University gears up to welcome Judo stars

The University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall Campus is preparing to welcome athletes from 20 countries at the event which takes place from Wednesday until Sunday.

The university is home to British Judo’s Centre of Excellence and the event will be delivered in partnership with Walsall Council.

The event kicks off with the visually impaired competition on Wednesday, followed by the juniors and seniors on Thursday.

Friday will play host to the veterans, with the pre-cadets on Saturday and the event closing on Sunday with the cadets.

The event coincides with the University’s Welcome Week, and new students will be rubbing shoulders with elite athletes when they arrive to settle in and start their studies.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer, said: “We are really looking forward to hosting the 2019 Commonwealth Judo Championships next week. This is the first time one of our campuses has hosted an international sporting event of this size and this is a great opportunity for our staff and students to experience a major Judo event.

“We are incredibly proud to have been home to the British Judo Centre of Excellence at our Walsall Campus since 2014 and this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the world-class sporting facilities we have in our region.

“The University is also delighted to be working with our partners Walsall Council to ensure the competition is a memorable occasion and boosts the visitor economy.”

British Judo Chief Executive Andrew Scoular said: “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for British judoka to become involved in a top-quality event. Hopefully we’ll put on a fantastic event and leave a legacy for all Home Country judoka to follow.

“It promises to be a very big event and we can’t wait for the start of the competition. We have got a good track record in delivering world-class judo events over the past 3-4 years and the University have been instrumental in the planning and execution of the event.”

Councillor Garry Perry, Walsall Council’s cabinet member for community, leisure and culture said: “Having the Commonwealth Judo Championships here in Walsall is a huge coup, not just for the University of Wolverhampton, but also for the borough of Walsall as well. We look forward to showing visitors from across the commonwealth all that Walsall has to offer.”

For further details, including how to book tickets, visit britishjudo.org.uk/commonwealth2019/