Cooperation Key at Judo Test-On the Scene in Rio

(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

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