As the entire world is united in the fight against Covid, the international sports family must be a leading example to show that everything is possible and that through solidarity, we can achieve truly remarkable results. Our events prove that adhering to Covid regulations and following advice from scientific authorities is paramount, in order to pass this pandemic period which has affected so much of all our lives.
The International Judo Federation salutes the decision of the French Government to organise sports events on French territory with the participation of vaccinated athletes and delegates only, in order to ensure the safety of both the participants and the host population.
As we live in different regions of the world, with various cultures and habits, but also with different economic means, our duty is to provide all those invested in sport with the possibility of free participation in our competitions and other events.
Recognising the importance of vaccines in the fight against Covid, the International judo family is grateful to President Emmanuel Macron and the French Government for their wise decision to recognise all vaccines that were developed across the world, for the purposes of entry into sports competitions. This allows all athletes to have a fair chance of participation, especially in the context of Olympic qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will begin this year. The IJF is equally grateful to the International Olympic Committee for their support throughout this process.
Along with the IJF Covid Protocol that is applied through the ‘bubble’ concept, a protocol which protects all participants and all those involved in or attending the events, this decision has proven to be optimal and allowed us to hold an iconic judo event, without major disruptions or health issues.
Following this experience in Paris, the International Judo Federation urges the entire Olympic Movement and the wider sports family, to follow this recommendation of vaccination: “…including all available vaccines within the ‘bubble’ concept, in order to foster the safety of the athletes and the public and to ensure smooth and inclusive sports events and an open Olympic qualification process.”
The most human principle of sport is free participation and inclusion and this was not just visible on the surface but was powerfully tangible within the governmental process that allowed all those inside the bubble of the event, to arrive with the protection of all Covid vaccines. Alongside the rules and protocols set by the International Judo Federation, the acceptance of all Covid vaccines fostered an inclusive ethos and enabled all countries to participate.
The openness of the government to support the participation of all athletes as long as they are vaccinated, regardless of their vaccination provider, proves again the power of sport, highlighting the belief that sport transcends borders and backgrounds, cementing our faith in one united global sports family. We look forward to the wider world of sport seeing our success in judo as a positive precedent for all international sporting events. Together we are stronger and sport must continue, during this challenging period, to spread joy and hope around the world while being a beacon of unity and solidarity.