 2025 just prior to the final block, a ...

Veterans Paris 2025
Experience Meets Excellence

05. Nov. 2025 / A few more grey hairs could be seen on the tatami of ...

Veterans Paris 2025
M3 and M4 Categories Deliver Unforgettable Action

04. Nov. 2025 / The second day of the Paris World Judo Championships ...

Veterans Paris 2025
A New Era for Veterans at the World Judo Championships

04. Nov. 2025 / The atmosphere was charged with excitement as the Paris ...

Veterans Paris 2025
A Roaring Success in Paris

04. Nov. 2025 / A year has passed since Paris dazzled the world during ...

Veterans Paris 2025
A Thrilling Start for the Veterans in Paris

03. Nov. 2025 / The opening day of the Paris World Judo Championships ...

Veterans Paris 2025
At the Heart of a Veteran Judo Revolution

03. Nov. 2025 / Jean-Luc Bartoli is the man behind the rise of veteran ...

Gender Equality
Women Leading the Way in Coaching

03. Nov. 2025 / Sometimes a single image speaks louder than a thousand ...

IBSA Judo
IBSA Judo Returns to Astana

03. Nov. 2025 / The IBSA judo movement has been growing fast in recent ...

Veterans Paris 2025
In Paris, Spirit Shines

03. Nov. 2025 / At 8:30 this morning, the first “Hajime!” echoed ...

YOG Dakar 2026
Happy One Year to Go to Dakar 2026!

31. Oct. 2025 / A major milestone on the road to the Youth Olympic ...

WJD 2025 PEACE
The World Judo Family Unites for Peace on World Judo Day

31. Oct. 2025 / A few days ago, the global judo community came together ...

WJD 2025 PEACE
WJD 2025: Azerbaijan Celebrates the Spirit of Judo

31. Oct. 2025 / Among the many nations that celebrated World Judo Day ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...