Tajikistan’s people embraced judo, cheering loudly for every ippon, whether from Tajik judoka or not. This incredible spirit is what we have been looking forward to enjoying again and now we are back.

From early in the morning on day one, judo fans queued outside the arena, streaming in as soon as the doors were opened. They were ready to welcome to athletes on to the tatami from the very first ‘Hajime!’ We have wondered, for a year, if the atmosphere we remembered was really that good and we are not disappointed. Full tribunes, drummers, cheerleaders, this event has it all.