Lausanne Grand Slam Builds Momentum for Swiss Judo

The inaugural Ecole Mont-Olivet Lausanne Grand Slam has given Swiss judo an encouraging launch on the World Judo Tour. As the competition concludes at the Vaudoise Arena, organisers see the event as more than a successful three-day tournament: it is a step towards a major future for judo in Lausanne.

Swiss Judo President Sergei Aschwanden, one of the key figures behind the project, said he was satisfied with the first edition. He credited the volunteers, the authorities of the Canton of Vaud and the City of Lausanne, partners and Ecole Mont-Olivet, whose educational vision was connected with the event.

The public response offered a strong early signal. A total of 12,500 of the 15,000 available tickets were sold, while the Grand Slam also received international and local media attention. For a new event, that interest underlined Lausanne’s appetite for elite judo and gave Swiss judo a visible platform.

Lausanne’s first Grand Slam has put Swiss judo firmly in the spotlight.

Aschwanden also highlighted the role of the International Judo Federation and its President, Marius Vizer, thanking them for their trust and close support during the preparation period. At the same time, he stressed that a debut edition is only the start of the process. Organisers will now review the event carefully, identify details to improve and aim to return with an even stronger tournament next year.

The sporting field added to the sense of progress. Major names in judo competed in Lausanne at the beginning of the Olympic qualification period, and next year’s edition will sit even closer to the race towards Los Angeles 2028.

The biggest long-term announcement came during the weekend, when the agreement to host the 2028 World Championships was signed. Lausanne will therefore move from staging its first Grand Slam to preparing for one of judo’s biggest international events. The 2028 World Championships will return to the city 55 years after it last hosted the competition.

For Aschwanden, though, the most powerful memory was not a result on the tatami. He pointed to the opening ceremony, describing its messages and emotion as a reflection of what judo represents: passing on values and sharing them.

That message was also present through the inclusion of adapted and deaf judo alongside the World Judo Tour. Swiss watches, chocolate and knives presented to winners added a local signature, while Lausanne showed it can welcome a major international sporting occasion.

The road to the 2028 World Championships in Lausanne has officially begun.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation