President Paulo Wanderley Opens the Brazilian Under 15 Championship
The opening ceremony of the Brazilian Under 15 Championship was held at the Venue of the UFMT in Cuiabá. The athletes who were representing 26 federations entered the mat before the national anthem was played. The authorities table was composed of Professor Paulo Wanderley Teixeira, BJC’s president; Fernando Moimaz, the president of Mato Grosso Judo Federation; Alberto Machado, the Municipal Secretary of Culture, Sports and Tourism from Cuiaba; Gustavo Oliveira, the Vice President of Mato Grosso Judo Federation; Josmar Amaral, the President of Goiana Judo Federation; Antonio Viana, the President of Amapaense Judo Federation,; Fernanda Soares, the representative of the MT State Governor; the councilman Dilemário Alencar; Major Fabiano Person, Deputy Commander of the BOPE; Colonel Julio Cesar Rodrigues, general commander of the Fire Department; Major Ronaldo Roque da Silva, commander of ROTAM; and the athlete David Moura, champion of the Pan American Games Toronto 2015. The national anthem was performed by the Musical Corps of the Mato Grosso Military Police.
"We are pleased to welcome this Brazilian Championship. We would like to welcome all parents who are here and who have chosen the judo path for their children, "Moimaz said, reminding that on Sunday the Father's Day will be celebrated.
Commemorative plaques were handed to the state governor, Pedro Taques, represented by Fernanda Soares; to David Moura, the champion of the Pan American Games Toronto in 2015; and the municipal secretary Beto from 2-1 Band for their contribution to judo in Mato Grosso. The Secretary assured everybody that his office is working in order to support the sport. After this, President Paulo Wanderley Teixeira delivered his speech. In the week that marks the one year countdown before the Rio 2016 Olympics, he reaffirmed the commitment of judo reaching the Olympic podium. But he also noted that what this sport did is already history and does not guarantee future results.
"In 2007, we won three gold medals at the World Championships and at the Beijing Olympics we won three bronzes. Japan, the largest Olympic judo power, did not win any gold medal with their men’s team and got only one with the women's in London, which shows the balance between the forces of the world judo. But I am sure that Brazil will be on the judo’s podium, “the president said. ”Furthermore, I would highlight the large number of athletes to such a competition as this one and, more than that, we are proud to have a very balanced number of boys and girls in the competition. This is also one of the BJC’s goals, "he concluded.
After this, the Governor’s representative received as a present an official shirt of the Brazilian team autographed by all athletes and the international referee Leonardo Stacciarini, who coordinates the competition, gave the initial "rei". Ten minutes later the mats were stepped on by extra-light and lightweight athletes.
