USA Judo to Host Olympic Qualifier World Cup, U.S. Open and Central / North American Championships at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) - In an international first, world class judo and golf will combine when three international tournaments are held at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami from Aug. 27-30.

USA Judo, in cooperation with the Panamerican Judo Confederation, will be hosting these three international events that will include a World Cup that will be held Aug. 27-28.  The World Cup, a USA Judo Senior A-Level Point Tournament, will be the first qualifying event for the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in North America.

The World Cup will be followed by the U.S. Open on Aug. 29 and the Central / North American Championships, a qualifying event for the 2011 Pan American Games, on Aug. 30. 

All three events will be held at the convention center on the grounds of the resort, a Marriott property that will serve as the headquarters hotel for the events.  The events will be held in the heart of the Doral Country Club and Spa - home of the PGA Tour Championships.  The Doral Country Club boasts four world-class, golf courses, including the famous "TPC Blue Monster at Doral."  

Participants, as well as judo fans attending these Championship events, will be treated to a country club setting while enjoying all of their meals on site and being able to walk a few meters to the competition venue. 

"We are very appreciative to the International Judo Federation and the Panamerican Judo Confederation for giving USA Judo the opportunity to host these Championships. This shows the support that we continue to enjoy from International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer in awarding this World Cup to the USA," said USA Judo CEO Jose H. Rodriguez (Colorado Springs, Colo.)  

Doral Golf Resort & Spa is located three miles from Miami International Airport, five miles from downtown Miami and eight miles from world famous Miami South Beach. The resort has played host to countless prestigious golf events, including the 2010 World Golf Championships in March.  

"Our athletes will have an opportunity to compete on our home turf and earn the necessary points towards qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. This is big step for the continuing development of our athletes as we will be hosting this World Cup in 2011 and 2012 as well," said Eddie Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Judo Director of Athlete Performance and 1984 Olympic medalist.  

The U.S. Open, which will be held on Aug. 29, will be conducted in a one-day format using the same competition area as the World Cup.  The event will include senior and masters (veterans) divisions.  

The Central/North American Championships are expected to include all of the countries in the region who will take advantage of being able to compete in three elite events in one weekend.

The trio of tournaments are being partially supported by the Florida Sports Foundation, and the Miami Dade Sports Commission. 

"It is the interest of the IJF and the PJC to continue to have USA host events in South Florida given this region's close location to the rest of the Americas and the many direct daily flights to Europe and South America," said USA Judo President Lance Nading (Denver, Colo.) "We will aggressively promote these three events and create sport tourism packages where fans of judo will be able to come and not only enjoy the sport they love, but also enjoy a long weekend at one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. I know that this World Cup will be the talk of the IJF world and, as soon as the first one is held, they will all be talking about coming back in 2011 and 2012." 

Tags: Eddie Liddie, Jose Rodriguez, Lance Nading