Home Sports The Grand Sumo Tournament Comes to Paris: A Global Sporting Extravaganza

Sports

The Grand Sumo Tournament Comes to Paris: A Global Sporting Extravaganza

For the first time in over 30 years, the ancient sport of Sumo will be making its way to Paris. Organizers are bringing this unique sporting event to the city next year, as part of an ambitious plan to expand Sumo's global reach beyond its traditional Japanese heartland.

Administrator

26 January, 2025

261

The Accor Arena, a prestigious venue that hosted the Paris Olympics’ basketball and gymnastics events last year, is gearing up for an exciting transformation. In June 2026, the arena will showcase a two-day wrestling competition, bringing the thrill of this sport to the heart of the French capital.

Expanding its horizons, the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) announced last month that they are taking their ancient sport abroad. London’s Royal Albert Hall will host a tournament later this year, marking the first overseas sumo competition in two decades.

“Our mission is to showcase the beauty and tradition of our sport to a global audience,” shared JSA chairman Hakkaku during the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo’s Kokugikan. “Our wrestlers are the best in the world, and we want them to feel proud and admired internationally.”

Paris has a special connection with sumo, having hosted tournaments in 1986 and 1995 at the invitation of former French president Jacques Chirac, an avid fan of this centuries-old tradition. Hakkaku, who competed in the 1986 Paris event, expressed his gratitude for the enduring relationship between sumo and France.

“As we prepare for our third performance in Paris, we feel a sense of renewed joy and deep responsibility,” he said. “We are dedicated to sharing the unique charm and appeal of sumo with the French people, offering them a glimpse into this ancient tradition.”

The French organizers are committed to recreating an authentic sumo tournament atmosphere, ensuring that the event is more than just a sporting competition. David Rothschild, promoter and executive producer for AEG, the events organizers, described the Paris tournament as a “festival” celebrating all facets of Japanese culture.

“Sumo holds a special place in the hearts of the French people,” Rothschild explained. “It used to be broadcast on television, and even today, there are many in France who possess a deep knowledge of this ancient sport. We aim to introduce a new generation to the beauty and tradition of sumo.”

Sumo has left its mark on the global stage, with past events in countries like the Soviet Union, Mexico, and the United States. The last overseas tournament organized by the JSA took place in Las Vegas in 2005.

Hakkaku emphasized that the JSA’s efforts to bring sumo abroad are about more than just sporting events. “It’s about introducing the world to the rich, traditional culture of Japan,” he said. “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had been contemplating how best to develop and promote our sport, and taking it international felt like the natural next step.”