Athletes make judo, ‘gentle way’ gentler

TRANSLATED from its Japanese name, judo means ‘the gentle way’.

In the Special Olympics, the sport’s commissioner at these games, Frank Donohoe, likes to think of it as an even gentler version of the gentle way.

To untrained eyes, a first sight of the events at Santry’s Sportslink venue near Dublin Airport yesterday provided little evidence of a gentle touch as bodies were sent crashing to the floor to the accompaniment of cheers.