The 31st International Instructors Course was held in Greece from 1st to 3rd of February 2008 at the Hotel “KAPSIS” in Thessalonica.

There were 124 instructors and athletes from thirty five of the Hellenic Associations and twelve other countries took part in this event. These countries were England, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Canada, Cyprus, Russia , Scotland, Sweden.

The Seminar was conducted by the ITF Technical Committee members Master Hector Marano 8th Degree from Argentina – Chairman, Master Pablo Trajtenberg 8th Degree from Argentina and Master Willem Jacob Bos 8th Degree from Italy.

The International Taekwon-Do Federation is represented in Hellas by the Hellenic Taekwon-Do ITF Union (and Coordinative Committee), which had the responsibility for organising this successful seminar. The Organizing Committee was composed of Gialamas Panagiotis, Alexandris Vasilios, Kosmoglou Dimitrios, Adam Ioannis, Zachos Ioannis, Lavis Micheal and Pantazis Konstantinos.

During the seminar we discussed subjects of theoretical and practical teaching and covered techniques of patterns, step sparring, free sparring, self-defence, as well as umpiring and the organisation of tournaments.

After a successful examination Gialamas Panagiotis, Alexandris Vasilios, Kosmoglou Dimitrios and Donnato Nardizzi received the 8th Degree. There were also participants from Russia and Bulgaria who took part in the exam.

On 2nd February an official reception was held and we were honoured with the presence of political, intellectual and athletic personalities as well as members of the Media. The event was greeted with many messages of congratulations, from the Minister of Macedonia and Thrace Mr. Margaritis Tzimas, the Minister of Growth Mr. Kalafatis Stavros, the Minister of Sports Mr. Ioannis Ioannidis, the Prefect of Thessalonica Mr. Psomiadis Panagiotis, the deputies of New Democracy Mr Regkouzas Adam, Mr. Karaoglou Theodoros and Mrs Rapti Elena as well as the deputies of PASOK Mrs Arapoglou Chrisa, Mr. Magkriotis Ioannis and Mr. Sidiropoulos Anastasios. Present in the event the Deputy of New Democracy Mr Gkioulekas Konstantinos, the representative of Prefect Thessalonica Mr Vanis Dimitrios as well as others.

   

A special guest of the event was the President of the International Taekwon-Do Federation, Master Trân Triêu Quân 8th Degree, who welcomed and announced the affiliation of the Hellenic Taekwon-Do ITF Union as an important step in the development of Taekwon-Do in Greece.

Also the President of Hellenic Taekwon-Do ITF Union Master Gialamas Panagiotis, 8th Degree thanked the International Taekwon-Do Federation and the representatives for conducting the Seminar and committed Hellas to an active international presence as an official member of International Taekwon-Do Federation I. T. F.

   

The event closed with the handing-over of the “diplomas of participating” and the official certificates of recognition for the first twenty six (26) Hellenic Associations – Members of International Taekwon-Do Federation I. T. F.

On behalf of the ELET and C.C.
Master Panagiotis Gialamas

Participants: