The International Judo Federation (IJF) has pledged it support to the FIA’s Action for Road Safety campaign during a ceremony in Paris attended by FIA President Jean Todt and IJF President Marius Vizer.
Both were participating at the IJF’s 60th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Opéra Garnier on Sunday August 21st, where Jean Todt was guest of honour at the function which was also the inaugural event for the World Judo Championships taking place in Paris this week.
The Gala Dinner was attened by the top judo athletes as well as all the senior administrators of the sport. Alongside them were also a number of prestigious sporting and Olympic names such Nadia Comaneci, Ilie Năstase and Lothar Matthäus.
Jean Todt spoke of the blossoming cooperation between the two federations: “Inside your Federation, you already have a Judo for Peace commission as well as a Judo for Children commission, you will now have Judo for a Better Behaviour on the Roads working group. The values of your sport can help us all to build a safer world. I am happy that I had the opportunity to meet the judo family tonight and I am looking forward to working with you in the future".
Note to Editors: On a typical day 3,500 people die on the world’s roads. These victims are most often the younger members of society. Road fatalities have become the main cause of death among young people aged between 15-29, with ninety per cent of these victims living in developing countries. In 2010, road accidents resulted in the deaths of 1.3 million people worldwide and injuries to nearly 50 million more.
The United Nations has designated the years 2011 – 2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety. Alongside the World Health Organisation, the World Bank and the regional development banks, a planet-wide mobilisation began on 11 May 2011. Its target is to check, and then reverse the spiralling frequency of road accidents.
Action for Road Safety is the FIA’s response and leading contribution to the challenges raised by the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety, the aim of which is to prevent five million road deaths and countless serious injuries over the next ten years.
For further information go to www.fia.com