It is with great satisfaction that the International Judo Federation announces the imminent return of the World Judo Tour. Starting in the autumn, we will reintroduce three of our highest-level events, in a big way, launching with the Budapest Grand Slam.
Mikhail Pulyaev (RUS) vs Gaitero Martín (ESP) during the last edition of the Budapest Grand Prix

The Budapest Grand Slam will take place in late October and will be followed by the Tokyo Grand Slam in December. The World Judo Masters will be held at the beginning of 2021 in Doha, Qatar.

All three events aim to offer qualification points for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. The continental unions are also planning the organisation of several continental events before the end of the year.

The health of our judo family is of the utmost importance and we will ensure that the local and global health situations will be taken into careful consideration in the planning of each event, with more details to be given in the coming weeks. The International Judo Federation already published its protocol for restarting competitions and this will represent the compulsory conditions when organising events in the new pandemic circumstances. At the same time, we will closely monitor the world situation and reserve the right to amend the schedule and qualification status, keeping the best interests of the athletes as the first priority.

The IJF President, Mr. Marius Vizer, declared, “The time has come to announce how we will, step by step, restart our activities. We know that the situation is different around the world, but there are territories that are ready to organise events. Hungary is ready to host the Grand Slam at the end of October, with all necessary health measures and protection in place. All countries will be welcome and able to participate. We are building a dedicated team that will be in charge of these forthcoming events and will help ensure the safety of all of our participants. The same conditions will also be applied in Japan, for the Tokyo Grand Slam."

After so many months of hardship and confinement, the world finally opens its doors to a new future and sport is one of the most beautiful ways to kick-start this new period. Professional athletes need to compete, face new challenges, crystallise months of training and prepare in the best possible way for the supreme challenge: the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Judo is one of the most popular sports, not only in the host country of Japan, but at the Games in general and the fact that the great Olympic event takes place in the cradle of our sport makes Tokyo 2021 a truly special goal for all judoka.

This year, we have all experienced some kind of challenge and we have grown stronger together. Now, the time has come to be born again, to prepare the tatami, put on the judogi, bow and compete. So get ready, because judo is back and competition time is almost here. The countdown begins.

See also
News
Judo Focuses on Development at the AIPS Congress

19. May. 2025 / For several days sport’s media and journalists from ...

Judo for Children
2024-2025 National Children’s Judo Training Camp Concludes Successfully

19. May. 2025 / Sierra Leone's National Children’s Judo Training ...

Judo in Schools
Judo in Schools: Namibia’s First Sho Dan Judoka

19. May. 2025 / Judo is developing in Namibia in Southern Africa at ...

IBSA WC 2025
Two First-Timers!

15. May. 2025 / The 2025 IBSA World Judo Championships Astana began ...

IBSA WC 2025
Sara Alvarez: Problem-Solving on the Move

15. May. 2025 / World medallist and double European champion Sara Alvarez ...

Athlete Stories
Nekoda Davis is Ready for New Challenges

15. May. 2025 / Taking the decision to retire is among the biggest ...

IBSA WC 2025
Janos Tardos: How I Arrived Here

15. May. 2025 / IBSA Judo Chair Janos Tardos has been instrumental ...

IBSA WC 2025
Day Two at the IBSA World Championships

14. May. 2025 / Going into the second day of individual competition, ...

The Olympic Champion Series
The Olympic Champions (54): Irakli Tsirekidze (GEO)

14. May. 2025 / Interviewing an Olympic champion is something special ...

IBSA WC 2025
IBSA Crowns New World Champions

13. May. 2025 / On day one of the 2025 IBSA World Championships Astana, ...

IBSA WC 2025
Ne-Waza at the IBSA World Championships

13. May. 2025 / An IBSA Judo contest begins with competitors at arm’s ...

IBSA WC 2025
IBSA Judo Rules and Protocols Ensure Safety and Fair Play

13. May. 2025 / Kazakhstan has been the hub of judo excellence over ...

Astana 2025
Kazakhstan Applauds All Sectors of the Judo Family

11. May. 2025 / At the beginning of the final day of competition, it ...

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 ...