Marius Vizer furious about state of the Paris judo venue

The Judo tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics is set to kick off on Saturday, 27 July, but preparations at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, the designated venue, are still incomplete. According to AFP reports, the International Judo Federation (IJF) president Marius Vizer expressed his frustration over the situation, highlighting that the mats currently in place do not meet the IJF standards for competition.

Further issues have been noted with the judo platform and the weighing apparatus, which were not ready as of 24 July. Despite these setbacks, the organizers assure that the Champ-de-Mars Arena will be ready in time for the start of the Games. The Paris 2024 press service acknowledged the need for attention to certain details, including the assembly of some equipment and final site preparations, but emphasized that their teams are fully committed to completing these tasks.

Initially, judo events were scheduled to be held at the Arena Bercy, a venue traditionally used for the IJF Grand Slam. However, the Bercy Arena is currently occupied by gymnastics, trampoline, and the final stages of basketball, necessitating the switch to the Champ-de-Mars Arena. Despite the logistical challenges, the organizers remain confident in their ability to deliver a fully prepared venue for the prestigious judo competitions.