The 12,500 capacity Palais Omnisports Paris-Bercy will host the two days of action and today saw the official draw for the tournament take place, attended by officials from the International Judo Federation (IJF) and the host federation.

"On behalf of Mr Marius Vizer, IJF President, I welcome you all to Paris, I wish you a good result in the first official event of 2014 and a good stay in France," said IJF general treasurer Naser-Al Tameemi.

This year will see a new back-patch colour scheme introduced at major judo meetings with Olympic champions wearing a gold back-patch while world champions will wear red.

Cuba's Idalys Ortiz will have to make room for both a gold and red patch as the reigning Olympic and world champion will once again prove a formidable opponent in the women's over 78 kilogram class where she is likely to have to overcome World Championship runner-up Maria Suelen Altheman of Brazil to pick up a gold medal.

The draw for the 2014 Paris Grand Slam took place in the Palais Omnisports Paris-Bercy today ©IJF Media



Brazil will also be expecting gold medal winning performances from the likes of London 2012 gold medallist Sarah Menezes, who has yet to taste glory in Paris, while reigning world champion Rafaela Silva will be favourite to take gold in the under 57kg category but will face stiff opposition in the form of Olympic bronze medallist and home favourite Automne Pavia.

France will also be expecting rising star Amandine Buchard to continue her good form while former world champion Audrey Tcheumeo and reigning Paris Grand Slam winner Clarisse Agbegnenou will also be feeling the weight of expectation.

On the men's side, David Larose will be out to secure a second consecutive win on home soil but will be up against tough opponents in the form of top seed Tumurkhuleg Davaadorj  of Mongolia and Japanese starlet Tomofumi Takajo in the under 66kg class.

David Larose will be expected to deliver a medal on home soil in Paris ©AFP/Getty Images



Mongolia will also have strong representation in the form of reigning Paris champion Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar while South Korea will be hoping for top performances from Jeju Grand Prix winners Kim Won-jin, Gwak Don-han and Olympic champion Kim Jae-bum.

Georgians Varlem Liparteliani - World Championship runner-up in Rio - and World Judo Masters champion Adam Okruashvili will be fancied to go a long way in their respective categories, as will compatriot and reigning European champion  Amiran Papinashvili who will be looking to improve on his bronze medal in Paris last year.

The action in the Palais Omnisports Paris-Bercy gets underway tomorrow (Saturday) and concludes on Sunday (February 9).

To watch the latest action on Judo TV click here.

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