"To be very honest with you, I don't really see much difference between this event and what we are used to seeing on the world circuit. Of course, the pace is not the same and of course we see technical and tactical differences. Without a doubt the physical level is not totally equivalent, but in the end we are witnessing a very beautiful world championship with total commitment from the competitors. They are here to perform and that is appreciable," explains Raul.
Mariano is clear too, "It is a world championship, whether for veterans or not, that aspect is not what is important. What is important, however, is that we are professional and that we offer all these judoka the same rigour as on the World Judo Tour."
Raul remembers, "I refereed these same championships a few years ago and I find that the level is clearly improving. If we consider the age categories of the day, in the M1 categories for example, the level of the judoka is not far from that of the international circuit. There are still many judoka whose hobby this is, but we also see that there are many former high-level athletes and others who train very hard."
"As for the refereeing itself, we are seeing a new generation of referees and that is very good. An event like this allows us to gain experience. Our job as supervisors is to ensure that the level of refereeing is consistent, respectful of the rules and that we guarantee fairness for all participants," Mariano emphasises.
Raul specifies, "I’m really enjoying being a supervisor here, even if my heart is still on the mat. It has not been that long since I was in the centre and it is a very different role. When we are on the mat, we have to react instantly. At the table, we have more time, we can use video, but on the other hand we have a greater responsibility because the outcome of the contest is in our hands."
As Mariano says, what we must note above all here in Las Vegas is that judo is judo and will always remain judo.