IJF approves the affiliation of the Pan American Judo Confederation

With 19 votes and one abstention, the Executive Committee of the International Judo Federation (IJF) has approved, this Friday, in Tunis, the affiliation of Pan American Judo Confederation (PJC). The official and definite decision recognizes that PJC as the only representative of the sport in the continent.

PJC is presided over by Paulo Wanderley Teixeira, who is also president of the Brazilian Judo Confederation. The PJC gathers 24 countries of the Americas: Duntch Antils, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

“We represent every country of the Americas who have won a medal at the Olympic Games or World Championships such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Canada, Cuba, United States and Venezuela”, stressed Paulo Wanderley Teixeira, reminding that the countries affiliated to the PJC are also part of the international circuit of events since Brazil, El Salvador, United States and Venezuela were selected by IJF to organize stages of the World Circuit this year.

The IJF meeting gathers 20 members of its Executive Committee: 19 voted for PJC and one member decided to abstain from voting. The Pan American Judo Union received 19 votes against it and one member abstained from voiting. The meeting and the decision took into account the Article 1.4 Paragraph 2 and 5 that follow the determinations of Article 1.4, Paragraph 4 of the International Judo Federation’s statute.

Since it was founded in 19th of January 2009, in Mexico City, the Pan American Judo Confederation has organized continental competitions of the U-13, U-15, U-17, U20 and senior categories.

In the picture: President Paulo Waderley besides IJF’s president, Marius Vizer, and the other member of the IJF’s Council.