Olympic Newsdesk - IAAF Ends, Judo Fed in Rotterdam, Pan Am Games Evaluation

The Best in Judo Come to Rotterdam

World judo chiefs meet in The Netherlands Sunday for their annual congress ahead of the World Judo Championships starting next week.

On the agenda for the congress in Rotterdam are recent rule changes trialed at the Junior World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand last fall, which came into effect in January.

Among other items under discussion will be proposals for a new international strategy for the sport, including plans to move the IJF’s head office from Ireland to Maison du Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.

At the conclusion of the congress Sunday evening, a report will be given to media about the decisions made.

On Tuesday, International Judo Federation president Marius Vizer and the federation’s sports director Vladimir Barta will brief media about the world championships from Aug. 26 to 30.

Vizer was today welcomed to Rotterdam by Jos Hell, president of the Dutch Judo Federation, prior to the opening of the IJF Executive Committee meeting.

“We congratulate Mr. Vizer for the new face of judo in the world of sport, showing a new modern identity. A new era has begun. Thank you for this opportunity to host the event”, said Hell, who presented Mr. Vizer with a belt Friday.

“This is to symbolize that together we can. We will support IJF as much as we can,” he added.

Around 660 judoka from 105 countries are competing at the worlds next week, with at least seven reigning Olympic champions and eight defending world champions in competition on the mat.

Organizers expect 25,000 spectators during the five-day event at the Ahoy Arena. Tickets are sold out for the weekend (29th and 30th).

It is the third time that The Netherlands has hosted a judo world championships; both times in Maastricht (1981, male, and 1986, female).

The IAAF championships end this weekend in Berlin. (ATR/Panasonic:Lumix)Nigerian Hurdler Tests Positive at Worlds

IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said that 19-year hurdler Amaka Ogoegbunam was provisionally suspended after testing positiveon Tuesday at the world athletics championships in Berlin.

Reports say she tested positive for the steroid metenoline.

Ogoegbunam, who raced in the first round and was disqualified in the semifinals, faces a minimum two-year ban for first-time offenders.

The Nigerian hurdler is the second athlete to test positive at the worlds. Jamel Chatbi of Morocco withdrew from the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase after testing positive for the stimulant clenbuterol.

Pan Am Bid Evaluations Begin

On Monday the Pan American Sports Organization begins a week evaluating the cities bidding for the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Starting in Lima, Peru, the next stops are in Bogota, Colombia on Aug 27 and then Toronto on Aug. 30. All visits last for two days.

Julio Maglione, a PASO leader, FINA president and IOC member from Uruguay chairs the Evaluation Commission.

PASO votes on the 2015 Pan American Games host city at its general assembly later this year.

Knighted Kiwi Olympians Honored

A trio of knighted The three Olympic knights of New Zealand. (Getty Images) Olympians from New Zealand were honored at the New Zealand Olympic Committee Three Knights dinner on Thursday.

Murray Halberg, John Walker, and Peter Snell all won golds in Athletics. Walker won the 1500m at the 1976 Games, while Halberg won the 500m at the 1960 Games, and Walker won the gold at the 1960 Olympics in the 800m, and gold in the 800m and 1500m four years later.

The triumvirate of champions One of the mascots for the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.talked about their Olympic experience in front of the audience.

The fundraising dinner was organized for the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, Parkinsons Auckland and the Halberg Trust.

Asian Games Introduce Mascots

Organizers for the 2010 Asian Games unveiled their mascots at a news conference in Guangzhou, China, on Thursday.

The “Mascots in Motion” are cartoon illustrations of each of the 28 Asian Games sports, featuring images of a group of goat-like characters from Chinese culture called the 5 Yang.

Each of the mascots are shown wearing the colors of the five Olympic rings – black, red, green, blue and yellow.

The next Asian Games take place in Nov. 2010.

Written by Ed Hula III.