The World Masters Judo Championships come to Londonderry from 20 - 23rd June.
Participants in Master Judo are players aged 30 Plus.

Many will be arriving from Monday and the NI Judo Federation, in concert with
Derry City Council, NI Events Company and other sponsors and supporters have
organised a series of events around the World Championships proper. 
When competition gets underway on Wednesday with a Kataa, the guests will
participate in a Golf tournament at the Foyle club.
In all some 43 countries will be represented: 27 European, 7 American (N,C&S),
2 Oceanic, 1 African (with 2 waiting FCO clearance) and 6 Asian, including
Japan. 
500 players have been registered

Tokio will host next year's World Masters.
Consequently several key figures in the sport, which although it is the
national sport, is like Northern Ireland very dependent on volunteer support.
Unlike Northern Ireland many Japanese sponsors are senior business figures with
long connections and deep network within Japanese business culture.

One Guest of Honour is Hiromi Noguchi Vice Chairman of the Kodokan..

Also a guest from Japan is Ms Keiko Fukuda, a revered woman given the honour of
Treasure of Japan some years ago. She is the highest ranked woman and has one
of the highest rankings for Black Belts in the sport - 9th Dan. Now 89 years of
age, her appearance as an honoured heroine of Judo in Derry will be of
significant interest back in Japan.

The details of the World Masters Championships (Press Launch on Wednesday 12
June at 1100 hrs in Foyle Golf Club) includes competition on Thursday, through
to Sunday evening all based at the Derry Council managed Templemore Sports
Complex. The event opening will have an Irish theme and Sunday's closing will
have a Japanese theme and a handing -on to Tokio. A variety of social events, a
series of helicopter tours and Foyle Lough boat trips have been included for
the World Championships' participants and their supporters.


Health Happiness and Pecae into the New Millennium, Paddy, Marie, Helen Lara
and Mark Murphy