Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori presented judoka Ryoko Tamura with the Prime Minister's Award in a ceremony at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The award recognized her great contribution to furthering sports in Japan, including four successive victories in the World Judo Championships, a gold medal in the 48-kilogram class in women's judo at the Olympic Games in Sydney in September, and many other superb accomplishments in judo. Upon receiving the award Tamura said, "I am very happy at this great honor, which I owe to the support of people throughout Japan. I want to try for a fifth successive victory in the world Judo Championship next year, something no one has accomplished so far."