A Commonwealth Games volunteer has started a petition to get judo recognised as a core sport in the Commonwealth Games every four years.

Judo was one of the most successful sports in the Commonwealth Games, yet it will not be included next year when it visits the Gold Coast of Australia.

Simon Goodman, a member of the University of Edinburgh Judo Club has created a petition for HRH Imran and Mike Hooper on Change.org to make judo a core sport.

So far he has gathered well over a thousand signatures, and over half of those were gathered in the first 24 hours, from respected judo people and also those who saw the sport and want to see it in the Commonwealth Games again.

Support has come from over 40 countries, including some that are not in the Commonwealth. Before 2014, the last time judo was included on the programme was in Manchester.

Simon said: “I was a volunteer at the games helping with the judo and the atmosphere was absolutely incredible. People really loved the judo and it would be a shame not to see it on the programme.”

As well as training with the University club, Simon is also a referee and regularly volunteers at events around Scotland.

He admits that he has only been doing judo for a short time:

“Actually I took a leaflet from one of the students advertising it at the University of Edinburgh, went along to a session, even though I had never been to university in my life, and now at the age of 40 I am about start a sport and recreation Management (BSc Hons).

“Judo, quite literally changed the course of my life and I would like to repay them for this. If they don’t take it up, I will understand, but we have to at least try.”

To sign the petition visit https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/hrh-prince-imran-include-judo-as-a-core-sport-in-the-commonwealth-games

Words by Donna Richardson.