How National Olympic Committees obtain universality places for judo.

National Olympic Committees (NOCs) that participated with an average of eight athletes or fewer in individual sports at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 are eligible to obtain Universality Places, designed to ensure broader global representation at the Olympics.

Eligible NOCs can request athlete quotas in specific sports from the Commission. To be considered for a quota, athletes must meet specific technical criteria established by the relevant International Sports Federations.

The Commission then reviews all requests, considering factors such as universal representation, athlete eligibility and technical level, balance between continents and genders, and the preferences of International Sports Federations and NOCs.

Once the qualification period in each sport with Universality Places ends, the Commission allocates the available quotas to the selected NOCs based on their evaluations. This system ensures that smaller nations have the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games, promoting inclusivity and diversity.

National Olympic Committees (NOCs) eligible for Universality Places come from five continents. In Africa, 35 NOCs are eligible, while the Americas have 18. Asia is represented by 17 NOCs, Europe by 9, and Oceania by 14. These NOCs typically belong to countries with smaller delegations at previous Olympic Games, promoting broader global participation and inclusivity in the Olympic movement.