On the occasion of the 20km race walk Japan Championships was held in Kobe, at the Sheraton Bay Hotel in Rokko Island, a Convention of the national level of race walking judges of Japan, with the participation also of a good number of race walking coaches.
To the Convention attend more than 50 people, in addition to all the staff of the JAAF leaded by the General Secretary Kazama, together by the head and the deputy head of Japan's judges group.
The goal of this Convention was to provide Japanese judges a "background" of international level in preparation for future Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The convention was held over two days: the first dedicated to theoretical and practical skill of the judges. In the second day all the Judges of national level attended as a "shadow jury" to th 20 km of the championship.
On Sunday afternoon, after the race, have been projected some video-clip of the race and the international jury explained in an "open post race meeting" the reasons of the decisions taken and explained some technical errors in their view detected in some athletes.
On the first day the work carried out were the following:
Frederic Bianchi (SUI) presented a Power Point on the "Technical Model of Race Walking".
Khoo Chong Beng (MAS): after the presentation of earlier PowerPoint was analysed "the interpretation of the race walking rules" with particular attention to the key points of "yellow paddles" and "red cards".
Nicola Maggio (ITA) presented a Power Point embracing the themes of the Pit Lane, and focoused on "rigorous judgment in national competitions helps athletes in international big events".
During the following round table discussion which was then open were discussed and clarified any doubtful points.
Previously all the Judges and Japan Coaches had attended to a video test that included 35 video situations, many of which coming from the recent World Championships in Beijing 2015, which were to be judged whether correct or not. In the case it was decided an incorrectness would have to then clarify whether it was due to a “loss of contact” with or a “bent knee”.
The results were then made public for a self-control.
This kind of activity was much appreciated by the JAAF as education system.
In the afternoon of the day of the race, during the presentation of movies the technical debate was very interesting, in particular, in presence of videos situations with technical errors very evident on athletes.
Lecturers and JAAF staff
Convention Room
JAAF staff with guests of China Athletic Association