How Judo Shaped Four Inclusive Days at the Special Olympics in Zug

Zug, Switzerland, became a meeting point for inclusive judo from 28 to 31 May during the Special Olympics National Summer Games. Within a multi-sport event that welcomed around 2,000 athletes, judo stood out for the way it combined competition with confidence, respect and personal growth.

Among the sixteen sports on the programme, judo once again showed why it holds a special place in the Special Olympics movement. In Zug, the focus was not only on results. The event reflected a wider idea at the heart of adapted judo: that the tatami should be open to everyone.

That message also connected with the International Judo Federation’s recent work in this area. The IJF Inclusion Commission, established in 2025, now coordinates and supports different forms of adapted judo, including programmes for athletes with intellectual impairments, visual impairments and hearing impairments. Its mission is simple and powerful: judo belongs to everyone.

The Games in Zug brought together 50 judoka from three countries, supported by 13 International Technical Officials as well as organisers, referees and volunteers. Across four days, the programme included team events, shiai and kata demonstrations, giving athletes several ways to take part and express their judo.

The opening day featured the mixed team tournament, one of the most distinctive formats in Special Olympics judo. Rather than following only traditional categories, teams were created by technical experts using factors such as ability, experience, age, weight, gender and belt level. The aim was balanced participation and meaningful inclusion from the start.

In Zug, inclusion was built into every format on the tatami.

Day two centred on divisioning, a key part of Special Olympics competition. Through exercises, games and judo activities, officials evaluated movement, reactions and technical understanding, then created groups of similar ability. That process helped shape fairer and more suitable contests for the athletes.

The intensity rose on the third day with shiai. Fourteen divisions were formed, and 72 contests were held in a round-robin system, ensuring that every athlete had multiple chances to compete, learn and enjoy the moment. It was a structure designed not just to find winners, but to give each judoka a real experience of performance under pressure.

The final day turned to kata, where 14 athletes demonstrated standing techniques adapted to their own ability levels. Precision, confidence and technical understanding were on display, backed by many hours of preparation. It was a strong reminder that progress in judo can be measured in more than medals.

Behind the competition was the deeper spirit of the Special Olympics movement, founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Her belief that people with intellectual disabilities should have access to sport and its opportunities for friendship, growth and self-confidence still resonates today in almost 200 countries.

Every athlete had repeated chances to learn, compete and be seen.

In Zug, perhaps the biggest achievement was the atmosphere created over the four days. Athletes trained and competed twice a day, and every judoka had chances to participate, improve and succeed. Each step onto the tatami carried the same message: effort, courage and determination matter.

Judo in Zug was not reduced to a medal table. It was presented as a tool for dignity, inclusion and development, fully aligned with the values passed down from Jigoro Kano Shihan. Every bow, every throw and every smile added weight to that idea.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation