(ATR) The 2013 World Judo Championships close in Rio with IOC membersamong the spectators.
Rio 2016 IOC Coordination Commission chair Nawal El Moutawakel will lead her colleagues for a visit to the Maracanazinho arena Sunday for a look at the sport and to see the venue in operation.
In the 2016 Olympics, the 12,000 seat arena will host volleyball. Maracanazinho -- "little Maracana" -- is considered the home court for Brazilian volleyball. It is located next door to famed football venue Maracana.
Olympic judo is set for one of the competition halls in the Olympic Park cluster in the western suburb of Barra de Tijuca.
"It’s a big honor to host the IOC," International Judo Federation president Marius Vizer tells Around the Rings. He’s still a bit disappointed as he originally hoped that the team world championship being contested Sunday would be approved by the IOC as a new discipline for the 2016 Olympics. Earlier this month the IOC rejected any new events for Rio for 19 Olympic sports.
"It’s a pity but we hope with the new IOC president we can reactivate these 19 applications for 2016, I hope," Vizer says.
Vizer, who was re-elected to a new term as IJF president 10 days ago, isalso president of SportAccord, the umbrella organization representingOlympic and non-Olympic sports.
Three candidates for IOC president are among the members of the IOC commission: Sergey Bubka, Richard Carrion and C.K.Wu.
"Good Judo Days in Rio de Janeiro"
Despite issues involving traffic, crime and organizational difficulties, Vizer says the IJF enjoyed "good judo days in Rio de Janeiro".
The 2013 World Championships drew nearly 700 judoka from 126 nations. On the press side there were 500 credentials issued to cover the event.
The venue was filled to near capacity for most of the medal competitions this week, helped in part by boisterous and colorful fans from Brazilian judo clubs.
Competition was streamed live online as well as broadcast in 100 countries.
Vizer says the judo took place without incident and that not a single protest was lodged to contest the results of any of the dozens of matches held across eight days.
Without being specific, Vizersaid there were troubling incidents involving street crime against IJF delegates,
He also said that coordination between local organizers and the IJF as well as the competency of Brazilian staff was an issue at times.
Vizer says based on his experience Rio Olympic organizers will need to step up preparations for 2016.
"They have to improve a lot of things. They have to improve the quality of the people who will be involved in the local organization. They have to solve the problem of traffic, security around the venues and hotels. We had lots of incidents in the venues, around the venues, on the street. It was not so easy," says the IJF chief.
Vizer says things were smoother in 2007 when Rio last hosted the championships.
The 2014 event will take place in Chelyabinsk, a center of judo in Russia. The southern Urals city was handed the IJF flag in a brief ceremony during the team world champs event Sunday.
Written and reported in Rio de Janeiro by Ed Hula.
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