{
  "id": 14588678,
  "title": "How Putin’s favorite sport reopened the door to international contests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/how-putins-favorite-sport-reopened-the-door-to-international-contests",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-15T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/putins-favorite-sport-leads-russian-charge-toward-la-olympics/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kyiv — Russia is regaining traction in international sports, particularly in judo, as the Los Angeles Olympics approach in 2028. At the heart of this resurgence is President Vladimir Putin's keen interest in the martial art. The International Judo Federation (IJF), under the leadership of Austrian-Romanian executive Marius Vizer, has played a pivotal role in allowing Russian athletes to compete under their national flag since the country's invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Vizer, who has been at the helm of the IJF since 2007, has been accused of fostering connections between Putin, Russia's elites, and global business interests. Despite criticism, the IJF reinstated Russian athletes in November 2025, marking a significant step towards Moscow's reintegration into world sports. This move has sparked concern in Brussels, where EU officials are considering measures to prevent Russia's further involvement in international sports.",
  "summary": "Brussels officials are grappling with the gradual reintegration of Moscow’s athletes, according to a document viewed by POLITICO.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The reintegration of Russian athletes into international judo competitions signals a shift toward Moscow's return to global sports, despite growing pressure from European officials to maintain existing sanctions.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}