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TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARDED WORLD CLASS STATUS

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BTCB 29 June 2009

The 2nd BTCB British International Taekwondo Championships, which is being supported by UK Sport's World Class Events Programme, was today awarded world-ranking status by the World Taekwondo Federation in addition to the European ranking it already holds from the European Taekwondo Union. The award makes this only the third tournament to hold both European and World ranking points.

In addition, the world class tournament will be preceded by an WTF sanctioned International Referees Seminar and a WTF-approved coaching course for National Team Coaches. The line up of taekwondo events promises to bring the very finest of the taekwondo community together. The week commencing 24 August will see the referee seminar run Tuesday to Thursday, and the WTF Coaching Course on Friday with the British Open running Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August.

This year’s event will hold extra significance as it will feature the same scoring system as the World Championships in October and will be the focal point for preparations prior to the biggest event of the year.

UK Sport Events Consultant, Clare Hartley, commented: “It is fantastic that the BTCB British International Taekwondo Championships has been recognised in this way. This means that UK Sport’s investment in the event, via our National Lottery funded World Class Events Programme, will be working to benefit the British athletes twofold; not only will they have the opportunity to experience world class competition on home soil ahead of 2012, but they will now also be able to gain world ranking points.

"We also hope this will ensure that the UK will develop greater global influence within the sport as a result of hosting this world-leading tournament.”

Andrew Link, Operations Director of BTCB – Sport Taekwondo UK Ltd, said: “We are delighted to receive this recognition of the event by the World Taekwondo Federation, we are determined to make the event special for everyone who attends and believe the week of elite activities leading up to the competition ensures that we are able to develop not just athletes ahead of the London Olympic Games, but also our officials and coaches.”

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Arts and Leisure for Manchester City Council, commented: “Manchester has a tradition of hosting world class sports events and we are proud to be inviting the Taekwondo community to our city once again.

“By hosting both the referees and the coaching courses in conjunction with the British International Championships, Manchester is connecting development opportunities to the hosting of the event, maximising the benefits of bringing this tournament to the City.”

Events such as the British Open attract competitors at the very highest level in the sport and it is testament to the progress that the sport has made in this country that we have become one of Europe’s leading taekwondo nations.

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