Judo highest official kicks off visit to Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 25 (acn) Marius Vizer, president of the International Judo Federation, arrived in Cuba to pay until next Monday a working visit in Havana where today he will meet with sports authorities and will offer a press conference.

From Zurich, Switzerland, the Austrian director of Romanian origin said upon his arrival at José Martí International Airport that his main objective on the island is to assess preparations for the Grand Prix of Havana, scheduled for January 2016, at the Sports City Coliseum.
In this regard he stated that the date of the event, originally scheduled for June, was changed, so the details of the progress on the preparation of the tournament will be discussed, as well as talking with Cuban judo executives on the development of the sport.
Vizer noted he is focused on the way to the 2016 Summer Olympics, with previous events, and added he hopes to increase the number of athletes and that judo to be a tool to foster friendship among peoples.
In June 2014 Havana hosted a Grand Prix, with a stage also in the Sports City, and it was attended by 297 athletes from 40 countries.