Re: 1999 Panamerican Games - Selection of Athletes

Dear Friend and President:

The Organizers of the Games and the representatives of the Panamerican Sports Organization (PASO) have set a quota of 140 athletes, including men and women, and mandated that these must be selected from the Olympic categories of competition (seven for men and seven for women). This is a departure from past Pan American Games where each member federation, throught its National Olympic Committees (NOCs) had the opportunity to have one athlete participate in each category of competition that were utilized by the Panamerican Judo Union (PJU) (eight for men and eight for women).

The delegates attending the Congress of the PJU conducted on November 25, 1998 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic were not able to reach a consensus regarding a selection process.

In order to provide information to the member federations that they could provide their NOCs and to answer inquiries received directly from the member federations and the NOCs, Lic. Frank P. Fullerton, the Sport Director of the PJU presented a proposal to the Executive Committee of the PJU at is meeting conducted during the period February 5-6, 1999 in Santiago de Chile. The proposal took into consideration such factors as:

1. Participation in the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
2. Participation in the events being utilized to select athletes to fulfill the quota of the PJU for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.
3. Catastrophic conditions beyond the control of the member federations which prevented them from sending athletes to participate in scheduled competition.
4. The guarantee to have at least five contestants in each category of competition.

The proposal of the Sports Director that was discussed and, with minor revisions, adopted and approved is:

While all will not be satisfied with what was approved, it must be realized what a dificult and controversial task the Sports Director had to perform under the conditions impressed upon us in an untimely manner by the Organizers of the Games and the representatives of PASO.

The following procedures must be followed if the PJU is to have full benefits of the alloted quota:

1. Only one athlete per category of competition may be entered or certified.
2. The representative of the member federation must immediately notify the appopiate NOC and ascertain how many participants will be alloted to the sport of Judo.
3. Immediately upon being notified by a NOC that the total quota alloted will be utilized or only a portion thereof, notify my office so that na updated status may be kept and the unused quota can be realloted.
4. Timely submital of the Entry by Number and Entry by Name.

The proposed regulationes require that the Entries be sent to:

PAGS (Wpg. 1999) Inc.
Attn: Accreditation
500 Shaftesbury Boulevard
Winnipeg, Manitoba – CANADA
R3P OMI
Phone: (204) 985-1900 – Fax: (204) 985-1993

Information may be transmited via fax; however, the original Entries must follow and be recieved by PAGS on the following dates:

1. Entry by Number: April 24, 1999 (midnight local time)
2. Entry by Name: July 8, 1999 (midnight local time)

It is my understanding that the Technical Manual has been sent to the NOCs, therefore, you must obtain a copy of the Manual and follow strictly and in a timely manner the requirement stated therein.

I again emphasize that you must take all action necessary to ascertain how much of the quota will be utilized and immediately notify me. In the event the assigned quota or any part thereof will not be utilized, reassignment will be made to those member federations in Group II. If no response is recieved by April 10, 1999, the assumption will be made that a quota will not be utilized and reassignment will be made.

In fulfilling the quota assigned the member federations in Group II, the President and other appropriate representatives are urged to select qualified competitors.

In an effort to keep all concerned parties informed, a copy of this letter in being provided to the Presidents of those member federations which are not assigned a quota.