The twenty-sixth edition of the Villa de Avilés International Judo Tournament launched on Saturday morning, drawing approximately 7,000 competitors and companions to a city facing a wave of accommodation bookings that spilled over into surrounding comarcas, elcomercio.es reported. Competition opened at 9 a.m. local time with cadet category preliminaries and repechages.
Tournament Director Cites Rapid Registration Pace
There are Spanish Cups like Cantabria that close their registrations in a month, while we do it in half an hour,
tournament director Carlos Fernández said during the event presentation, as reported by elcomercio.es.
The event features competitors from every autonomous community in Spain alongside an international field representing Portugal, Ukraine, the United States, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, and a debuting contingent from the Netherlands. The competition schedule moves to the cadet final block around 3:30 p.m. local time following the under-21 category, while under-15 weigh-ins take place at the athletics track ahead of evening category draws at 8 p.m.
Broadcast In-House Operations and Venue Setup
Organizers expanded their technical footprint for 2026 by bringing tournament broadcasting in-house after utilizing an external service provider in 2025. The production setup features seven cameras equipped with microphones and dedicated computers for individual tatamis, paired with a robotic camera stationed at the central table and main control desk. A four-person crew manages the live streaming feed across 14 50-inch television monitors.
Rotary Club Leads Sport Equipment Drive
Beyond the athletic competition, tournament organizers partnered with the Rotary Club Balagares to collect used sports apparel in good condition. The initiative aims to provide a second life for donated gear from clubs, coaches, athletes, and families, with collected items directed toward supporting vulnerable communities in Ukraine and Senegal.
Examia Provides Scholarships for Judokas Demonstrating Perseverance
The agreement provides two distinct scholarships awarded specifically to judokas who demonstrate exceptional perseverance during competition, regardless of whether they secure a podium finish.
The weekend schedule also integrated community health initiatives, following a collaborative breakfast event held alongside the HDL Good Cholesterol Confraternity and Rotary Balagares to promote nutritional awareness among athletes and the general public. I want to highlight Judo Avilés’ concern for health and how it achieves that an event like the Villa is transversal,
sports councilman Juan Carlos Guerrero said, according to elcomercio.es.
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