The countdown for the Grand Slam in Rio begins

The countdown for the Grand Slam in Rio has begun, the Brazilian leg of the Judo World Circuit. From this Thursday (22/4) there remains only exactly 30 days until the beginning of the competition, which will gather in Maracanazinho the most important judokas in the world. Already confirmed to the event are Japan, France, Holland, Germany amongst other elite teams of the sport.

For being the host country, Brazil will have four athletes in each category, making a total of 56 judokas on the team. The Grand Slam in Rio is part of the Brazil Judo World Tour that also features the World Cup in São Paulo and the World Championship by Teams.

For the president of the Brazilian Judo Confederation, Paulo Wanderley Teixeira, the Grand Slam 2010 will confirm the capability of the region to host great judo events.

“The Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro was chosen by the Internation Judo Federation the best event of the 2009 season. We cannot achieve for less this year. The Organizing Committee will have a tough mission ahead, but I believe that we will be once again recognized by our efforts. Since the first time we hosted a World Cup, three year ago, we have gotten better at producing great events. Because of this we had in Brazil the largest world championship of all time and the guarantee of hosting in our country two events of the world circuit, which are worth point on the Olympic ranking”, said Paulo Wanderley Teixeira.

Read more about it on the Brazil Judo World Tour website. Click HERE