IJF asks Turkish Judo Federation World Junior Championships organisation

The International Judo Federation have asked the Turkish Judo Federation to take over the organisation of the World Junior Judo Championship from North Korea. Since the political situation in North Korea is too turbulent to organize the world championships, the IJF is looking for an alternative. Previously Bosnia Herzegovina and Slovenia applied of the time of the bid.

The Turkish Judo Federation has been a successful organizer of World level events with the Grand Prix, World Team Championships, European Championships, and such World Championship would fit the range of events.

Turkey has a good reputation when it comes to sudden takeovers of major championships. In 2013 the city of Mersin took over the Mediterranean Games from Greece in a limited time.

President Marius Vizer proposed to take on the organisation of the World Junior Championships with a call to new President Sezer Huysuz. The request will be discussed and decided at the meeting of the IJF Board of Directors which will be held at the end of the Grand Prix in Antalya held in Antalya from 7-9 April.

"If the IJF management decides, we will host 500 - 600 athletes in our country, and we plan to organise the World Junior Championships in Istanbul or Antalya, which is the preferred host city for the sponsors." This will be an important and prestigious international organisation within our country. We will begin to meet with the sponsors immediately if we get out. " TJF President Sezer Huysuz said in Turkish media.

Located on the southern coast of Turkey, with more than 12 million tourists annually, Antalya is one of the most frequented seaside resorts in the world and the city already has a long history with the judo, a sport which is very popular .

No less than seven clubs share a population of nearly 1,000 judoka in Antalya. A true championship factory on the national level, the city was proud to see one of its 'children' participate in the Rio 2016 Games. If Dilara Lokmanhekim (-48kg) now trains in Istanbul, she started judo on the Mediterranean coast, in the "Turkish Riviera".

If the Judo Federation of Turkey undertakes this organisation, all costs will be covered by the sponsors and will also earn a considerable income with the participation fees of the countries.

Turkey always had good juniors and won medals with Juniors such as Dilara Lokmanhekim, Melisa Cakmakli, Ahmet Sahin Kaba, Ebru Sahin, Tugba Zehir and had one world champion in 1994 by Ilknur Kobas. Read more successes of Turkish judo.