Dutch stars Henk Grol and Deborah Gravenjstijn appear on posters and all merchandising related to the competition. The Organizers expect 25 thousand spectators during the five-day event. Tickets are sold out for the weekend 29th and 30th. Not less than seven TV Broadcasters will show the combats live covering a huge audience in all continents.

Around 660 judoka from 105 countries are expected to be competing next week, with not less than seven reigning Olympic champions and nine defending world champions to be seen on the mat. Numbers are to be confirmed during the draw of tables, to take place on Tuesday 25th.

It is the third time that Holland hosts a judo World Championships, both times in Maastricht 1981, male, and 1986, female. Rotterdam itself has received two European Championships in 1957 and 2005.

Reigning Olympic Champions Beijing 2008 to compete in the 26th World Judo Championships are Min-Ho Choi KOR, 60kg, Masato Uchishiba JPN, 66kg, Ole Bischof GER, 81kg, Irakli Tsirekidze GEO, 100kg, won in 90kg, Alina Dumitru ROU, 48kg, Giulia Quintavalle ITA, 57kg and Wen Tong CHN, 78kg. The reigning champions from Rio 2007 in Rotterdam are Ruben Houkes NED, 60kg, Ki-Chu Wang KOR, -73kg, Tiago Camilo BRA, 90kg, won 81kg, Irakli Tsirekidze GEO, 100kg, won in 90kg, Luciano Correa BRA, 100kg, Teddy Riner FRA, 100kg, Gevrise Emane FRA, 63kg, won in 70kg, Wen Tong CHN, 78kg, Maki Tsukada JPN, 78kg, won open.

Program

25th August - IJF Press Conference, Rotterdam Town Hall
17h - With presence of IJF President Marius Vizer, IJF Sports Director Vladimir Barta, IJF Refereeing Director Juan Carlos Barcos, JBN President, Jos Hell, former Olympic and World Champion David Douillet, Dutch Athletes.

25th August - Draw of Tables, Rotterdam Town Hall
18h

26th August - Ahoy Sports Hall
9h30 - Preliminaries 60kg, 66kg, 48kg
13h - Opening ceremony
14h - Final block/medals

27th August - Ahoy Sports Hall
9h30 - Preliminaries 73kg, 52kg, 57kg
14h - Final block/medals

28th August - Ahoy Sports Hall
9h30 - Preliminaries 81kg, 63kg
14h - Final block/medals

29th August - Ahoy Sports Hall
9h30 - Preliminaries 90kg, 70kg, 78kg
14h - Final block/medals

30th August - Ahoy Sports Hall
9h30 - Preliminaries 100kg, 100kg, 78kg
14h - Final block/medals