Member News

October 9, 2007

Twenty-Two International Delegations Scheduled to Compete in the U.S. Open Next Week

U.S. athletes will be joined by players from an estimated 22 international delegations at the U.S. Open, Oct. 19-21 in Gwinnett, Ga.  

Early registrations show that more than 200 international players are scheduled to compete in the senior divisions of the B-Level point tournament, in addition to nearly all of the top U.S. players in each division as well as players competing in the Master’s and Kata Championships. 

Senior divisions will be contested on Oct. 19-20 while Master’s and Kata divisions will be contested on Oct. 21.  

The tournament will be followed by an elite level training camp led by Jason Morris, 2008 Olympic Coach Nominee; Israel Hernandez, 2007 World Team Coach; Jimmy Pedro, USA Judo Elite U-23 Team Coach; 2000 Olympian German Velazco, 2006 Junior World Team Coach; and Pat Burris, USA Judo Director of Coaching Education and Certification.  Morris, Hernandez and Pedro also are Olympic medalists.  

The training camp will be held Oct. 21-23 at the tournament host hotel, the Atlanta Marriott Norcross. 

Countries scheduled to participate in the U.S. Open include:  

·        Afghanistan

·        Australia

·        Cameroon

·        Canada

·        China

·        Colombia

·        Ecuador

·        France

·        Ghana

·        Great Britain

·        Guatemala

·        Haiti

·        India

·        Mexico

·        Mongolia

·        New Zealand

·        Philippines

·        Portugal

·        Romania

·        Scotland

·        Tajikistan