Georgia has officially secured the hosting rights for the 2029 World Senior Judo Championships following the signing of an agreement between Sport Minister Shalva Gogoladze and International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer in Budapest on 16 June.
The deal confirms an earlier announcement made during the Tbilisi Grand Slam in March and marks a significant step in Georgia’s growing influence within international judo. The 2029 edition, featuring both individual and team competitions, will be the first World Championships held after the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Officials from the IJF, the Georgian Ministry of Sport and the Georgian Judo Federation used the occasion to highlight the country’s continued rise in the sport. Recent results, including gold medals for Eteri Liparteliani and Lasha Shavdatuashvili at the 2026 European Championships, have reinforced Georgia’s status as one of judo’s leading nations.
Budapest, 16 June
Meanwhile, attention has turned to Poreč, Croatia, where hundreds of athletes, coaches and officials gathered for JudoFest, one of the premier summer training events on the international calendar.
Centred around the European Judo Union Olympic Training Camp and the Poreč Cadet Training Camp, the event has attracted more than 600 senior athletes from over 40 countries, along with around 200 cadets. Olympic medallists, world champions and emerging talents have shared the tatami in a high-performance environment that continues to make Poreč a key destination for elite preparation.
Among the leading names in attendance are two-time Olympic champion Lukáš Krpálek and members of the Georgian team, including world champions Tato Grigalashvili and Eteri Liparteliani, underlining the event’s strong technical level.
Poreč – JudoFest 2026
Olympic champion Barbara Đinović (née Matić) has also remained closely involved, praising both the intensity of the training sessions and the standard of organisation. Croatian women’s national coach Dragan Crnov said hosting the event provides valuable opportunities for local athletes to train with top international competitors without leaving the country.
Beyond elite training, JudoFest also includes youth development programmes, inclusive judo sessions, kata seminars and family-oriented activities, reflecting a broader commitment to growth and accessibility within the sport.
With participation expected to reach more than 1,000, the event continues to combine high-level sport with education and community engagement, reinforcing its place as a key fixture in the global judo calendar.
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