Senior officials of the International Judo Federation (IJF) said here on Friday that they were boosted to expect a very successful Olympic judo tournament in 2008 after their two-day inspection at the 2007 Beijing Judo Open.

 

"I want to compliment the organizing committee of the tournament for their hard work and good cooperation with the IJF," Marius Vizer, President of the world judo governing body, told press at a news conference at the "Good Luck Beijing" Olympic test event.

 

"With the excellent job they've done, we are ensured that we can have a very successful judo competition in next year's Beijing Olympic Games."

 

The tournament, slated for November 15-16, went on at the Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium, where to hold the judo competitions of the 29th Olympic Games in 2008 as well as the Olympic taekwondo event and the wheelchair Basketball and wheelchair Rugby events at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

 

As one of the 26 "Good Luck Beijing" events in 2007 and the first international event after the completion of the stadium construction, the 2007 Beijing Judo Open acted as a rehearsal for next year's grand sports event, with 114 judokas from 16 countries and regions having participated here in four categories.

 

Technical delegates from the world judo governing body, who supervised the competitive part of the organizations throughout the tournament, echoed the words of Vizer.

 

"I would like to say congratulations to the organizing committee. Not only because the venue, the facilities, but the services here are all on high level," said Juan Carlos Barcos, Refereeing Director of the IJF.

 

"It will be very difficult for the followers to repeat the success."

 

Also, his colleague Francois Besson, Sports Director and Technical Delegate of the IJF, gave high marks for the venue, the facilities, the transportation and volunteer services, while watching out for problems during the operation of the tournament.

 

"The operating systems have all functioned well, as we are trying to give best location for the spectators and for the TV, as well as we are reconsidering the color of the mat, since with the very strong light inside the stadium, it seems too bright for TV shooting and photographing," said Besson.

 

Again the Frenchman expressed his satisfactory with the location of the venue. "The location of the stadium is very good. It's only five kilometers away from the Olympic Village, in a university and inside the city. It's a fantastic location for judo event," he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2007)