Scheduled to run until Sunday, there will be 700 ranking points awarded to gold medallists.

Champions will be crowned in 14 classes, as well as a team competition.

Brazil and Cuba have dominated this event and are the only two nations to have topped the medals table since the annual contest was first held in 2003.

Brazil won five gold medals a year ago in Peruvian capital Lima and 16 in total, while Canada won four gold medals to finish second in the overall standings, above Cuba.

Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos hosted Cuba's men and women respectively for training camps ahead of the tournament, and eight Cuban judoka are set to take part in the Pan American Judo Championships.

Second in the world rankings in the men's under-90-kilogram is Iván Silva, who will be looking to win a fourth consecutive Pan American title.

Both Osniel Solís and Orlando Polanco are expected to compete in the men's under-66kg, while Andy Granda is set to defend the men's heavyweight title.

On the women's side, Maylin del Toro, who is sixth in the under-63kg world rankings, is the standout athlete and will be accompanied by youngster Ayumi Leyva at under-48kg, Nahomys Acosta at under-52kg and Amaes Odelin at under-57kg.

Idalys Ortiz - the top-ranked women's heavyweight in the world and a London 2012 champion - misses out.

The organisers of this year's event expect the participation of 140 athletes from 22 nations, with both Mexico and the United States having 18 athletes in their squads.

Brazil have 17 and Canada nine.

A Pan American Judo Confederation Technical Congress is scheduled to take place later today, while competition beginning tomorrow in seven weight classes.