World Judo C’ships Mascot set to be unveiled today

The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Organizing Committee of the World Judo Championships – Doha 2023 will today unveil its highly anticipated official mascot “Joud” as part of the National Sports Day celebrations at the Qatar Foundation’s Oxygen Park. Joud is a hedgehog who is dressed in judo attire including a black belt – the highest rank in the sport. Joud is described as “a competitor on the tatami judo mat but a friend away” and is only interested in winning within the rules. Judo was founded by Kano Jigoro Shihan in 1882 and the first world championships were held in 1956 with women’s championship added in 1980. Judo became an official Olympic sport in 1964 and the World Championship is traditionally held every year except in years when there are Olympic Games. The championships were last held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where a Qatari delegation led by Eid al-Muraikhi, chairman of the organizing committee for the 2023 championships, received the International Judo Federation (IJF) flag. After their experience of knowledge transfer in Tashkent, the delegation is confident that the event will be successful. 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 Judo World Championships 2023, organized by the IJF and taking place from May 7th to 14th at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, will see the participation of more than 500 judoka athletes from more than 90 competing countries. The Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena has previously hosted World Championships in Handball and Boxing and the IJF event is the latest in a long list of world-class sporting events to be held in Qatar for 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 has a four-star rating under 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.