Russia to Host 2014 World Judo Championships
December 18, 2012
Chelyabinsk, advice Russia have signed a deal with the International Judo Federation to host the 2014 World Judo Championships.
The agreement was signed by the IJF President, Mr. Marius Vizer, the Vice-President of Russian Judo Federation and President of European Judo Union, Mr. Sergey Soloveychik and the Governor of Chelyabinsk Region, Mr. Mikhail Yurevich.
Since the first edition of the Judo World Championships, organized in Japan in 1956, the event was held only once in Russia. This was in Moscow, USSR, back in 1983. The signers agreed that WC-2014 would be remembered as one of the best organized events and would have a perfect impact on the new generations of Russian judokas. The European Championships 2012 were already organized in the city of Chelyabinsk this spring and the level of organization received the highest evaluation replies, with 45 participant countries, 377 athletes and 50.000 spectators in total.
Mr.Vizer commented: “Russia is not only one of the leading countries of the world but it is also one of the leading countries in judo.” The capital of South Ural will now become the major judo city in 2014.
In his speech, the Governor of Chelyabinsk Region mentioned that Chelyabinsk was well-known for its judo traditions and that the city has all the necessary conditions for holding international events: “Chelyabinsk is already acquainted to many athletes and the city will welcome them as old friends.” Mr.Yurevich concluded by: “WC-2014 would fix the status of Chelyabinsk as the capital of Russian judo.”
