By Paul Osborne

Hungary will host a Judo Grand Prix from 2014 - 2016 following an agreement with the IJF ©IJFJanuary 11 - A World Tour event will head to Budapest this year following a three-year agreement between the International Judo Federation (IJF) and Hungarian Judo Association.


The agreement ensures the two-day Budapest Grand Prix will feature on the Tours calendar during the Rio 2016 Olympic cycle from 2014 to 2016 with this year's event scheduled to be held on June 21 and 22 in the Papp László Budapest Sports Arena.

The agreement was signed by IJF President Marius Vizer, President of the Hungarian Judo Association Laszlo Toth and Istvan Simicsko, Hungary's Secretary of State for Sport and Youth Matters.

"In terms of competitors and participating countries, this event will be the largest ever in the history of the Hungarian judo," said Vizer.

The news follows Budapest's successful hosting of last year's European Championships and the continued popularity of the sport in Hungary.

Istvan Simicsko (right) has said that the Grand Prix could be used as a stepping stone towards Hungary's hope of hosting the 2017 World Championships ©IJFIstvan Simicsko (right) has claimed the World Tour event in Budapest could be used as a stepping stone towards Hungary's hope of hosting the 2017 World Championships ©IJF


Following the signing, Toth revealed the Hungarian Judo Association's hope to host the 2017 World Championships and is optimistic this new agreement will be a stepping stone towards that goal.

The Budapest Grand Prix joins a growing list of locations on the IJF's World Tour and will provide athletes with an opportunity to gain much needed ranking points as they look to qualify for Rio 2016.

Winners of each weight category at the Grand Prix will be awarded 300 ranking points with 180 awarded to second and 120 to third.

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