Rio Olympic Sports an Events

[Texas]

So, I've got 19 new events for Rio

CYCLING

2x Cross country elimination race

2x BMX freestyle

2x Points race

JUDO

2x Team event

GOLF

2x Individual

RUGBY

2x Team competition

TRIATHLON

1x Mixed team relay

BOXING

3-5x WOMENS

CANOUEING

1x womens c1 slalom

BASKETBALL

2x 3 on 3 competition

Have I missed anything?

Will the US dominate this form of basketball?

[intoronto]

Probably not. Serbia was the last WC in men's competition.

[Bezzi]

If IOC accepted this, why they rejected the futsal and beach soccer? They could use the same facilities for handball and beach volleyball.

[intoronto]

If IOC accepted this, why they rejected the futsal and beach soccer? They could use the same facilities for handball and beach volleyball.

Because it would mean more athletes and the number is very high as is.

[Fox334]

If IOC accepted this, why they rejected the futsal and beach soccer? They could use the same facilities for handball and beach volleyball.

Another problem is that, AFAIK, there is no high level competition for women's futsal and beach soccer.

[gotosy]

Olympic boxing will welcome pros at 2016 Games

Olympic boxing finally will go pro at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro as the international federation changed its eligibility rules to stem the exodus of talented fighters cashing in before they ever get to fight for a gold medal.

AIBA (Amateur International Boxing Association), which has told its national governing bodies to drop the word “amateur,” will begin its own professional circuit this fall, enabling athletes from 19 to 40 to earn monthly salaries and prize money while remaining eligible for the Games.

The federation also will allow current pros with fewer than 15 bouts to compete in the Olympics as long as they join the circuit two years before qualifying begins, stay at least two years after the Games, and don’t compete for another organization.

The five-ringed professionalization includes a 10-point must system, replacing the controversial computerized scoring adopted after 1988, and scrapping the headgear that has been mandatory since 1984. The changes, pushed by federation president Wu Ching-kuo of Taiwan, should benefit the Americans, who’ll be able to put money into the pockets of promising teenagers who otherwise would be persuaded to turn pro by promoters, agents, and trainers.

...

http://bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/04/01/olympic-boxing-will-welcome-professionals-games-rio-janeiro/aBeXad1CALpO0USqfJ9QYP/story.html

[gotosy]

Age limit for boxers at Olympics raised to 40

April 8 - The International Boxing Association (AIBA) have raised the age limit for men and women at the Olympic Games from 34 to 40-years-old.

The move came following ratification of the new AIBA Open Boxing (AOB) Competition Rules, which came into effect last month.

Rule 1.1.1. of the new AOB Competition Rules states that "men and women boxers between the ages of 19 to 40 are categorised as elite boxers" which means that it is the new age limit for the Olympic Games.

"As stated in point 1.1.1 of the AOB Competition Rules "men and women boxers between the ages of 19 to 40 are categorised as elite boxers", an AIBA spokesperson told insidethegames

"And since boxers at the Olympic Games are elite boxers only, the age limit at the Olympic Games is now 40."

It has been suggested that the move is designed to lure the likes of superstar professional fighters such as America's Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Mayweather Jr. is now 36 while Pacquiao is 34 but the new ruling would allow both to compete at Rio 2016 if they decided to sign up to AIBA Professional Boxing (APB).

APB will launch later this year and alongside the World Series of Boxing (WSB), it will be the only boxing competition that allows fighters to compete professionally and retain their Olympic eligibility.

It is part of AIBA's move towards professionalism with headguards no longer used in men's elite boxing, including at the Olympic Games, and a new scoring system which sees five judges around the ring but the scores of only three of them, which will be randomly drawn by a computer, taken into account.

Although it appears unlikely that Mayweather or Pacquiao will join the APB or compete at Rio 2016, AIBA's plans have caused huge concern within the World Boxing Council (WBC), widely considered the sport's leading professional organisation.

The WBC have complained to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over AIBA's increasing move away from amateurism and claimed in a statement that they are "committed to continue advising the boxing world and the world leaders of the sport about the danger to the sport of boxing that AIBA/WSB represents."

This is no major surprise because if AIBA's move towards professionalism is successful long-term, they would stop the world's top boxers going to the traditional professional ranks and control boxing at all levels.

http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/boxing/1013667-age-limit-for-boxers-at-olympics-raised-to-40

[intoronto]

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- With three years until the Rio Games, 3-on-3 basketball and BMX freestyle are trying to join the Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee is assessing possible extra events, teams and athletes for Brazil after the successful London Games, with one of the deepest wish lists coming from swimming's governing body.
IOC sports director Christophe Dubi told The Associated Press on Monday that the Olympic sports federations have been ''extremely creative'' with their requests.
''All of them believe that adding something will be fantastic for their sport,'' Dubi said. ''We look at it from the other angle: Will that bring, or not, an added value to the Olympic Games?''
The IOC executive board will decide Aug. 9 in Moscow which events to add after studying reports from Dubi's department. Currently, the Rio Games are to award 306 gold medals across 28 sports with a maximum of 10,700 athletes.
Dubi said the IOC wants to make the same impact with new additions as they made in London, which awarded 302 medals in 26 sports. Golf and seven-a-side rugby join the roster in Rio.
''Women's boxing was incredibly successful, and in mixed doubles of tennis, the quality of the field was extraordinary,'' the Swiss official said.
The IOC has options to add ''radically new events'' in Rio, Dubi said, with some designed for youth audiences.
Three-a-side half-court basketball successfully debuted at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore, and the International Cycling Union proposes adding street-style BMX and a mountain bike eliminator, which is a sprint race involving four riders.
''You have new properties that are not mainstream yet outside of the Olympics, but where the Olympics could give a boost,'' Dubi said.
Traditional sports also are competing and the swimming body suggested 50-meter medal events in backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly for men and women, plus 800 freestyle for men and 1,500 free for women.
''Is it totally different? No, but it's important as well,'' Dubi said, highlighting swimming's ''super-high'' ratings. ''Every time you put it on TV there is consumption.''
FINA also seeks more entrants in women's water polo (12 teams instead of eight), open-water swimming (30, up from 25), diving and synchronized swimming team event.
With the iconic Copacabana sands hosting beach volleyball, the sport's governing body proposes 32 teams in each of the men's and women's events, up from 24 in London.
''We think it will be a signature event in Rio,'' FIVB spokesman Richard Baker told the AP.
Still, beach soccer in Brazil is not on the agenda after FIFA ''never discussed'' its potential with Dubi.
The 10,700-athlete quota makes new team events difficult for host cities to accommodate, and not all sports have asked the IOC for more.
Dubi spoke on the sidelines of an Olympic forum for the International Equestrian Federation, which seeks only to modify how it allocates its 200-rider quota between events.
FEI secretary general Ingmar de Vos said the body could in future try to add endurance racing as a fourth discipline. For now, it hopes to switch 10 entries from eventing to dressage to help bring consistency with jumping in having four-rider national teams.
Gender equity is an IOC aim and, after mixed-team formats impressed the IOC in Singapore, archery and triathlon hope to add them in Rio.
Dubi is also awaiting reports from wrestling body, which has an emergency meeting in Moscow next month. Wrestling's gender issues played a part in the IOC board's recommendation to drop both Greco-Roman and freestyle disciplines from the 2020 program.
''Yes, that was always a controversy that they didn't have women for Greco,'' acknowledged Dubi, with seven men's events and none for women in London. ''I will be interested to see what they will propose for Rio.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ioc-mulls-requests-events-2016-204001699--oly.html

[gotosy]

IOC official to observe FIBA 3x3 World Tour qualifier for Rio 2016 inclusion review

May 25 - International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Programme Commission member Walter Sieber has been confirmed to attend an International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Europe 3x3 EuroTour event in Bucharest next month ahead of the discipline's Rio 2016 inclusion review.

Sieber, a Vancouver 2010 Board member and former Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) vice-president, will attend the World Tour qualifier as part of the IOC's observers programme - which was first put in place ahead of the Sochi 2014 programme review - to examine disciplines and events for the Rio 2016 Olympic sports programme.

The tournament, known as Sport Arena Streetball, is Romania's flagship 3x3 basketball competition, each time attracting more than 1,000 teams, 4,000 players and 15,000 spectators since its inception in 2005.

This year's event, due to take place on June 21 until 23, will take place at Constitution Plaza in front of the Palace of Parliament - Europe's largest building - and is expected to draw in some of the sport's Olympic greats, including Lithuania's Seoul 1988 champion Šarūnas Marčiulionis and Spanish Beijing 2008 silver medallist Jorge Garbajosa.

...

FIBA launched its bid to get a 3x3 basketball medal event into the Rio 2016 Olympics last year to help the growth of basketball globally.

The half-court version of basketball for men and women, which is among the most played recreational sports in the world, was introduced to a worldwide audience at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympics, where it was a huge success, while the 3x3 World Tour was introduced last year.

The IOC's ruling Executive Board is set to make a decision on whether to include the discipline at the Rio 2016 Games later this year.

full article

http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/basketball/1014358-ioc-official-to-observe-fiba-3x3-world-tour-qualifier-for-rio-2016-inclusion-review

[gotosy]

Aquatics and gymnastics set for major financial boost at Rio 2016 after IOC announce new groupingsMay 29 - Aquatics and gymnastics are set for a major financial boost at Rio 2016 after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board announced the new grouping system for Summer Olympic sports – which influences how much money each receives from the Games.

The previous groupings, which have been in place since the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, saw four groups, with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) placed in the top group on its own.

But following London 2012, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) asked the IOC Executive Board to use clear data analysis from the Games to create a new, fairer grouping system.

Following the research, IOC President Jacques Rogge announced here that there will now be five groups – A, B, C, D and E – with aquatics and gymnastics moved into the top tier group A alongside athletics.

However, it means athletics will receive less money at Rio 2016 than it did at London 2012, given that it will now have to share the top bracket with two other sports.

Group B consists of basketball, cycling football, tennis and volleyball.

Group C has archery, badminton, boxing, judo, rowing, shooting, table tennis and weightlifting.

Group D features canoeing, equestrian, fencing, handball, taekwondo, triathlon, sailing and wrestling.

Group E has modern pentathlon, as well as golf and rugby sevens – the two sports admitted to the Olympic programme for Rio 2016."The new grouping are part of a calculation of data from London 2012, after we were asked by ASOIF to undertake this task," Rogge explained.

"It must be stressed that ASOIF will be in charge of distributing the money."

Rogge also confirmed at the press conference here that the 26 summer sports that appeared at London 2012 will share a windfall of over half-a-billion dollars – with $519.6 million (£345.2 million/€403.8 million) revealed as the final figure they will receive from the Games last summer.

It represents an increase of 75.5 per cent from Beijing 2008, where the sports shared $296 million (£184 million/€227 million).

From the $519.6 million (£345.2 million/€403.8 million) from London 2012, athletics took just under $50 million (£32 million/€38 million) due to its sole top tier status, which amounts to just under 10 per cent of the total share.

The total Games revenue amounts to around 35 to 40 per cent of the income for the vast major of sports.

The figure for Rio 2016 is likely to be similar to that of London 2012 due to the fact that the IOC negotiated the broadcast and sponsor rights for both Games at the same time.

...

full article

http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer-olympics/2016/1014430-aquatics-and-gymnastics-set-for-major-financial-boost-at-rio-2016-after-ioc-announce-new-groupings

[gotosy]

Olympic Programme for Rio 2016

The EB discussed the topic of possible modifications to disciplines, events, quotas and competition formats at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and reiterated that any request from International Federations (IFs) that would result in a higher number of athletes or increased number of medals, thereby adding to the cost and complexity of the Games, would not be considered. At a later stage, the IOC will study the quota-neutral requests already made by IFs for either a swap of event or modifications of competition format.

IOC

[gotosy]

3x3 basketball to miss out on Rio 2016 after IOC rule no new disciplines will be added

July 9 - A decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to add any new disciplines to the programme for Rio 2016 has left several sports disappointed, including basketball who had been lobbying hard for 3x3 to be included.

The IOC Executive Board has taken the controversial decision not to include any more events because of fears it would lead to extra financial pressure on the Brazilian organisers.

Other sports who had applied to add new disciplines to Rio 2016 included cycling, who had wanted to include a points race and BMX freestyle and mountain bike eliminator events for both men and women; triathlon, who had hoped to have a mixed relay included; and judo, who were applying to put on a team event involving men and women.

An Olympic Programme Commission meeting scheduled to be held in Lausanne last Saturday (July 6) was cancelled following the IOC Executive Board decision.

Under the rules of the Olympic Charter, the IOC Executive Board are able to add new disciplines without needing the approval of the full membership because the sports are already on the programme.

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) were among those upset by the decision, having been confident that 3x3, which made its international debut at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore to worldwide acclaim, would be included.

They, along with several other sports, disputed the IOC Executive Board judgement that "any request from International Federations (IFs) that would result in a higher number of athletes or increased number of medals, thereby adding to the cost and complexity of the Games, would not be considered", claiming it was unfair.

"We are very disappointed to learn that, as a consequence, 3x3 would not be considered at this stage, based on reasons unrelated to the merits of the discipline," a FIBA spokesman toldinsidethegames.

"We strongly believe that 3x3 is an exciting and spectacular discipline which offers a unique cocktail of sports and urban culture and would perfectly fit within the Olympic Games and responds to the IOC's clear wish to rejuvenate and modernise the summer programme.

"We are very thankful to Rio 2016 for their continued support in our efforts for the inclusion of 3x3."

...

http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer-olympics/2016/1015010-3x3-basketball-to-miss-out-on-rio-2016-after-ioc-rule-no-new-disciplines-will-be-added

[gotosy]

AIBA loses battle over extra Olympic divisions

Amateur boxing chiefs have suffered a knockout blow in their bid to increase the number of women's weight categories for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

World governing body AIBA had hoped to double the number of gold medals available for female boxers after the great success of the discipline's debut in London last summer.

But AIBA has been forced to admit defeat in its quest after the International Olympic Committee made clear additional medal events would no longer be considered for the Rio programme.

AKan AIBA spokesman said: "The International Boxing Association (AIBA) take note and respect this decision but hope that more opportunities will be opened to women boxers at the 2020 Olympic Games."

The news will come as a major setback for supporters of women's boxing, who were confident the medals quota would be increased after the overwhelmingly positive feedback from 2012.

The women's boxing competition took place in front of packed crowds at London's ExCeL Arena and the quarter-final bout between Katie Taylor and Natasha Jonas generated one of the loudest atmospheres of the Games.

IOC president Jacques Rogge witnessed Taylor win gold and told reporters afterwards: "I think we have been vindicated that it was a good decision - and it's only the beginning."

The news means the three existing women's boxing weight categories - flyweight, lightweight and middleweight - will be retained for Rio.

AIBA has confirmed it is not practical to further decrease the number of men's weight categories in order to accommodate more women's classes. The men's featherweight class was axed in order to facilitate the introduction of women's boxing to the programme in 2012.

The decision not to increase the number of participants or medals for the Rio programme - beyond the already-ratified addition of golf and rugby sevens - was taken at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board in Lausanne this month.

An IOC statement read: "The EB discussed the topic of possible modifications to disciplines, events, quotas and competition formats at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and reiterated that any request from International Federations that would result in a higher number of athletes or increased number of medals, thereby adding to the cost and complexity of the Games, would not be considered."

The news would also appear to end the hopes of a number of other sports, with cycling officials hoping to add extra BMX events, and swimming and sailing also seeking to expand their programmes.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2013/0725/464583-aiba-lose-battle-over-extra-olympic-divisions/

[gotosy]

Brazil hunting for rugby players ahead of Rio 2016

SAO PAULO (AP) - Brazil is sending a message to everyone who plays rugby out there: You want to participate in the Rio Olympics? Come talk to us!

Hoping to put on a good show when rugby sevens debuts in the 2016 Games, the Brazilian federation has announced that it will go hunting for players abroad, looking for anyone with at least some experience in the game and a Brazilian link that would allow them to represent the country.

The federation this weekend is launching a worldwide campaign - entitled "Brazilian Rugby Players Wanted'' - to spread the word, hoping to find at least a handful of players who can help turn the national team into a more competitive squad by the time the Olympics arrive.

Brazil has very little tradition in the sport and has never achieved significant results in top international competitions, but both the men's and women's national teams automatically qualify for the 2016 Games as hosts.

Rugby officials sent a letter to international federations, international clubs and rugby publications to try to attract players who may not be able to play at the top level in their countries but who could be useful to the Brazilian team.

"If you fulfill the criteria (to become a Brazilian citizen) and believe you have the athleticism, skill, passion and drive to represent Brazil, then we want to hear from you,'' says the letter being distributed to those involved with rugby across the globe.

"Be part of the dream,'' it adds.

The local federation said it already knows of a few players who are in position to seek citizenship to join the Brazilian team, but it wants to reach others who may not be aware of the opportunity.

"We want to make sure that everybody knows that we are seeking these players,'' said Sami Arap, the president of the Brazilian rugby federation. "And I have no doubt that soon we will start receiving emails of players and of agents offering players wanting to come to Brazil. I'm sure that the allure of playing in the Olympics will help us attract a lot of players.''

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Arap said that he hopes to bring about six players for the men's squad and another six for the women's.

"The more the better,'' he said. "We will get a huge boost in performance by adding these players. Even if I get only two players with international experience, the improvement will be substantial.''

Rugby sevens - a fast-moving derivative of the more traditional 15-a-side rugby - will be making its Olympic debut in Rio.

"We have a long-term goal to develop the sport,'' Arap said. "We are working hard to make sure that one day rugby becomes a popular sport in Brazil, second only to football. But because the Olympics in Rio are only three years away, we have to rush things a bit, and that's why it's so important to start bringing these players.''

Currently there is no professional rugby league in Brazil. The country has only about 10,000 registered players and the sport is played mostly in clubs and universities. Brazil's women's team has had more success and is usually among the top 12 nations in the world, while the men's is near the top 30.

Arap said he expects the women's national team - which has been dominant in rugby sevens in South America - to contend for a medal in 2016, while the men's team will likely be playing mainly to gain experience.

The Brazilian federation already has already started a partnership with traditional New Zealand club Crusaders, which has sent in coaches for Brazil's national teams. The Crusaders and the Canterbury Rugby Football Union in New Zealand are already running the Brazilian federation's High Performance Program.

In addition to finding rugby players abroad, Arap said the federation is also trying to look for athletes who have the ability to switch sports.

"We are trying to identify athletes who maybe may not be thriving in their sports but who could possibly be representing Brazil by playing rugby in 2016,'' he said.

AP

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/olympics/wires/08/03/2090.ap.oly.rio.2016.rugby.players.wanted/index.html#ixzz2at7tmfEa

[gotosy]

PGA likely moving to July to avoid 2016 Olympics

Golf's major championships will likely move forward a few weeks in three years to allow for the sport's return to the Olympic line-up at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

So says Ted Bishop, president of the PGA of America, whose final major tournament of the year finds itself in direct schedule conflict with the first Olympic golf event since 1904.

