The year in Quindío judo began with a historic departmental tournament that brought together more than 80 athletes from across the region in a powerful display of inclusion and competitive spirit. Held at the Coliseo del Colegio Rufino José Cuervo Centro in Armenia on April 20, 2026, the event marked the first official departmental judo competition of the year and underscored the department’s commitment to broadening access to the sport.
Organized with the support of Indeportes Quindío and aligned with the sports development agenda of Governor Juan Miguel Galvis Bedoya, the tournament featured 24 weight and age categories, ranging from sub-9 to senior divisions. Athletes represented clubs not only from Armenia but also from neighboring municipalities such as Calarcá, reflecting broad participation across the Quindío department.
What distinguished this competition was its explicit focus on inclusion. For the first time in a departmental judo event in Quindío, athletes with autism, intellectual disabilities, and blindness competed alongside their able-bodied peers on the same tatami. This initiative aimed to promote accessibility and challenge perceptions about who can participate in judo, reinforcing the message that the sport is for everyone.
Leonardo Álzate, methodology coordinator for combat sports at Indeportes Quindío, emphasized the broader goals of the tournament. “The importance of massification and using free time constructively to project young athletes toward sporting goals” was central to the event’s design, he noted. The competition also served as an evaluation platform for the department’s developmental programs, helping assess the current level of formative athletes within Quindío’s sports reserve system.
Coach Juan Manuel González praised the tournament’s outcomes, citing both the high number of participants and the success of the inclusion model. “The balance was remarkably positive due to the number of registrants and the inclusion process, which demonstrates that ‘One can all inhabit the tatami’,” González stated, capturing the event’s unifying ethos.
Beyond competition, the tournament had a forward-looking purpose. Organizers announced plans to host a regional judo event at the Universidad del Quindío, inviting teams from Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío to compete. This proposed regional tournament would build on the momentum generated by the departmental event and further strengthen interdepartmental sporting ties in Colombia’s coffee-growing region.
The Colombia Judo Federation and local sports authorities have increasingly prioritized grassroots development and inclusive practices in recent years. Events like this departmental tournament reflect a growing trend toward integrating adaptive sports principles into traditional competition frameworks, particularly at the youth and developmental levels.
For the athletes involved, the experience extended beyond medals, and rankings. Competing in a supportive, inclusive environment allowed many to test their skills, gain confidence, and connect with peers from different backgrounds and abilities. The presence of diverse competitors on the mat highlighted judo’s core values of mutual respect, perseverance, and maximum efficiency with minimum effort — principles that resonate regardless of physical or cognitive differences.
As the judo calendar progresses in Quindío, stakeholders will look to build on this foundation. The success of the inaugural inclusive departmental tournament provides a model for future events, demonstrating that high-level competition and accessibility are not mutually exclusive but can reinforce one another. With continued support from Indeportes and local government, the department aims to expand opportunities for all athletes to engage with judo at every level.
The next confirmed step in the regional judo pathway is the planned tournament at the Universidad del Quindío, which will bring together teams from Quindío, Caldas, and Risaralda. Although no specific date has been announced in verified sources, organizers have indicated that preparations are underway following the positive reception of the departmental event.
For fans, athletes, and coaches interested in the growth of judo in Colombia’s central-west region, this tournament represents a meaningful milestone. It shows how sport can serve as a vehicle for inclusion, development, and community building when guided by intention and collaboration.
As the season unfolds, the focus will remain on sustaining participation, refining developmental pathways, and ensuring that the tatami remains a space where everyone belongs — a principle clearly demonstrated in Armenia this April.
