Hello,
I saw this and thought that it might be of interest to some of you here.
Regards,
Ron Beaubien
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BRAZIL: Japan Not Represented in Judo Federation
09/12/2007
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
RIO DE JANEIRO--Japan lost its only executive post in the International Judo Federation after Yasuhiro Yamashita failed to win re-election as education and coaching director.
It is the first time that Japan, where the sport originated, has not had a representative in the IJF's executive committee since it joined the federation in 1952.
Yamashita, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist and a director of the All Japan Judo Federation, was defeated by Algerian Mohamed Meridja in the election held here Monday during the IJF's general assembly.
Without a place on the IJF executive committee, it will be difficult for Japan to oppose proposed changes to rules and regulations that might put Japanese judoka at a disadvantage, analysts said.
But the IJF was expected to decide to increase the number of committee members at a meeting in Brazil on Tuesday, leaving the possibility that a Japanese may still be elected.(IHT/Asahi: September 12,2007)
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-...709120082.html