USA Judo Expands Event Connect Experience for 2026 Junior Olympic National Championships

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Judo is continuing its investment in athlete, family and fan engagement with an expanded Event Connect experience for the 2026 Junior Olympic National Championships, taking place June 19–21 at The Podium in Spokane, Washington.

The expanded experience reflects USA Judo's ongoing commitment to enhancing the member experience through innovation, athlete storytelling and community engagement at its premier national events.

As interest in Olympic sport continues to build ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, USA Judo is making forward-looking investments in experiences that strengthen connections between athletes, families, coaches, alumni and fans.

"We're always looking for ways to enhance the experience for our members while celebrating the history, culture, and future of our sport," said USA Judo CEO Corinne Shigemoto. "Junior Olympics is one of the most important events on our calendar, and Event Connect helps create new opportunities for athletes, families and fans to engage with the championship and the broader USA Judo community."

The Junior Olympic National Championships is one of USA Judo's premier annual events, welcoming athletes ages 5–20 from across the United States and abroad for three days of competition and development. Many divisions also serve as important pathways toward future national and international championship opportunities.

Event Connect serves as a centralized digital destination where athletes, coaches, families, and fans can access event information, participate in interactive experiences and engage with the championship throughout the weekend. The platform is designed to complement the competition experience while helping showcase the people, history and community that make judo unique.

Throughout the event, participants will have opportunities to explore interactive experiences highlighting the stories and achievements of USA Judo Olympic legends, participate in live community polls and access a dedicated Know Before You Go hub designed to help families prepare for competition weekend.

New for 2026, athletes and fans can create collectible Junior Olympic digital trading cards featuring exclusive event-themed designs and randomized rarity levels inspired by traditional collecting experiences. Participants can discover, collect and share cards throughout the championship, creating a unique digital keepsake from their Junior Olympic experience.

Attendees can also participate in Road to the Podium, an interactive championship journey that encourages exploration, learning and engagement throughout the venue while earning special recognition for participation.

Families and supporters will be able to celebrate competitors through digital athlete shout-outs and community spotlights that may be featured on venue displays and other digital surfaces throughout the championship. Event Connect will also help visitors discover USA Judo partners, local attractions and dining opportunities throughout Spokane.

Shigemoto noted that initiatives like Event Connect are part of USA Judo's broader commitment to athlete storytelling, community participation and member engagement as the organization continues to look toward the future of the sport.

The Junior Olympic National Championships have been a cornerstone event for USA Judo for more than four decades and have provided valuable competitive opportunities for generations of athletes. Notable alumni include Olympic bronze medalist Ronda Rousey and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, among many others who have gone on to represent the United States on the international stage.

Athletes, coaches, families and fans can begin exploring the Junior Olympic Championships Event Connect experience today by visiting:

https://usajudo.playshotcaller.com/

The 2026 USA Judo Junior Olympic National Championships will be held June 19–21 at The Podium in Spokane, one of the nation's premier indoor sports venues. The championship is expected to welcome hundreds of athletes and families from across the United States and around the world for a weekend celebrating competition, community and the future of American judo.

For more information about the 2026 USA Judo Junior Olympic National Championships, visit usajudo.com.

Event Connect is USA Judo's official digital engagement platform designed to enhance the athlete, coach, family and fan experience across national events. The platform brings together event information, athlete storytelling, interactive experiences, community participation and partner engagement into a single destination that helps members stay connected before, during and after competition.

Following the 2026 Junior Olympic National Championships, Event Connect will continue to support USA Judo-sanctioned events throughout the year, including the 2026 President's Cup.

Event Connect is developed in partnership with ShotCaller, USA Judo's official fan and athlete engagement platform partner.