"In all likelihood the PGA Championship would probably be played the latter part of July in 2016," Bishop said Wednesday on the eve of the start of the 95th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.

Bishop said nothing has been officially decided regarding the 2016 schedule, but a change will be needed with the Olympics moving into the time frame of the PGA, which in 2016 will be staged at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey.

Pushing the event back into September or October, where it could cause issues for the US PGA Tour playoffs or the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.

"I doubt seriously that it would be after Labor Day," Bishop told The Golf Channel. "I would think what you are going to see in 2016 probably would be a sliding forward of the majors."

As for October, "At this point, I don't see that being likely," Bishop said.

Moving the PGA Championship to late July could push the British Open ahead as well, with PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem saying he is committed to keeping the World Golf Championships event at Akron, Ohio, the week before the PGA Championship.

Bishop said the benefits of golf's return to the Olympics more than outweigh the scheduling headaches.

"I think the worldwide exposure for golf that it's going to gain from the Olympics and the leadup to the Olympics is going to be good for the game in general," Bishop said.

"There's no question it's going to present some challenges in the schedule. But I would like to think that the major championships and the Ryder Cup are well enough established in the annals of golf that the Olympics is going to have no negative impact on any of those events in any way, shape or form."

Exactly how the Olympics would fit into the 2016 Ryder Cup selection process, or when rosters would be set for the event, also remains up in the air, according to PGA of America chief championships officer Kerry Haigh.

"Until we know the schedule, how it will fully shake out, we will then determine when points will stop and start or what the captain's picks," he said. "All of that will be discussed and talked about, but it is too early to give a definitive answer at this point."

http://www.supersport.com/golf/us-pga-championship/news/130807/PGA_likely_moving_to_July_to_avoid_2016_Olympics

[intoronto]

Rio adds women's wrestling events

MOSCOW -- Women's wrestling will have two extra medal classes at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, while two men's events from the London Olympics have been dropped.

The International Olympic Committee says one weight category in both men's freestyle and Greco-Roman will be transferred to women's freestyle. The switch creates six weight classes in all three disciplines at Rio.

Wrestling's governing body proposed the changes to create more equality as it tries to remain in the Olympics for the 2020 Summer Games.

The IOC says its board also approved two changes in sailing: mixed multihull will replace men's keelboat in Rio and women's skiff replaces women's match racing.

The IOC allowed the changes because they won't increase the number of athletes. Rio organizers have a quota of about 10,800 athletes.

[gotosy]

Olympic cycling to remain unchanged for 2016 Rio Games

The Olympic cycling events for the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016 will be the same as at London 2012, the International Olympic Committee has confirmed.

The International Cycling Union in February announced its intention to ask the IOC to extend the cycling programme by three events, including the return of the points races on the track.

The fact the programme is unchanged provides good and bad news for double London 2012 champion Laura Trott.

The six-discipline omnium which she won in London remains, but the team pursuit rider will not have a third event in which to challenge for gold in the points race.

The IOC said: "The programme for the 2016 Rio Games will be the same as the 2012 London Games regarding events and disciplines in cycling."

The Olympic track programme was radically altered between the Games of Beijing 2008 and London 2012 to create gender parity, but saw traditional endurance disciplines marginalised in favour of the multi-event omnium.

As well as the return of the points race, the UCI also proposed including a BMX freestyle event and a mountain bike eliminator, but none will be on the programme in Rio.

The cycling programme will be subject to a complete review after the 2016 Games, UCI president Pat McQuaid has said.

McQuaid is a member of the IOC and is bidding for re-election as UCI president ahead of British challenger Brian Cookson and believes if he is defeated, cycling's global position will weaken.

"If I lose the presidency, then cycling loses an IOC member," McQuaid said.

"As an IOC member you can influence decisions and you can influence your colleagues much easier than if you're on the outside.

"Whilst the IOC have recently stated the programme for Rio 2016 will be exactly as it was for London 2012, they've stated that after 2016 there will be a complete review of the programme, the events and the disciplines for 2020.

"I think it will be very important that the UCI is in there, with its influence in ensuring cycling gets its just rewards and is not in anyway disadvantaged. That would be the case if we didn't have an IOC member."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/10257285/Olympic-cycling-to-remain-unchanged-for-2016-Rio-Games.html

[intoronto]

Evidently McQuaid couldn't so that point is moot.

[micheal_warren]

I would like to see more events in track cycling. It is exciting to watch and the stadium is expensive to build and should be more utilised. Bring back the points race and individual pursuit.

[intoronto]

I think they most definitely will be back in 2020.

[gotosy]

Judo

World Championships, Rio 2013 The 29th edition of the World Championships, the centrepiece of the World Judo Tour, is set to illuminate the Maracanazinho in the idyllic setting of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 26 August to 1 September.

The sporting world is counting down the hours to the opening day of the judo spectacle as the Maracanazinho (Little Maracana) transforms into a theatre of judo featuring the sport’s leading exponents.

Few locations can match the sights and sounds of Brazil’s second largest city and the success and popularity that judo enjoys in the country.

The staff of the organising committee have assembled a structure worthy of the most important event of the year. Producers, technicians and employees in various areas of the Brazilian Judo Confederation totalling more than 300 people were involved. Media interest in the sport and the World Championships is at an all-time high with over 500 reporters expected.

The four corners of the world have descended on Rio as 680 judoka will compete with 123 countries represented.

Press Conference

Hosts Brazil are blessed with a roll call of excellence and two of their four London 2012 Olympic medallists will compete on the opening day.

The competition will conclude with the team’s competition on Sunday 1 September. The team competition continues to grow in participation and significance every year and now is now well established at the sport’s marquee event.

Teams of five judoka will compete with eight men’s teams and eight women’s teams. There will be two teams from Africa, four from Asia and four from Europe, two from Pan America, one from Oceania, one extra team from the continent of the last winner and one wild card entry joining hosts Brazil.

As the nerve-filled hours ticked away for the athletes, all eyes were on the draw which took place at the Royal Tulip Hotel on Sunday afternoon. A press conference followed the draw as members of the media from around the world were in attendance.

Mr. Marius VIZER, IJF President, expressed his pleasure with the preparations of the competition.

“I welcome everyone to Rio for the World Championships. I give a special welcome to our special guest Mr. Patrick HICKEY, IOC Executive Board member, who is a strong contributor to the judo movement.

“Thank you all the unions of our sport, the IJF Executive Committee and staff. With this World Championships we open a new page for the future of judo, a focus on the quality sector of the sport. I thank you all for your trust and collaboration and wish you well for the competition.”

Mr. Paulo WANDERLEY, President of the Brazilian Judo Confederation and the Pan American Judo Confederation, said: “I give my warmest welcome to the judo family, I wish you a good stay and good luck.”

Mr. Patrick HICKEY said: “It gives me great pleasure to participate in the draw and to represent and support judo on the IOC board. I wish all the delegations a successful competition and I’m looking forward to a great week of judo.”

...

IJF

[gotosy]

Rio confirms first Olympic test event

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The first official test event for the Rio 2016 Olympics will be a sailing regatta in the city's Guanabara bay next August, local officials said on Thursday.

The competition will feature all OIympic sailing categories in weather conditions likely to reflect those of the Games, to be held from August 5-21.

Agberto Guimaraes, sports director of the Rio Games organizing committee, said the regatta would also provide a test for the revamped Gloria marina.

An additional sailing competition will be staged in August 2015, along with planned trials for beach volleyball and cycling.

Other Olympic test events will be held by the end of 2015, Guimaraes said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sports/2013-08/30/c_132676549.htm

[gotosy]

Rio 2016 and International Federations develop plans to create unique and memorable Olympic and Paralympic Games

8/30/2013

Over the course of the next month Rio 2016 is hosting visits from ten sports International Federations as the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games moves forward with its operational and technical planning for the 28 Olympic and 22 Paralympic sports that will take place during the 2016 Games.

