Marius L. VIZER, IJF President (far right), Israel's Sports and Culture Minister Ms. Miri REGEV (center - left), -81kg winner Sagi MUKI and President of U.A.E Judo & Wrestling Federation, H.E. Mohamed Bin Tha'loob Al DERAI. Photo credit: International Judo Federation

The history-making Abu Dhabi Grand Slam produced an emotionally charged day both on and off the tatami as Israel — competing under its own flag for the first time in a Gulf country — and France, Georgia and the Netherlands struck gold in Abu Dhabi on #WorldJudoDay.

A year ago the Israeli team took part in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam under the banner of the IJF and the IJF anthem was played when Tal Flicker won Under 66kg gold. On the final day of the competition in 2017, the heads of the Israel Judo Association, International Judo Federation and the U.A.E Judo & Wrestling Federation shook hands and declared a commitment to meeting again in Abu Dhabi in 2018 under equal conditions.

The IJF initially suspended this year’s Grand Slam until the U.A.E Judo & Wrestling Federation committed in writing to providing equal participation rights to all countries and to meet the moral principles and values of Judo, Olympism and sport in general, thus making an active contribution to the promotion of peace and equality between nations, races and genders.

Israel’s European champion Sagi Muki won the Under 81kg title on a day which also saw his country sign a landmark agreement to stage an IJF World Judo Tour event for the first time. Muki was swiftly congratulated after leaving the tatami by Israel’s Sports and Culture Minister Miri Regev, who has been in attendance on Saturday and Sunday after being invited by IJF President Marius L. Vizer.

Israel and IJF ink contract for Tel Aviv Grand Prix

Following the Under 81kg awarding ceremony, Vizer, Regev and Israel Judo Association President Moshe Ponte signed a groundbreaking deal for Israel to host a Grand Prix event for the first time in 2019. The Israeli Judo Association, which won plaudits for its highly-successful organization of this year’s European Championships, will host a Grand Prix event in Tel Aviv in 2019 (January) and 2020.

“I wish to congratulate Israel for their success here today and to congratulate them for their new Grand Prix event.” Vizer said. “I would like to thank the President of U.A.E Judo & Wrestling Federation, H.E. Mohamed Bin Tha’loob Al DERAI, the General Secretary of the U.A.E Judo & Wrestling Federation, our colleague Mr. Naser AL-TAMIMI, our hosts Abu Dhabi and the U.A.E and everyone involved in contributing to this historic day.

“We are able to send to the world a message of solidarity, friendship and peace, and I thank everyone involved in this achievement. We showed a nice example to the youth of the world in a moment that was not just more than a sport but more than judo and was a crucial moment in the world. I hope the unity between the two cultures, Muslim and Israeli culture is a start for a new era in the sport and later in the world, social, political, economical areas. Thank you very much to all of you.”

Ms. Regev said: “Today has made double history for us as we have won gold here in Abu Dhabi and our anthem has played and we have signed a contract to stage our first ever IJF Grand Prix in Israel. Everyone is invited to our Grand Prix including all Arabic countries and I hope you will all see that our country is a peaceful and loving nation with good food and good people.”

“I would like to thank the President of U.A.E Judo & Wrestling Federation, H.E. Mohamed Bin Tha’loob Al DERAI, Mr. Naser AL-TAMIMI and IJF President Mr. VIZER and our hosts here in the U.A.E for helping us to be here with our flag and to have our anthem played,” said Ponte. “I really thank you all very much.”

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