Tashkent ceremony highlights judo diplomacy

The Tashkent Grand Slam’s opening ceremony at Humo Arena brought together international judo leadership and Uzbekistan’s sporting authorities. Olympic champion Diyora Keldiyorova appeared with children during a cultural programme ahead of speeches and the formal opening by IJF president Marius Vizer.

Sports minister Adkham Ikramov described judo as a means of bringing people together across countries and languages. He said Uzbekistan’s judo system included more than thirty thousand athletes and more than one thousand coaches, linking the tournament to wider national investment in sport.

Vizer discussed unity and peace within the international judo community and praised Uzbekistan’s Olympic centre, which he had visited that day. The ceremony preceded the second day’s final block during the three-day Grand Slam, combining the sporting programme with public statements on cooperation and development.