Entries for the 2010 Grand Slam exceed the 2009 edition

The 2010 Rio de Janeiro Grand Slam, Brazilian leg of the World Circuit promoted by the International Judo Federation, has already beat the number of entries from the previous year’s edition. There will be 266 judokas from 23 countries in action on the 22nd and 23rd of May at the Maracanãzinho Gymnasium, in Rio de Janeiro, seeking for points on the world and Olympic ranking. In 2009 there were 200 athletes. The Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro is the first event of this level worth points that will define the spots in the London 2012Olympic Games. Brazil will be represented by 56 athletes, amongst them Olympians and world medalists.

Japan, France, Germany, Holland and Korea are some of the 23 countries already enrolled for the event. The Japanese will actually bring 23 Judokas to Rio, two for each of the seven men’s categories. In Grand Slams countries can only entry two athletes per category, but because Brazil is the host of the event, it has the right to have four athletes for each weight. The gold medal is worth 300 points on the ranking, the silver 180 and the bronze 120. In 2009, the Brazilian team went up the podium ten times during the Rio de Janeiro Grand Slam – one gold medal, four silver and five bronze.

“This growth in numbers was already expected and all the countries will be putting on their best fight, because the Grand Slam is worth a lot of point on the ranking, second only to the World Championship. Everyone will be seeking victory”, said Leonardo Leite, gold at the 2010 South-American Games and silver at the World Cup in Belo Horizonte in 2009, who will have the chance to fight at home since he is from Rio:

“The crowd is always an extra incentive. Since most of the tournaments are in Europe, my friends and family can hardly ever see me fight in events of this magnitude”, he said.

The president of the Brazilian Judo Confederation, Paulo Wanderley Teixeira, stressed the recognition by the foreign countries to the Rio de Janeiro Grand Slam organization.

“Having organized what was considered the best event of 2009 by the International Federation is an extremely positive factor for those taking part in it. Also, without a doubt, the fact that the Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro this year is worth point for the Olympic ranking is really alluring. Japan usually travels with a team of up to 14 judokas and this time they will be bringing 23, which proves that our event is already overcoming all expectations”, commented Paulo Wanderley.
The Rio de Janeiro Grand Slam is part of the Brazil Judo World Tour, which also features the World Cup in São Paulo and the World Cup by Teams.