Member News

November 1, 2007

Peru Day 1 Notes

Team USA arrived earlier this week for to compete at the Jita Kyoei Cup in Lima Peru on Nov. 3.  Devin Cohen, a veteran of both junior and senior international trips, is the team manager for the 35-person junior crew and shares his thoughts on the trip so far below...

So far, so good.  Everyone who is due in so far has arrived safe and sound.  Aside from a couple of delayed bags (now recovered), and one delayed flight (now arrived) everyone arrived without a hitch.  Everyone has been met at the airport by representatives of the Peruvian Judo Federation... including at some very late and very early hours.
 
Wednesday, Jhonny and I took a group to SEE a shopping area on a cliff by the ocean, and then to DO some walking and shopping several blocks from there.  Found some great deals and had a good time with the kids and their parents.
 
Jhonny and I then went to a Peruvian Infantil and Juvenile shiai in Lima , which was being used as their national trials for the Pan Am Infantil Championships.  We were warmly welcomed and introduced to the crowd as guests.  We met a number of the referees, coaches and leaders of the Peruvian Judo Federation as well as some of the players.
 
We had a meeting Wednesday night with Raul Villanueva Lopez, the Executive Director of the Federation and the director of our shiai.  He has been terrific – very welcoming and helpful.
 
Raul arranged to have tatami and a practice scale delivered to our hotel Thursday morning so that we could practice each day without having to travel.
 
We had breakfast together this morning, after which Jhonny took the new arrivals on the same shopping/walking trip as yesterday.  We had a team practice this afternoon, and then the team had free time until we all went to dinner together.
 
Friday, we will have breakfast together again (by which time the delegation should be complete, with the newest arrivals), another team practice at 1 pm, and then we’ll be picked up at 4 p.m. to go to the HQ for the weigh-in, the draw, and an opening reception for the delegation leaders.
 
We´re being picked up on Saturday AM at 8 and the shiai begins at 10 am.
 
Really, everyone – from the hotel staff to the Peruvian Judo Federation and Tournament Committee, to our own athletes, parents and personal coaches has been great.  I’m looking forward to practice Friday and to a great shiai on Saturday.