Kazakhstan organises the 2027 World Championships

This summer, Kazakhstan made judo history with Yeldos Smetov securing the country's first-ever Olympic title at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Now, in a move that underscores its rising influence in the sport, Kazakhstan has signed a contract to host the 2027 Judo World Championships, marking a significant milestone in the nation's growing role within the international judo community.

The event, set to take place as part of the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, will bring together the world's top judoka, further establishing Kazakhstan as a key player in the sport both regionally and globally. The official signing took place at the International Judo Federation (IJF) headquarters in Budapest, with Kazakhstan's Minister of Tourism and Sport, Yerbol Myrzabossynov, meeting IJF President Marius Vizer.

During the ceremony, Vizer presented Myrzabossynov with a special edition porcelain statue of Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, recognizing Kazakhstan's growing support for the sport's development worldwide. The discussions during the meeting also reviewed Kazakhstan’s impressive achievements on the international judo stage, including the increasing popularity of judo among the country’s youth, as evidenced by Smetov's historic Olympic victory.

Kazakhstan’s hosting of the 2027 World Championships will not only attract the world’s top talent but will also serve as a vital stepping stone for judoka on their path to the 2028 Olympics. Beyond the championships, Kazakhstan and the IJF have also laid plans for the opening of an IJF Academy office in the country. This initiative aims to enhance the professional training of Kazakh and Central Asian athletes and coaching staff, providing a foundation for continued success in international judo competitions.

As Kazakhstan steps into the spotlight of global judo, these recent developments demonstrate its commitment to fostering the sport’s growth and solidifying its reputation as an emerging powerhouse in the judo world.

This summer Kazakhstan won the first ever Olympic title in judo thanks to Yeldos Smetov at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The signing of the 2027 world championship contract marks a major milestone in Kazakhstan’s journey within the International Judo community. The event is set to bring together the best judoka from across the globe on their road to Los Angeles Olympics 2028, further solidifying Kazakhstan’s position as a rising power in the sport, in the region and globally.

Yerbol Myrzabossynov, minister of tourism and sport of Kazakhstan, met with Marius Vizer, president of the International Judo Federation (IJF), at the IJF headquarters in Budapest. The meeting, which took place in the presence of Almaz Alsenov, IJF partner and advisor to the IJF president, focused on the progress and future ambitions of Kazakhstan in the world of judo, culminating in the signing of the official contract for Kazakhstan to host the 2027 judo world championships.

Following the signing, Vizer presented Myrzabossynov with the Herend special edition porcelain Jigoro Kano statue, in recognition of Kazakhstan’s support for judo development worldwide.

During the discussion, both parties reviewed the evolution of judo in Kazakhstan, highlighting the country’s impressive achievements on the international stage and the growing popularity of the sport among the nation’s youth. This fantastic period of growth culminated in the Olympic first Olympic title.

In addition to hosting this prestigious event, Vizer and Myrzabossynov have also begun planning for the opening of a representative office of the IJF Academy in Kazakhstan. This initiative is expected to have a great impact on the professional level of Kazakh and Central Asian athletes and coaching staff, leading to further development and success in the world of judo.

The 2026 World Championships will be held in Azerbaijan.

Budapest will host the 2025 World Championships