Member News
May 22, 2006
From the Desk of the Director of Coaching and Athlete Development, Eddie Liddie
Organizations, Individuals Support Team USA at the Pan Am Championships
The response from the USA Judo community has been overwhelming as state organizations, clubs and individuals throughout the nation have come out in force to support Team USA’s athletes as they prepare to depart for the Pan American Championships this week, May 25-27 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Just over a week ago, USA Judo had the pleasure of announcing that athletes in Olympic weight divisions will be eligible for $500 in award money for a gold medal and $300 for a silver.
Within just 24 hours members of the USA Judo family began to come forward to provide additional incentive dollars.
All members of Team USA in Olympic Weight divisions are now eligible for a total of $1,400 for a gold medal from the following supporters: $500 from USA Judo, $500 from Ki-Itsu-Sai Judo Club, $200 from Team USA Assistant Manager Antonio Rodriguez and $200 from Enrique Lopez and the National Judo Institute of Miami and Orlando.
Athletes in non-Olympic weight divisions also are eligible for $400 in funding following a gold medal win, thanks to $200 provided by Team USA Assistant Manager Antonio Rodriguez and $200 from Enrique Lopez and the National Judo Institute of Miami and Orlando.
In addition, several states have offered incentives for their home athletes.
Illinois Judo will match USA Judo’s financial incentive for Illinois athletes Aaron Cohen and two-time Pan Am Champion Ronda Rousey, both of Buffalo Grove, Ill. and the NYAC and Cohen Judo Clubs, who are now eligible for an additional award of $500 for a gold medal and $300 for a silver medal.
Florida Judo also will match USA Judo’s incentive for Florida athletes, including Veronica Prado (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/44kg) and Kirk Hoffmann (St. Petersburg, Fla./Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site/+100kg), giving them the opportunity to earn $500 for a gold medal and $300 for a silver medal.
Colorado Judo League is providing the incentive of $500 for a gold medal and $300 for a silver medal to Colorado athletes Kirk Hoffmann (+100kg) and Ryan Reser (73kg), both from the Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site in Colorado Springs as well as Djamaldin Aliev (Greenwood Village, Colo./European Judo/Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site/100kg).
Texas Judo Inc. and the Texas Judo Fund will provide a bonus for Texas athletes who place at the Pan Ams in the following amounts: $500 for a gold medal; $300 for a silver medal; and $100 for a bronze medal. Pan Am Team members from Texas include: Nicole Kubes (Fort Worth, Texas/Fort Worth Judo/78kg), Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas/Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site/66kg) and Andre Taylor (Plano, Texas/Becerra Judo/55kg).
Also, all athletes in Olympic weight divisions that did not receive full funding for the Pan Ams will receive reimbursement from USA Judo upon achieving the following:
Athletes who win a gold medal will become fully funded athletes regardless of his/her International point level and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred, including flight (if the athlete was not already partially funded), room and board and other reasonable related expenses.
Athletes who win a silver medal will receive reimbursement for his/her airfare, not to exceed $1,000.00 or an amount determined to be reasonable, provided the ticket is purchased within 14 days of departure. If the athlete is already a partially funded athlete, he/she will receive reimbursement for his/her room and board and other reasonable related expenses.
“On behalf of USA Judo and our athletes, we are extremely appreciative of everyone who has come forward to support Team USA,” USA Judo CEO Jose Rodriguez said. “Our athletes have put in countless hours of training for this event as it is our first step toward the 2008 Olympic Games and the generosity of these supporting individuals and organizations will help these athletes with their training and future goals as we head toward Beijing.”
Team USA departs Monday for the Pan Ams with individual shiai competition taking place Thursday and Friday followed by kata and team events on Saturday. Visit www.usjudo.org for all the latest news, results, athlete diaries, coaches’ notes, video clips and more!
Any individuals, corporations or other organizations who would like to support Team USA or athletes from a particular state/region can still do so until noon MST Wednesday May 24. Those interested in providing further athlete incentives may contact Eddie Liddie via e-mail at eddie.liddie@usajudo.us.
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