Following the kata demonstration, event guests and dignitaries arrived on stage:
- Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Mr Andrej Plenković
- Minister of tourism and sport of the Republic of Croatia, Mr Tonči Glavina
- Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Mr Gordan Grlić Radman
- IJF Head Sport Director, Mr Vladimir Barta
- Deputy Mayor of the City of Zagreb, Dr Luka Korlaet
- President of the Croatian Judo Federation, Dr Sanda Čorak
- Vice President of the Croatian Olympic Committee, Olympic champion Barbara Matić
Dr Sanda Čorak, the Croatian Judo Federation President, then stepped forward to deliver her welcome speech. “Good afternoon dear judo friends, competitors and coaches, media representatives and IJF directors,I am delighted that you are all here. We are proud to have our country’s Prime Minister with us. It is my honour and pleasure to wish you all a warm welcome to Croatia; welcome to this 12th edition of the Zagreb Grand Prix!
This grand prix is always our most important senior competition. Our main aims are to promote judo in Croatia and of course give chances to our younger competitors to compete at home.
We have done our best to organise this event according to sustainable principles! These activities are challenging tasks so I would like to thank everyone for helping us to organise them, our team, sponsors, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, the COC and of course, the IJF and Mr Vizer, who always supports the activities of the Croatian Judo Federation.
I wish all delegations the best of luck on the tatami and enjoy your stay in Zagreb!”
Deputy Mayor of the City of Zagreb, Dr Luka Korlaet, responded with a warm speech of his own, “Esteemed members of the IJF, the Croatian Judo Federation, Ms Matic and Prime Minister, it is a great honour to address you in the most beautiful sports arena in Croatia. This is one of the most important events in the sports calendar each year. We have supported it for many years and will continue to do so.
My son used to play judo and I know that it is more than a sport, it is a philosophy that helps us lives our lives in the best way possible. Best of luck to all of you and see you next year.”
Then IJF Head Sport Director Mr Vladimir Barta took to the mic, “Dear Prime Minister, dear Deputy Mayor, Dr Čorak, dear Olympic champion Barbara, distinguished guests, as a judo family, we are delighted to be back in Croatia for the twelfth time. On behalf of the International Judo Federation and its President, Mr Vizer, I would like to thank everyone who supports and organises this excellent event. You have put a lot of effort into judo, which was rewarded with the highest possible award - the Olympic gold medal, in Paris last year. I wish all participants good luck and let’s enjoy judo!”
The last speech of the ceremony was delivered by a very special guest, the Prime Minster of the Republic of Croatia Mr Andrej Plenković, “Dear judoka, friends of judo, a warm welcome to Zagreb, to Croatia, to the most important judo event in the calendar. I must extend my thanks to Dr Sanda Čorak, our Olympic champion Mrs Barbara Matic and thanks to our Deputy Mayor and to the Minister of Sport and Tourism for supporting this special event.
The fact that we have 370 judoka from 5 continents is testament that it is a success and offers young Croatians inspiration and an example. Since the beginning we have increased the budget 6 times. We are honoured to support the enthusiasm of the entire Croatian Judo Federation and will continue to do so. I must also thank all sponsors and those who contributed to the organisation here. The symbolism of this sport is as important as the sport itself and this is why it is so important to us. I declare the 2025 Zagreb Grand Prix open.”
The national anthem of Croatia and the IJF anthem then played in the arena. Final warming up was taking place and the music was ready. As the opening ceremony came to a finish, the second final block of the Zagreb Grand Prix was ready to begin.