Panama, October 14, 2008

Mr. Marius L. Vizer President International Judo Federation (FIJ)
Mr. President:

Is my desire to transmit my best wishes of success in your functions, in the understanding of our concern about the reforms that is proposing to be made to the requirements tor the recognition of the national sports federations of judo, in the International Judo Federation (FIJ) Congress to be held on October 21rst, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Panamanian law, the same as the Spanish and other countries, establishes that the authority that recognizes the sports entities correspond exclusively to the State.

In the Republic of Panama, the Panamanian Sports Institute (PANDEPORTES), is the maximum sport authority in charge of supervising the constitution, function and development, including the electoral process to designate the authorities of all sports federations and organizations in the country. This faculty is exclusive, in other words, is not shared with any other public nor private institution.

The Panamanian Olympic Committee is a private association, not lucrative created in accordance to the national law with no power and never the less authority to grant recognition to the federations or sports organizations that could be integrated by delegates of these same ones, once they are recognized by PANDEPORTES at the time they comply with the corresponding requirements and legal process.

For these considerations we estimate that is of great concern that the International Judo Federation (FIJ) would establish, as a requirement to its affiliated, the recognition of the National Olympic Committee as this would not acknowledge the sports authority established by Law of each State, in the case that the same is not the National Olympic Committee.

It will not escape' from your iIIustrated discernment that such disposition would involve a flagrant unknown of the European Sports Letter that textually expresses: 'The governments as well as the sport organizations will recognize the necessity of mutual respect of their respective jurisdictions" and "The European Cabinet will recognize the sports organizations, at the time that they are in accordance to their national and community rights. and as of the Iberoamerican Sports Letter, we are convinced, is not the purpose of the International Judo Federation.

For these considerations, we exhort the FIJ Congress to legislate on the count of these.

With the confidence of my most highly and distinguish consideration, I remain.

Sincerely,

Ing. Ramón Cardoze     General Director

                   
cc. Members of the American Sports Committee (CADE)
       International Olympic Committeee
       Panamanian Judo Federation