Judo is a very popular sport. Around 200 countries are affiliated in the International Judo Federation. It´s disputed in Olympics Games (OG) and has a adult World Championships (WC), suggesting a universalization of this sport. Therefore, Judo has been the target of investment by many nations that seek international elite sport success. The aim of this study is to analyze the concurrence of countries in greater international Judo events (OG and adult WC). Methods: This study was conducted in the period 2000 to 2011. The following variables were analyzed: number of countries that have athletes in the top 8, in the top 4 (medalists) and the countries market share. To calculate the market share was used a points system according to De Bosscher et al (2008). Results: There was an increase 18.5% of countries that have athletes ranked in top 8 in WC from 2001 to 2009, while the number of nations that have medalists increased 3.8%. In events of 2010 and 2011, there was a decrease in number of countries that have athletes ranked in top 8 and in medalists in WC (-31%; -16%). Already in OG, the increasing of countries that have athletes ranked in top 8 from 2000 to 2008 was 16%, while the number of nations have medalists has been stable. The market share analyses shows a great superiority of Japan (average of 23% and 21%) followed by France (10%; 7%), Cuba (7%; 9%), China (5%; 9%) and Korea (5%; 7%). Discussion There was a rise of concurrence in judo (VILLAMON et al, 2004), which explain the number of countries and the growing number of athletes in the top 8 in both events and in top 4 in WC. On the other hand, some changes in the competition rules caused a decrease in the number of athletes have possibility of a significant classification in WC. With respect to the market share, the results demonstrate that judo is a Japanese sport, followed at a distance by some countries. Although the difference has decreased, before the changes that occurred in competition rules. Conclusion: Many countries seek the international success in judo, but the recent changes in the competition rules go against the real universalization in this sport. However, is an expectation in increase the market share of some countries in London 2012.
© Copyright 2012 17th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Bruges, 4. -7. July 2012. Veröffentlicht von Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.