During the inaugural Ecole Mont-Olivet Lausanne Grand Slam 2026 – Switzerland, the International Judo Federation and Swiss Judo marked another important milestone with the signing of the contract to host the 2028 World Judo Championships.

The agreement was signed on Saturday 29th August by International Judo Federation President Mr Marius Vizer and Swiss Judo Federation President Mr Sergei Aschwanden, in the presence of Christelle Luisier Brodard, President of the Council of Canton de Vaud, and Émilie Moeschler, Municipal Councillor Responsible for Sport and Social Cohesion in Lausanne.

Switzerland will host an edition of particular importance. Held in an Olympic year, only weeks before the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the championships will be a major milestone on the road to LA28 and will form part of the Olympic qualification process.

The choice of Lausanne adds a powerful symbolic dimension. As the Olympic Capital and home to the International Olympic Committee, the city will welcome the international judo family at a decisive point in the sporting calendar.

IJF President Mr Marius Vizer welcomed the signing of the agreement, “We are honoured to organise in Lausanne, Switzerland, the flagship event of the International Judo Federation. I would already like to thank President Aschwanden and his entire team for their serious and highly professional work, as well as the canton of Vaud and the city of Lausanne.”

For Swiss Judo, the announcement represented another major step forward. The contract was signed as Switzerland hosted its first grand slam, beginning a journey towards an even greater rendezvous two years later.

Swiss Judo Federation President Mr Sergei Aschwanden said, “The confidence placed in Switzerland by the IJF is both an honour and a responsibility. After the grand slams of 2026 and 2027, the 2028 World Championships will allow us to develop judo in all its aspects: sporting excellence, participation, inclusion and inspiration for a new generation of athletes. We want this event to create a lasting legacy for Lausanne, the canton of Vaud and Swiss judo as a whole.”

Christelle Luisier Brodard, President of the Council of Canton de Vaud, emphasised the broader impact expected from the event, “The 2028 World Judo Championships will be an opportunity to develop sport in all its forms and bring genuine added value to our canton, from encouraging sporting participation to strengthening our sporting and economic ecosystem, while promoting inclusion and the recognition of every athlete.”

Émilie Moeschler, a municipal councillor in Lausanne, said, “Hosting the 2028 World Championships is a source of pride and recognition of Lausanne’s attractiveness and expertise in welcoming major sporting events. The Vaudoise Arena is the ideal setting to showcase judo, its athletes and Para-athletes. These events inspire young people, support the emergence of future talent in our clubs and reinforce our commitment to inclusion and equality in sport.”

With the contract signed, the road to the 2028 World Judo Championships has officially begun. In two years, the world’s best judoka will meet in Switzerland, with world titles at stake and the Olympic Games just around the corner.