(Spokane, WA, January 19, 2023) Olympic level judo athletes will compete in Spokane this spring during the 2023 Judo Senior National Championships. The Senior Nationals will draw elite athletes from across the United States competing from May 20-21, 2023. “USA Judo has been a familiar visitor to Spokane thanks to the strong local Judo community,” said Keith Bryant, CEO of USA Judo. “We are looking forward to bringing our top senior athletes to Spokane to experience the newly built venue, The Podium Powered by STCU, and continue to showcase our athletes as they prepare for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Pacific Judo Academy in Spokane and dojos across the Northwest provided key volunteers that helped Spokane successfully host the 2017 and 2018 USA Judo National and International Junior Olympic Championships. This time, it’s the senior and elite athletes who will be competing. Senior Nationals will draw nearly 600 athletes and 900 out-of-town spectators from across the United States, in the first major domestic senior Judo event of the 2023 season. Including 1,000 hotel overnight stays, Spokane is likely to see over $2M in economic impact from this event.

“We love the idea that even for a few days, our city becomes home base for elite athletes competing for a national title,” says Ashley Blake, Spokane Sports CEO. “When USA Judo decided to return to Spokane for another championship, we took that as a huge compliment. We hope athletes, traveling families and fans enjoy their time in our city." 

About USA Judo 
A 501-c-3 non-profit organization based in Colorado Springs, USA Judo is the National Governing Body for the sport of judo in the United States. USA Judo serves more than 10,000 members annually, including athletes, coaches, referees, volunteers and supporters. A proud member organization of the International Judo Federation, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the International Blind Sports Association, USA Judo’s mission is to enable all U.S. athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in domestic and international judo competition, and the promotion and growth of the sport of judo in the United States.

About Spokane Sports
Founded in 1989, Spokane Sports is a non-profit, economic development organization responsible for recruiting, retaining, and facilitating sports events for the Spokane region. As advocates for sports development, our efforts help our region realize the economic, social, and community development benefits of sports. Learn more by visiting us online. 

About The Podium Powered by STCU
Spokane is proud to announce an all new, indoor multi-sport venue. Completed in Fall 2021, this world-class facility is located in the heart of downtown, giving athletes front-door access to restaurants, hotels, and entertainment. The project forged several unique partnerships and funding approaches, all with the intent to generate economic impact and put Spokane on the map for sports tourism. 

To learn more about Spokane Sports and sports tourism efforts underway, please reach out to Ashley Blake.