Newsletter Newsletter 3/2007 Euros 2007 - the Summing Up Report

Standing from left: Mr. Tadeusz Loboda AETF President, Mrs. Daniela Palascakowa, SUT Secretary General, Mrs.Martina Soltisova Semesiova, SUT President, Professor Jan Mikolaj, the Ministry of Education of Slovak Republic, Master Trân Triêu Quân, ITF President, Master Paul Weiler, ITF Vice-President, Maser Per Andresen, NTN President, Master Per Christian Garnaes, NTN Vice President. In the background the National Team of Slovakia

It is the only NGB in Europe lead by women. The President of Slovak Union of Taekwon-do is Mrs. Martina Semesiova. She is working as a PhD of pedagogic at the Presov University. Mrs. Daniela Palascakova – the secretary general – has a PhD. in marketing and management.

Being well educated, dynamic and very likeable proved that they are able to do things which others only dream about. They are very brave and know their goals very well.

After they established the Slovak Union of Taekwon-do they got relatively fast the recognition of Slovak Sport Confederation. Both are periodically organising International Presov Open Tournament. Their last challenge was getting the organizing rights of the XIII Junior and XXII Senior European Championships, which was held from 27th to 29th April 2007 in Poprad – High Tatra.

A lot of people were afraid that such a young federation that had just started their activity wouldn’t manage organize such serious event as European Championships.

In contrast to other organizations our ladies knew how powerful a good organized event can be. They knew exactly how too use the organizing fact in a promotional campaign. They made the position of Slovak Union of Taekwon-do stronger by inviting to the Euros and presence of the highest Slovak sport authorities: Professor Jan Mikolaj, the Ministry of Education of Slovak Republic and Mr. Kryz, Slovak Sport Confederation Secretary General.

The really proffessional work of the umpires team was very just and the winners were the truly better.

They took great care that the President of the International Taekwon-do Federation Master Trân Triêu Quân and the authorities of the All Europe Taekwon-do Federation came to the Championships. They ensured that the Euros would be in the memories of participants for a long time. Additionally, they accumulated a lot of attractions, for example, famous all over Europe: AquaCity Hotel in Poprad with a whole range of indoor and outdoor pools and thermal bathing, other high standard hotels, well located at the foot of the High Tatras Mountains. All this was according to the rules: good accommodation and full board and high level of sports competition.

The ITF and AETF officerrs during the meeting with the authorities of High Tatra.

the frame of the Championship was on the highest level: the hostesses in the regional outfits, meetings with the authorities of High Tatras, banquets, opening ceremony, souvenirs for the participants and much more. The championship received widespread attention in the media beginning from internet website (see: http://www.sztkd-itf.sk/euros2007/index.php) through the press, radio and television. The modern, air-conditioned, Sport Hall Arena Poprad for 2000 people, 1650 square meters, was a great background for the tournament. There were unfortunately also small mistakes, as for example slippery floors in the rings; but as a whole the Euros 2007 made a great impression on everybody.

227 seniors and 206 juniors from 25 countries took part in the XXII Senior and XIII Junior European Championships 2007.

You can find all results of the Euros 2007 here: http://www.itfeurope.org/NL2007-02-10.html.

We also invite you to read on the account of Mrs. Martina Soltisova Semesiova on the ITF website: http://www.tkd-itf.com/pub_web/ver_eng/ITFR25052007.html.

To sum up the results of the organisation of the prestigious event for Slovak Union of Taekwon-do in retrospect of three months:

1. The SUT got great respect of the Ministry of Education authorities and of Slovak Sport Confederation, which already during the Championships assured that the subvention and financial help in 2008 will be much bigger.
2. The SUT got the recognition of the international community of Taekwon-do and opened the way to the organization of the next event of higher rank like for example World Cup, World Championships or even next European Championships.
3. The SUT profited by buying and winning of new equipment. It bought from Top Ten 5 competition squares at the attractive price as well as the power test and special techniques stands, banners and other equipments. It got 40 sets of safety equipments and 50 t-shirts from Top Ten.
4. The SUT got new sponsors, among them very serious one: KIA Motors.
5. The organisation of the Euros 2007 made the position of SUT in mass media much better as the information about the European Championships appealed in all Slovak mass media.
6. The SUT worked well in the role of the organiser; it learnt its possibilities, priceless experience and indispensable knowledge before the next challenges.
7. The championships were also financially successful.
8. The SUT got the international credibility.
9. And realized many smaller goals.

We can easy say The Slovak Union of Taekwon-do got both organization and sport success.

Congratulations to the whole Organising Committee that have made a lot of efforts to achieve so good results.

AETF HQ