2023 World Judo Championships mascot to be unveiled on National Sport Day
Joud is a hedgehog dressed in judo attire including a black belt – the highest rank in the sport.
Doha: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Organizing Committee of the World Judo Championships Doha 2023 will unveil its highly anticipated official mascot “Joud” during the National Sports Day celebrations at the Qatar Foundation’s Oxygen Park on Tuesday 14 February. 2023
Joud is a hedgehog dressed in judo attire including a black belt – the highest rank in the sport.
Described as “a competitor on the tatami judo mat, but a friend off it,” Joud is only interested in winning within the rules.
Judo was founded in 1882 by Kano Jigoro Shihan and the first world championships were held in 1956, with a women’s championship added in 1980. Judo became an official Olympic sport in 1964 and the World Championships are traditionally held every year except for the years when there are Olympic Games.
The championships were last held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where a Qatari delegation led by Eid Al-Muraikhi, the chairman of the organizing committee for the 2023 championships, received the International Judo Federation (IJF) flag. After their experience in knowledge transfer in Tashkent, the delegation is convinced of a successful event.
Abdulhadi Almarri, Director of the Marketing, Communications, Opening and Closing Ceremonies Committee said:
“National Sports Day is the perfect stage to introduce our World Judo Championships mascot, Joud. We have seen at previous major sporting events how popular mascots are with spectators and participants alike and there is no better occasion to unveil our mascot than National Sports Day as it brings the whole nation together to celebrate.”
The 2023 World Judo Championships, organized by the IJF and taking place from May 7th to 14th at Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, will see more than 500 judoka athletes from more than 90 competing countries.
The Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena has hosted world championships in handball and boxing and the IJF event is the latest in a long list of world-class sporting events set to take place in Qatar.
The multi-purpose Olympic-standard sports hall is equipped with state-of-the-art and sustainable facilities and has a capacity of 7,700 spectators. It has restaurants, cafes and meeting rooms, as well as world-class sports facilities, and has also served as a ticketing center for the FIFA World Cup. The arena is rated four stars by the Global Sustainability System (GSAS).
Sport is a central aspect of Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and the country’s passion for sport is evident in over 500 international sporting events that have taken place over the past 15 years. Qatari residents are invited to participate in National Sports Day activities designed to celebrate the power of unity in sport and inspire the next generation during National Sports Day.