Amazing Euros – Skovde 2010 [June 7th 2010]

The 25th Senior and 16th Junior European Taekwon-Do Championships held on April 29th - May 2nd in Skovde Sweden were truly incredible.

Swedish Taekwon-Do Federation gave the privilege of organizing the championships to the leaders of the Skovde Taekwon-do Club Slawek and Petra Dydiszko. Slawek is also a Vicepresident and Petra a Secretary STF.

It wasn’t a random choice since both of them have a great experience in organizing international events. Every year they organize very prestigious sport event called International Viking Cup attended by competitors from several countries.

Slawek and Petra did their best organizing the event and making sure it will be remained for long in the memory of its participants and spectators.

The participants arriving to Sweden were picked by the coaches ordered in advance or came on their own to the registration point. Championship participants were greeted by banners placed along street on the street lamps creating an atmosphere the great TKD feast.

There was no tourist or resident, who in this town of 150 thousand inhabitants in central Sweden, would not know about the upcoming championships of the old continent.

Additionally a large screen placed on the wall of the sports hall every few minutes displayed a dynamic advertising of these championships. Also posters were hung in shop windows and restaurants, as well as in all the hotels in the city.

Everything was very well organized. From transfer to the hotel upon arrival in Stockholm or Gothenburg, high-standard hotels, organization of food to departure procedures.

Also all team accreditation, weight, briefing, drawing procedures run very smoothly. The organizer prepared for all participants invoices, accommodation information, special maps and posters. To accommodate the heads of delegations only checked if the amount for the hotel and food was correct, then everyone received keys with room assignments. Service was exceptionally fast and not burdensome. We wish all the organizers such a smooth operation.

I have to mention that hotel selected as a reception place was exceptionally well suited to this function. Hotel had a large lobby that accommodated a large group of participants. It was located in the centre of the city, short distance to other hotels, had adequate rooms for both, reception point and the championship site computer service. The place was convenient and spacious.

There were two separate weight committees placed on the floor and participants were assigned to arrive at certain times , therefore weight procedures were going without unnecessary delays. Thanks to these smooth operation participant had more free time to rest, see the area or take additional training at the Sport Hall of the Championships.

The championships were held in a very modern sport complex, Arena-Skovde. Building has just been renovated, beautifully decorated the way you could feel spirit of championships. Floor mats were in the colour of the national colours of Sweden giving the impression of order and aesthetics. Complex exceeded expectation of the most demanding users offering the highest standards. Appropriate size plate, auditorium, locker rooms with saunas and places for the biological renewal, press centre, VIP booths, sound system and many other trinkets, which facilitated the lives of both participants as well as the championships spectators.

There were representants of 31 AETF member countries. That included 275 seniors and 201 juniors from 29 countries that had a great contribution to its success.

There were 48 referees whose professionalism and hard work made the championships in Sweden very successful event. Special thanks to the Tournament and Umpire Committee, Master Coos v/d Huevel, Master Giovanni Cecconato and Master Sandy Dunbar and to all umpires for the courage to disclose the results as well as for effective and fair conducting of the tournament.

Mr. Tord Gustavsson, major of Skovde admitted that these Championships were the biggest single sport event organized in Skovde. He added he was very surprised with the large number of guests from so many countries.

After all over 1000 guest came to this fairly small town taking all hotel spaces.

The organizer assured particularly attractive setting preparing a very attractive medals, diplomas, certificates of participation, crystal cups meters high, a special commemorative medals. Artwork of the championships was conceived and maintained in a consistent convention.

I must also stress that the decoration ceremony was taking place at designated times and ran very smoothly without disturbing and prolonging the competition. It was run suitable to the rank of this event.

The highlight of the championships was the opening ceremony and the finals held on Saturday. The organizer asked a representative of each participating country to welcome participants in their native language. Then the acrobats from Duo Vector Group performed a great and mesmerizing show.

It should be mentioned that as high as the level of organization was, was also a level of fights. Extremely high level of competition provided a really strong emotions especially because for the first time in history, players, coaches and spectators could watch results during the duel. Competitors quickly learned to use this feature so the fights have become much more exciting and the number of protests was the lowest in the history of the championships.

The level of the championships and commitment of the Scandinavian team surprised every participants in this year's championships. Sweden, placed fourteenth on the last year’s Euros held in Spain, achieved second place. Norway, which was eight in Spain, placed third this year.

The splendour to the Championships was added by attendance of the special quests, GM Willem Jacob Bos, ITF Secretary General, GM Tom MacCallum ITF Treasurer, Mr. Efraim Barak and Mr. Tord Gustavsson, major of Skovde.

From left: Karl Alexanderson, local government officer, Kaj-Eve Enroth, local government officer, Håkan Ahlström, local government chief executive, Mrs Ahlström, Mrs ?, Tord Gustafsson, local government commissioner, Grand Master Willem Jacob Bos, General Secretary of the ITF, Grand Master Tom MacCallum, Member of the ITF board, Master Tadeusz Loboda, President of the AETF

Once again, gratitude to the Swedish Taekwon-Do Association, headed by Mr. Robert Anderssen and especially to directly involved in organizing the championships Master Swavek and Mrs Petra Dydiszko. With their leadership Organizational Committee achieved the perfection in preparation of the event. thank them for their kindness, hospitality and great efforts. Standards established in these competitions will be an example to follow.