The International Judo Federation (IJF) hosted its IJF Judo Gala at the Zugulba Saray in Baku on Tuesday evening, honoring three new honorary members and appointing two prominent sports and entertainment figures as official ambassadors.
Legends Honored at Zugulba Saray
German judo legend Klaus Glahn received recognition as an IJF Honorary Member during the gala event in Azerbaijan. At 84 and a half years old, the 1972 Munich Olympic silver medalist, three-time world championship runner-up, and four-time European champion reflected on his career and the accolade. Beim Judo brauchst du ein paar Minuten für den Sieg. Um so eine Ehrung zu erhalten, aber mehr als 60 Jahre,
Glahn said, noting that while his knee hurts, he remains otherwise in top physical condition.
Matthäus and Al Bano Join as Ambassadors
German record international footballer Lothar Matthäus and Italian music star Al Bano stepped into official roles as IJF Ambassadors during the evening. Matthäus, who earned 150 caps for Germany, was recruited through initiatives led by IJF President Marius Vizer. Als mich Marius kontaktierte und fragte, ob ich IJF Botschafter werden will, konnte ich natürlich nicht Nein sagen,
Matthäus stated. Meanwhile, Al Bano performed his hit song Felicita
during both the opening ceremony at the National Gymnastics Arena and the evening gala, maintaining a multi-year involvement with the international federation.
Connections Across Generations
The gathering also served as a networking hub for former international competitors, including German world championship medalist Miryam Roper. Roper reflected on her competitive history within the under-57 kilogram division—a weight class won by her compatriot and current ÖJV head coach Yvonne Snir-Bönisch at the 2004 Olympic Games—while noting her past battles against Austrian standout Sabrina Filzmoser. Ich mag Sabsi – solange wir nicht in die Newaza gehen müssen. Da war sie unschlagbar,
Roper said regarding the ground-fighting expertise of her former rival.
Looking Ahead in Baku
The gala proceedings accompanied the ongoing IJF World Championships calendar in Baku, marking another chapter in the federation’s tradition of uniting figures from Olympic sports and global entertainment.
Worth a look
