‘The president of the  Ju Jitsu International Federation (JJF), Panagiotis Theodoropoulos, was pleased with what he saw in the Abu Dhabi World Professionals Jiu-Jitsu Championship this weekend, stressing that Abu Dhabi wrote a new chapter in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Abu Dhabi’s UAEJJ Federation (Which organizes the World Pro) has teamed up with The Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF which is the internationally recognized federation for sports Ju Jitsu) in the goal to work towards bringing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the Olympic games.

According to Mohammed Al Hosani who wrote on alittihad.ae (Translated from Arabic), President  Panagiotis Theodoropoulos thinks that the Olympic dream is a real possibility for Jiu-Jitsu in that in 6 years time:

“The president of the International Ju Jitsu Federation (IJF), Panagiotis Theodoropoulus said:

 

Regarding a time frame for Jiu-Jitsu to enter the Olympic games, he said: “If we started today, and we have already started, we need at least 6 years to achieve this ambition”

 

Talking about the Olympic dream, which is the dream of each Jiu-Jitsu athlete, we must recognize that the basic equation to achieve this dream, is to lok at the number of athletes associated and the fans that are passionate, and in Abu Dhabi it seems that all of this is a reality.

 

The Olympic Committee has been watching us for some time, and we have to be serious in our endeavors to achieve this dream, which takes time, and the Abu Dhabi World Pro Championship World can not be denied in promoting this objective.”

 

Abdulmunam Al Hashmi, president of both the Asian Jiu Jitsu Union and the UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation, discussed with emirates247.com the development program and the popularity of the sport with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach during his visit to the Gulf:

“Jiu Jitsu to be included in the Olympic Games is a long way off but at least we were able to discuss the work we are doing to broaden the horizons of the sport with the members of the IOC and ANOC,” Al Hashmi said on his return from Kuwait.

“There are various norms to be fulfilled even before Jiu Jitsu is considered an Olympic sport. It requires a considerable amount of work but we have drawn up wide ranging plans to achieve our objectives.

“We have to work a lot to broaden the base of the game around the world with the help of the Jiu Jitsu International Federation (JJIF). We will build a family atmosphere on solid foundations we have already established.”

“Sheikh Mohammed has taken an active role to promote the sport worldwide, and particularly in the UAE where there are more than 35,000 practicing the martial art,”