Earlier this week, officials from the International Cycling Union (UCI) visited the site of the Mountain Bike venue in the Deodoro Olympic Park together with representatives of Rio 2016 in order to map the layout of the course for the Olympic competition.

Peter Van Den Abeele, UCI Manager Off-Road Disciplines said: “We had a very productive three days with Rio 2016. We walked the course several times and the potential of the venue is amazing. It will be very exciting, more compact and more attractive than ever. London 2012 was amazing, but we are aiming even higher; it is going to be spectacular.”

Commenting on the mountain bike venue being placed within the Deodoro Olympic Park, Van Den Abeele added: “It makes a big difference to be part of a cluster of venues. It has inspired me. We can integrate with other sports and hopefully attract new fans that may be there for equestrian, hockey or rugby.”

During September Rio 2016 will also receive high level delegations from the FIVB (Volleyball), BWF (badminton), IGF (golf), ITTF (table tennis), UIPM (modern pentathlon), FIBA (basketball), IAAF (athletics), FEI (equestrian) and FIH (hockey) international federations.

The International Federations will visit their sport venues and hold meetings with various functional areas of Rio 2016 to develop and fine-tune planning in the areas of venue development, competitions, branding, transport and accommodation, amongst others.

Agberto Guimaraes, Rio 2016 Executive Director of Sport said: “The strong partnership with the International Federations is vital for the fulfillment of our mutual goal; to provide the very best facilities and environment to allow the athletes to perform to the absolute maximum of their potential, and in doing so, thrill the world with their achievements. We were very pleased with the progress made during the International Cycling Federation visit this week and we look forward to hosting eight more delegations during September.”

International Golf Federation President Pater Dawson will have the opportunity to see the progress made on the construction of the Rio 2016 Olympics golf course, which began in April this year. Golf will make its first appearance as an Olympic sport in Rio since it last appeared in the 1904 Games. The course in Barra da Tijuca will serve as the first public golf course in Rio de Janeiro following the Games.

On 1-2 September Rio 2016 will host the fifth International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission meeting at its headquarters in Cidade Nova, Rio de Janeiro.

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For further information:

Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

www.rio2016.com

Media Relations

[gotosy]

Campaign to get team judo onto Olympic programme for Rio 2016 receives boost

September 1 - Judo's campaign to get its team event included on the programme for Rio 2016 received a boost when some of the most influential members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) watched Japan's women and Georgia's men clinch titles at the World Championships here today.

The IOC Coordination Commission, which started its latest visit here to inspect preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics, were the guests of International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer as an enthusiastic crowd saw the curtain come down on this year's World Championships.

The Commission, which included three of the six candidates to replace Jacques Rogge as IOC President - Sergey Bubka, Richard Carrión and C K Wu - were joined by Carlos Nuzman, President of Rio 2016.

...

Rogge has claimed that no new disciplines will be added to the programme for Rio 2016 but Vizer remains hopeful that the new President can be persuaded to change their mind.

Fittingly, with Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda, who is also the head of Tokyo's bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, in the audience, it left Japan top of the medals table.

They finished with a total of nine medals, including four gold, ahead of France, who won eight, two of them gold, and Cuba, whose three medals included two gold.

Hosts Brazil finished fourth with seven medals, one of them gold.

But Russia, who had finished top at London 2012 with three gold medals, struggled here as they failed to produce a champion and finished down in 14th in the medals table with a silver and two bronze.

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full article

http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/judo/1015804-campaign-to-get-team-judo-onto-olympic-programme-for-rio-2016-receives-boost

[DannyelBrazil]

Brazilian Rugby haunds the world...

According to this funny ad from Rugby, sponsor of Brazilian National team of Rugby

It's subtitled in English