Oleg Valenchuk: Returning the flag and anthem to the judokas is the first step toward restoring justice in the world of sport.

      The first tournament at which Russian judokas will be able to compete under their own flag was the Grand Slam. It is being held in Abu Dhabi from November 28 to 30. This event became possible thanks to the decision of the International Judo Federation (IJF), which recognized Russia’s historic role in world judo.

      “Russia has always been one of the leaders in judo, and our athletes have achieved outstanding results on the international stage,” emphasized Oleg Valenchuk. “The Judo Federation of Russia, under the leadership of Sergey Soloveychik, has continued to work with complete dedication all these years, supporting athletes who have permanently inscribed their names into the history of world sport and nurturing the next generation. I would stress that the IJF’s decision to restore the flag and anthem to Russian athletes was the first among all sports federations. This decision is a crucial step toward restoring justice for our athletes. It will not only enrich the competitions but also uphold the principles of equality and political neutrality enshrined in the Olympic Charter.”

      Oleg Valenchuk also noted that this event has become a major stimulus for young athletes to continue training hard despite any obstacles. After all, sport is a bridge that unites people and nations in the most complex conflict situations. The president of the Kirov Region Judo Federation expressed gratitude to the leaders of the IJF and Russian sport for their support and confidence that this decision will give impetus to our judokas for new victories on the international stage.

      “I want each Russian athlete to experience such moments: to raise the tricolor and hear the Russian anthem while standing on the top step of the podium... These feelings cannot be put into words. We all remember how millions of Russians had tears of happiness welling up in their eyes during our great sporting victories. And I am confident that soon we will all once again experience these incomparable emotions,” Valenchuk concluded.