Similar to the 2012 format, qualification was based on the world ranking list prepared byInternational Judo Federation as of May 30, 2016. A total of 252 athletes directly qualified through the ranking with only the top 22 men or top 14 women in each division, ensuring that eachNational Olympic Committee was subjected to a limit of one judoka per division.[2][3]
There were two sessions of competition on each day of the 2016 Olympic Judo program. The first session (Elimination & Quarterfinal) was conducted from 10:00 to 13:00BRT, and the second session (repechage, semifinal, bronze medal and gold medal) was conducted from 15:30 to 18:10BRT.