RIO DE JANEIRO - One of the cities that is bidding to stage the Olympic and Para Olympic Games 2016, the city of Rio de Janeiro has improved in 2007 its curriculum as host of great sports events. Less then two months after organizing the XV Pan American Games, the city hosted the XXV World Judo Championship from 13 to 16 of September.

This was the greatest edition in the history of the competition, gathering 788 judokas from 134 countries. The inventor-country of the sport, Japan was 1st place on the general classification, with three gold medals, two silver and four bronze. Brazil accomplished the best performance on this tournament, with the second place, winning three gold and one bronze, followed by France (two gold, two silver and four bronze), Cuba (two gold, two silver and one bronze) and China (two gold).

The World Judo Championship took place at the Rio Olympic Arena, multi-sport gymnasium with capacity for 15 thousand spectators, and complies with all the International Olympic Committee's requirements to be used during the Olympic Games.

Inaugurated on July 7th, 2007, the Arena hosted competitions of Artistic Gymnastics and Basketball of the Pan American Games Rio 2007. On August, the Opening Ceremony was organized there, as well as the Tournament of Wheel Chair Basketball of the Parapan American Games Rio 2007.