{:en}International Loano Cup - Judo{:}

{:en}The countdown to the International Loano Cup, which will be held on June 29 and 30 at E. Garassini Sports Hall of Loano.

The sports event picks up the legacy of the City of Ventimiglia International Team Judo Tournament whose tradition it extends, renewing it with the inclusion of a international individual tournament reserved for Cadet and Rookie B youth classes.

The competition, a staple in the international competitive calendar, will be organized as always by the Judo Club Ventimiglia under the auspices of the FIJLKAM (Italian Judo Wrestling Karate Martial Arts Federation) and in collaboration with the LIGURIA REGION, Promoter of the event, the Municipality of Loano, the Loano Together and Formidable Committee.

After 32 years of resounding organizational success, the event has moved to Loano to provide better logistics for participants.

The “City of Ventimiglia” Tournament is the most important and famous competition of Team Judo in Europe and in previous years Champions representing 4 Continents (Europe, Africa, America and Asia) and 27 Nations have come to Ventimiglia. Always first-rate was the parterre of participants that included Olympic, World and Continental Champions. In addition, all the greatest Italian judoka with their extraordinary sporting feats honored this competition.

Like every year great anticipation for the Italian National Team, who will try to regain the prestigious victory that she has now been missing since 2008. Also in attendance will be some of the great nations of European and world judo Austria, France, Greece, Russia, Spain, and Uzbekistan to realize another great edition of the historic event.

Of note is the return to the competition of Italian Teams including Judo Club Ventimiglia, the Ligurian Regional Representative and the Rome Golden Flames Sports Group. Browsing through the roll of honor we find that both the Ligurian team and the Fiamme Oro are among the teams with the most victories each: 1987 - 88 - 89 for the Ligurians and 1990 - 92 - 93 for the Crimsons, although the team with the most victories still remains the Italian National Team with 8 titles.

Big news for 2013 is the inclusion in the program of a Individual tournament reserved for Cadet (Under18) and Rookie (Under15) classes, male and female. Memberships are currently registered from Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain and Italy, with athletes from Liguria, Piedmont, Lombardy, Tuscany, Campania, Sicily, Lazio, Emilia-Romagna for a total of 40 companies and about 250 judoka, including numerous medalists at the National Championships in their respective countries.

Judo Club Ventimiglia organizers, as always sensitive to the world of research and science, have decided to join the “Judo SmartItaly” Project. The research is carried out by Emanuela Pierantozzi and Luca Francini for the University of Genoa. The goal of the project is to investigate the frequency and causes of neck pain in the experienced athlete and, based on the findings, to develop training strategies aimed at strengthening the musculoskeletal structures that will be most stressed due to this pain. Part of the research tests will be carried out during the course of the Tournament.

Prologue of the event will be Friday, June 28 a stage held by Fabrizio Chimento organized in collaboration with the FIJLKAM Liguria Committee in which more than a hundred athletes will participate.

PROGRAM

- Age classes: juniors and seniors

- Weight Categories: 66 - 73 - 81 - 90 - over 90 kg.

- About 10 a.m: Opening ceremony. Race start to follow

- 6:00 p.m.: Final Four semi-finals disputed start

- 6:45 p.m.: 3rd/4th place final

- 7:30 p.m.: 1st/2nd place final

- 8:15 p.m.: Awards ceremony

- Age groups: Under15 and Under18

- 9:30 a.m.: Race start.

- 4 p.m.: scheduled race end.{:}