Judoka from around the world gather in Largs every January for the JudoScotland Scottish Open. This year we are delighted to be adding to our programme of Judo at our flagship event which has seen Olympic Medallists and European Champions compete at the seaside town.
We’re thrilled to introduce adapted categories for the 2025 Scottish Open, adding a new and exciting dimension to the event while enhancing its inclusivity and accessibility. The adapted categories allow judoka to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level of judo in Scotland in front of a packed crowd at the sportscotland National Sports Centre Inverclyde; it’s sure to be a monumental occasion. This is the first time we’ve included the adapted category, and it’s the perfect moment as Scottish adapted judo thrives both at home and abroad. Scottish judoka continue to excel, with Sean Allan winning gold at the Gdansk Get Together Tournament and Kirsten Taylor narrowly missing out on competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The introduction of the adapted categories at the Scottish Open supports our strategy of fostering an inclusive, diverse membership, ensuring judo is a sport for all. Which has already seen our Disability Development Officer, Stephen Sommerville, working alongside clubs to develop training opportunities across Scotland and introduced online adapted workshops to enhance coaching for athletes with disabilities.
JudoScotland CEO Judith McCleary said, “We are committed to making judo accessible and available for everyone. As such, our JudoScotland Equality Working Group is working with Moving to Inclusion to identify areas in our Culture, Leadership, Experiences, Relationships and Communication that require improvements. It’s fantastic to see meaningful actions taking place across the entire judo community that will ensure judo truly is for all.”
“By offering adapted opportunities within prestigious events like the Scottish Open, we continue to develop and expand our Judo For All strategy; the inclusion of the adapted category is just the beginning. We are excited to see the impact this will have on the judo community, inspiring future generations of athletes and setting the standard for our future events.”
If you would like to find out more about The Scottish Open 2025, including how to enter, click here