
(ATR) Rio 2016 and International Judo Federation officials tell Around the Rings the main benefit from the sport’s test event was a deeper integration between the two bodies.
Judo held a test event at Carioca Arena 1 on March 8-9. It served as the final test event in the arena.
Rio 2016 Sports Director Rodrigo Garcia told ATR that now the organizing committee and the IJF will work to translate the field of play set up for Arena 1 to Arena 2. Carioca Arena 2 is slightly smaller than Arena 1, so Garcia said some adjustments may be necessary to accommodate sight lines.
"The feedback from the international federation and athletes has been good, we can mimic most of the operations here so everything so far so good," Garcia said.
"The good thing here is you have an engaged international federation, so we can not only work on the plans, but put in place a number of things and receive the feedback. We have much more fluid information with the IJF, and here is the final test [of our coordination]."
Echoing Garcia’s sentiments was IJF director of media Nicolas Messner. He told ATR that the biggest benefit from the test event was to meet the team based here in Rio de Janeiro personally.
"The same people will be involved this summer and now we know each other, so everything will be smooth and will run perfectly," Messner added. "We are really happy, of course there are still some corrections that need to be changed and improved for the Games, as this is only a test event, but the conclusion was super positive."
Changes that need to be made ahead of the Olympic judo tournament are finalizing the schedule for each event, translating the field of play to the proper arena, and working on delivering results in the fastest and most accurate manner.
To mimic the conditions of the Olympics only four judo weight classes were contested at the test event. During the Games only two weight classes can compete each day, and the time in between matches needs to be finalized for broadcasters.
The athletes that came down to Rio to compete in the test event were a mixture of Brazilian judoka who are working to make the national team and up and coming judoka from seven other countries. Brazilian judoka who will most likely qualify for Rio 2016 attended the test event as observers.
One judoka from Great Britain, Bekky Livesey, told ATR that the organization of the event was great, and all the judoka were catered to.
"Everything I’ve needed has been taken care of and everything has been on time," Livesey added.
"I haven’t really fought in an arena like this before; it is much bigger than what I normally fight in. I can’t imagine what it will be like during the Games. I won’t be at the Games, but fighting where the Games will be is a different feeling."
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts
The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.

McLaren report to FIBA confirms abuses in the Mali women’s basketball program
The investigation could not “independently verify” allegations against FIBA president Hamane Niang, who has resumed his duties after stepping aside during the probe.

ATR Extra: 1st ISF U15 World School Sport Games – Belgrade 2021
Olympic Channel is live streaming the basketball, basketball 3x3, football, judo and wrestling competitions during the event, which runs September 11-19.

International Judo Federation bans Algerian athlete and coach for 10 years for refusing to fight an Israeli at Tokyo 2020
Judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef admitted they were withdrawing from competition to avoid a potential match with Tohar Butbul of Israel.

IIHF bans Belarus hockey president for five years for code of conduct violations - Federation Focus
Also: no contested election for next ITTF president; BWF calendar shrinks as event in India cancelled due to pandemic; FISU announces early bids for 2027 and 2029 World University Games
