USA Judo & IJF Judo for Peace to Host USA vs. Venezuela Challenge in Miami on Saturday

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – U.S. athletes will compete against the Venezuelan National Team on Saturday in Miami in the USA vs. Venezuela Challenge team competition. 

The event will be held through a partnership between USA Judo and the International Judo Federation Judo for Peace Commission from 5 – 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Miami Christian School, 200 NW 109th Avenue, Miami, Fla.  The event has free admission and is open to the public.

The Venezuelan National Team will compete against a team of U.S. players from throughout South Florida that will be announced later in the week.  

The Venezuelans will be training in Miami this week in preparation for the U.S. Open which will be held Sept. 25-26 in San Jose, Calif.

“We are pleased to have the Venezuelan National Judo Team travel to the USA to attend the prestigious U.S. Open as well as face a team of our players in Miami,” said Dr. Ron Tripp (Norman, Okla.), USA General Secretary and a member of the Judo for Peace Commission.  “We know that the Venezuelan population in South Florida will come out to show their support of these young athletes. We were able to show the value of this IJF initiative when we hosted the Pan American Olympic Qualifier in Miami a year ago where the Cuban Team competed and was warmly welcomed by our country.”   

Judo for Peace has received international acclaim as an initiative that was created in 2001 to use judo as a way to teach respect for individuals and cross-cultural understanding in regions of conflict around the world.  For more information on this program, visit www.judoforpeace.com.

Tags: Dr. Ron Tripp