Lisa Rivers Selected to Referee at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
June 18, 2026
British Judo is delighted to announce that Lisa Rivers has been selected to officiate as a referee at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, marking another significant milestone in her outstanding refereeing career.
The Commonwealth Games will return to Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026, with judo once again featuring on the sports programme following its successful inclusion at Birmingham 2022.
Lisa’s appointment is recognition of her continued excellence on the international stage and her longstanding commitment to the sport. Over recent years, she has established herself as one of Great Britain’s leading referees, representing British Judo at some of the most prestigious events in the world.
During the 2025 and 2026 international season, Lisa has officiated at a number of major competitions, including the Paris Grand Slam, Baku Grand Slam, Senior European Championships and the Upper Austria Grand Prix. Her selection for Glasgow 2026 reflects the respect she has earned within the international judo community through years of dedication, professionalism and consistent performances at the highest level.
Rivers has been a trailblazer for British refereeing, becoming the first British Judo referee to officiate on the IJF World Tour for a decade when she made her debut at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in 2022. Since then, she has continued to progress through the international ranks and establish herself amongst the sport’s elite officials.
Speaking about her selection, Rivers said:
“Being selected to represent Great Britain as a judo referee at the Commonwealth Games is an incredible honour. It means a great deal to have the opportunity to officiate on such a prestigious international stage, and I’m immensely proud to contribute to our sport at this level.
“This selection reflects years of dedication to refereeing, and I’m grateful for the support of the judo community that has helped me reach this moment.”
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will provide another opportunity for Lisa to showcase her expertise on one of sport’s biggest stages, while continuing British Judo’s proud tradition of contributing world-class officials to major international events.
Everyone at British Judo would like to congratulate Lisa on this fantastic achievement and wish her every success as she prepares for Glasgow 2026.
