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BRITAIN TO STAGE FIRST INTERNATIONAL TAEKWONDO OPEN

Tim Crooks - 14/02/2008

Britain's Sarah Stevenson will be aiming for gold this November.
Photo/Capitalize

Britain will stage its first ever major taekwondo Open later this year when Manchester’s Sportcity plays host to The British International Open from 1-2 November. The creation of this major international tournament is further testament of Britain’s rapidly growing status within the Olympic sport, having successfully staged the World Olympic Qualifiers last year with the support of UK Sport’s National Lottery backed World Class Events Programme.

The event, which will be open to both domestic and international athletes, is being supported by UK Sport and Manchester City Council. There will be no qualification process for aspiring competitors which means top British club athletes will have an invaluable opportunity to gain vital experience against Olympic, World and European Champions.

UK Sport’s International Director, John Scott, said: “Developing this annual event is an integral part of British taekwondo’s aim to become one of the top taekwondo nations in the world, allowing world class competition to take place on an annual basis in the UK. This event will allow all of the 16 British elite team members and the entire British Junior squad the opportunity to experience fighting on home soil in front of the home crowd.”

UK Sport's support the international open is part of more than £3 million of National Lottery money it distributes each year via the World Class Events Programme to support the bidding and staging costs of major events, as well as providing specialist support to organisers.

Adrian Tranter, Chairman of the British Taekwondo Control Board (BTCB), commented: “It is with great pride that my tenure as Chairman coincides with Britain hosting its first ever international open. Taekwondo in Great Britain has enjoyed an unprecedented period of growth and success in recent years. Our elite Great Britain squad is one of the best in the world so it is fitting that we should be staging an international calibre tournament. The BTCB have worked hard over the past few years to promote Britain’s role within Europe and it is great that we will now be staging this annual tournament which will give all our athletes a chance to pit their skills against the best in the world.”

Other International Opens staged in Europe have often attracted fighters from over 50 countries including Asia, South America and Africa and have proved a vital stepping stone in developing the careers of Britain’s athletes. Great Britain enjoyed considerable success at last year’s German and Dutch Opens winning 12 medals which included four golds. These impressive performances have since been followed up with Britain qualifying three out of a possible four places for this summer’s Beijing Olympic Games.

Manchester is set to host the biggest year for sport since the 2002 Commonwealth Games this year with UK Sport already committing up to £1.85 million of National Lottery funding towards the staging of the Paralympic World Cup and three World Championship events including track cycling, swimming and squash.