Canberra International Open

1. Venue & Event Scope

• Dates: 12–14 February 2027.
• Location: Veolia Arena, 45 Braidwood Road, Goulburn, NSW 2580.
• Organising Bodies: Judo ACT in conjunction with Judo Australia (JA) and the Goulburn Mulwaree Council.
• Scope: The event is comprised of three concurrent competitions:Canberra International Open: Features Cadet, Junior, Senior, and Senior Kyu divisions, serving as an official points event for the National Points Table. Canberra Open: Features Senior Kata, Veterans, and Under 11, Under 13, and Under 15 divisions. ACT State Titles Open: Open tournament for Under 11, Under 13, and Under 15 age divisions.

2. Competition Schedule

• **Friday, 12 February 2027:**16:00: Senior Kata Competition commences, followed immediately by the Veterans Competition. 18:00–19:30 (TBC): Practical Referee Seminar (compulsory judogi required).
• **Saturday, 13 February 2027:**07:30 (TBC): Referee briefing. 08:30: Canberra International Open begins for Cadet Men/Women, Junior Men/Women, Senior Men/Women, and Senior Kyu grades, followed by medal ceremonies.
• **Sunday, 14 February 2027:**08:30: Canberra Open and ACT State Titles Open for Under 11, Under 13, and Under 15 Boys and Girls, along with the Junior Kata Competition and medal ceremonies.
• Adaptive Judo: Contested within appropriate weight divisions alongside mainstream divisions across the weekend.

3. Eligibility, Rules & Tournament Format

• Eligibility: Australian players must be financial members of a JA member State or Territory association. International players must hold International Judo Federation (IJF) affiliation and are responsible for securing their own travel visas.
• Minimum Rank: A minimum grade of 4th Kyu (Orange Belt) is required.
• Rules & Uniform: Matches follow the JA Sporting Code and IJF Refereeing Rules (including 2025 rules for U11 and U13). Both blue and white Judogis are required across all divisions.
• Match Format: Divisions with more than 6 competitors use a double elimination / full repechage system; divisions with 6 or fewer competitors use pools and knockout formats. Under 11 competitors have no fixed weight classes and are grouped by closest body weight.
• Concussion Guidelines: Competitors must strictly comply with the JA Concussion Management Policy, including clearance requirements prior to entry.

4. Registration Key Dates & Pricing

Registrations are handled online via JudoManager (or Revolutionise for Kata). No walk-in or weigh-in late entries are permitted.

• **Key Registration Dates:**Early Bird Closes: 31 December 2026 Standard Entries Close: 31 January 2027 Late Entry Window: 1 February 2027 – 10 February 2027
• **Entry Fees (Early Bird / Standard / Late):**Canberra Open (U11, U13, U15): $40 / $70 / $100 ACT State Open (U11, U13, U15): $20 / $35 / $50 Cadets, Juniors, Seniors, Kyu Grades, Veterans: $50 / $80 / $120 Kata: $75 per person per kata for Seniors ($150 per pair); $50 per person per kata for Juniors ($100 per pair). Spectator Admission: Free entry throughout the tournament.
• Refund Policy: Full refunds are issued if the event is cancelled. Competitor withdrawals must be submitted in writing with a medical certificate to luisval@iinet.net.au by 6 February 2027; no refunds will be granted after this date.

5. Weigh-In Rules & Sites

Official weigh-ins take place the day prior to competition across two regional hub locations:

• **Locations:**Goulburn: Veolia Arena, 45 Braidwood Road, Goulburn. Canberra: Beyond Grappling Club, 184 Clive Steele Avenue, Monash.
• **Weigh-in Times:**Veterans: Friday 15:00–15:30 (Goulburn only). Cadets, Juniors, Seniors, Kyu Grades, Adaptive: Friday 15:00–17:00 (Goulburn) or 15:00–16:00 (Canberra). U11, U13, U15 Boys & Girls: Saturday 11:00–12:00 (both Goulburn and Canberra) or 14:00–16:00 (Goulburn only).
• Conditions: Weight division changes are permitted at day-before weigh-ins. Morning-of-competition weigh-ins require prior written approval, must meet exact entered weight limits without leeway (or face exclusion with no redraw), and random day-of-competition weight checks (maximum +5% allowed) may apply to cadets and above. Junior competitors contesting both the Canberra Open and ACT State Titles Open need only weigh in once.

6. Field of Play & Coach Dress Code

Coaches entering the competition area must wear either formal/smart casual attire (blazers, collared shirts, jackets, long trousers, skirts), official state tracksuits with long pants, or state polo shirts, paired with covered footwear. Short trousers, singlets, flip-flops, sunglasses, and non-religious headwear are strictly forbidden.