A leading martial arts official from the United States has praised the forward-thinking Olympic Council of Asia for embracing so many sports under the OCA umbrella. Bruce R. Bethers, president and chief executive officer of the United States Jujitsu Federation, described the first day of the jujitsu competition at the first Asian Martial Arts Games on Tuesday as "a wonderful day for jujitsu and a wonderful day for the OCA."

Speaking shortly before the opening ceremony at the Bangkok Youth Centre (Thai-Japan), Mr. Bethers said: "This is a major step for the recognition of jujitsu in the Olympic movement, and the first day of the future of Olympic jujitsu. It is an exciting day.

"The OCA has taken a very important step in recognising that martial arts are very popular and very important around the world, involving millions and millions of people."

Mr. Bethers, who is also Vice President of the Pan American Jujitsu Union and a USA national member of the Jujitsu International Federation, has been invited to the Asian Martial Arts Games as a judge.

"I will go back to the United States and tell the story," he added.

"What is happening in Asia can spill over to the other continents, and we are now looking at the possibility of a Pan-American Martial Arts Games.

"The fact that martial arts continue to grow in popularity, and the OCA is doing some very progressive things, the other continents may want to pick up on as well."