One of the sports venues planned to be used by Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Maracanãzinho Arena will be the stage for the Brazilian leg of the Grand Slam, which determines the International Judo Federation’s world rankings. Around 200 athletes from 24 countries are registered to participate in the event, which will take place tomorrow and on Sunday, with a total of US$150,000 in prize money.

More than 15 Olympic medal winners have confirmed their participation at the Rio de Janeiro Grand Slam. Among them are Brazilians Ketleyn Quadros (bronze at Beijing 2008), Leandro Guilheiro (bronze at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008), Flávio Canto (bronze at Athens 2004), Tiago Camilo (silver at Sydney 2000 and bronze at Beijing 2008) and Carlos Honorato (silver at Sydney 2000), Austrian Ludwig Paischer (silver at Beijing 2008), Belgian Ilse Heylen (bronze at Athens 2004), French Lucie Decosse (silver at Beijing 2008) and Frederique Jossinet (silver at Athens 2004), Mongolian Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar (bronze at Athens 2004) and Israeli Ariel Zeevi (bronze at Athens 2004). “I’m impressed with the Maracanãzinho and looking forward to seeing it full. The Grand Slam will be very important as preparation for the 2009 World Judo Championships in the Netherlands in August,” said Ludwig Paischer.

The Grand Slam is the second major international judo competition that has used the sports venue legacy left by the Rio 2007 Pan American Games. In September 2007, the city hosted the World Judo Championships at Rio Arena. “These events reinforce Rio de Janeiro’s tradition of receiving major sports competitions and contribute towards the Rio 2016 bid. There are only three months left before the International Olympic Committee chooses the host city for the 2016 Games and this weekend the city will be a focus of attention for world sport,” said the president of Rio 2016, Carlos Arthur Nuzman.

As part of Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic plans, the Maracanãzinho would host volleyball competitions, while Judo would be staged at the Olympic Training Center, to be built in the Barra da Tijuca district. Among judokas competing for medals at this weekend’s Grand Slam, the Rio 2016 bid has many fans. “I’m betting on Rio winning,” said Leandro Guilheiro. “If Rio de Janeiro hosts the Olympic Games, it’s not only athletes who will benefit. The event will bring opportunities for many people and will help to motivate our country’s talented young people.”