Judo federation official reviews Cuban Grand Prix preparations

Havana: A director of sports at the International Judo Federation (IJF) met Cuban representatives of the sport Friday to review preparations for the 2014 Judo Grand Prix to be held June 6-7 here.

IJF director of sports, Czech-born Vladimir Barta, said: "It will be a super important tournament in terms of preparations, in light of the Olympic Games," reports Xinhua. "It will be a huge party and we hope the best judo practitioners from around the world will come," Barta said, adding the IJF is ready "to help in anyway it can" to ensure the June event is a success. The event will mark the first time a tournament on this scale is hosted by Cuba which was elected as host in January 2013. The Grand Prix will be the first qualifying event in judo in the lead-up to the Olympic Games.