Member News

February 22, 2006

2006 Pan American Junior Championships Come to Colorado Springs

USA Judo is pleased to announce that the Pan American Junior Championships will be held in Colorado Springs, April 13-14.  Originally scheduled to take place in Miami, Fla., the Pan American Judo Union recently approved site relocation to the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Athletes from more than a dozen countries within the Pan American region are expected to participate in this competition for judo players between 15- and 19-years-old.

The event includes two separate competitions: the Pan American Juvenile Championships for athletes born in 1990-1991 and the Pan American Junior Championships for athletes born in 1987-1989.

“We are all very excited to have the Pan Am Juniors in Colorado Springs.  This competition will take place at a first-class facility that has been used for numerous other top judo events, including the nearly two decades of the U.S. Open – the premier judo tournament in the United States,” said Dr. Ron Tripp (Norman, Okla.), USA Judo President.  “I want to thank the members of the Pan American judo community for supporting the United States in our desire to host this event and thank our guests and friends from around the Union who are coming to be part of this event.”

A team of approximately 32 athletes representing the United States will be announced at a later date.

Following the Pan Ams, the USA Judo Junior Cup will be held April 15 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center with competition open to all athletes in the United States and the Pan Am region.  This is an open event with no limit on competitors from any single country and will include the divisions contested during the first two days as well as younger age divisions.

For more information on either the Pan American Junior Championships or the USA Judo Junior Cup, visit www.usjudo.org.