AETF reporter
Katarzyna Rozwadowska

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Bratislava is the capital and the largest (with a population of about 429 999) city of Slovakia. It is situated in south-western Slovakia, within the Bratislava Region. Its location on the borders with Austria and Hungary makes it the only national capital that borders two independent countries - it is 62 kilometers from the border with Czech Republic and 60 kilometers from the Austrian capital Vienna. The geographical position of Bratislava in Central Europe has long made it a natural crossroads for international trade traffic. As a rail hub, the city has direct connections to Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland and the rest of Slovakia. The city is the political and economic centre of the country. Being a home to several museums, theatres, universities, galleries, concert halls, cinemas, film clubs, foreign cultural institutions and other important cultural and educational organizations ensures Bratislava is the cultural heart of the country as well.

From the 21st to 24th of October 2010 Bratislava became the Taekwon-Do heart of Europe.

Category Ind. Fem. Sp., Black Belts, -58kg, 18-35years.

From the left: Ms. Siv Skorstad, Team East Norway, Ms. Ilona Dziala, Polish National Team.

The participants arriving to Bratislava Airport (only 10 minutes drive to the city) and Vienna Airport were picked up by the coaches ordered in advance or came by their own means to the meeting and registration point at the City Hotel Bratislava. After registration, payments and weight, all of the participants went to their designated hotels.

In the late afternoon on Thursday the Umpires and Coaches Meeting took place. After this in the evening the ITF Congress was held. At the Congress, besides ordinary organization cases, Mr. Luis Baguena Salvador (former A.E.T.F. President and E.T.U. President, sport activist in Spain and international sport organizations) was nominated as an Honorary President as an expression of gratitude for his hard work, dedication and contribution to the development of A.E.T.F. in the past.

ITF Congress held on 21st October 2010 held in Bratsilava, Slovakia.

Behind the presidium table, from the left are sitting: Master Alfred Yu, ITF Asia President, Mr. Thomas Wiesinger, ITF lawyer, Master Paul Weiler, ITF Vice-President, Master Clint Norman, ITF Director, GM Thomas MacCallum, ITF Treasurer, GM Willem Jacob Bos, ITF Secretary General, Master Tadeusz Loboda, AETF President, GM Pablo Trajtenberg, ITF Acting President, Master Juan Ferrando, ITF Vice-President, GM Javier Dacak, ITF South America President, Mr. Luis Baguena, former AETF President, Mr. Emanuel Dopico, ITF lawyer.

From Friday morning at Sibama Arena (part of the Slovakian National Tennis Centre) sporting rivalry began. More than 800 participants from Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Cyprus, England, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Moldova, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Wales fought in Divisions and Categories according to the World Cup Rules and Regulations. They were competing in 6 rings, including 1 for special techniques. Coaches, players and spectators could watch ongoing results on electronic scoring boards during the fights.

At the Opening Gala.

From the left are sitting: Master Paul Weiler, ITF Vice-President, GM Javier Dacak, ITF South America President, GM Willem Jacob Bos, ITF Secretary General, GM Pablo Trajtenberg, ITF Acting President, GM Thomas MacCallum, ITF Treasurer, Master Clint Norman, ITF Director, Master Alfred Yu, ITF Asia President, Master Tadeusz Loboda, AETF President.

On Saturday evening Final Gala the Opening Ceremony ‘Warriors’ Night’ took place. Participants, special guests, supporters and others spectators watched final sparring in chosen categories, demonstrations and artistic performances.

 

Medals were given in 139 categories. In the general Medal Classification for countries on the winner’s podium climbed:

1 – Poland - 38 gold, 33 silver, 57 bronze,
2 – Russia - 19 gold, 10 silver, 12 bronze,
3 – Ireland - 12 gold, 10 silver, 12 bronze.

General Clubs Classification:

1 – All Russia TKD Federation (from Russia) - 19 gold, 10 silver,12 bronze,
2 – Polish Taekwon-Do Team (from Poland) – 14 gold, 9 silver, 16 bronze,
3 – TRIADA Team Poland (from Poland) – 9 gold, 14 silver, 25 bronze.

The European Open Cup finished on Sunday evening with a party in the City Hotel. All Taekwon-Do friends met there for a chat, to compare notes with themselves, to get to know each other better, to make new friends and tighten up friendships already existing.

Below you will find what Ladislav Hunady (Chairman of the Organizing Committee of European Open Cup 2010 and President of Slovak Union Taekwon-Do) said about the tournament.

From the left:Mr. Ladislav Hunady, Chairman of the organizing committee, the President of Slovak Union Taekwon-Do ITF, Ms. Maria Janigova and Mr. Julius Holkovic, members of the organizing committee.

• Have you ever organized such a big event as the European Open Cup before? (If so, what kind of competitions?)
  Not so big event such as a European Open Cup, only European Championship In Poprad 2007.
• When did you start preparing for this event?
  We started in May 2010 because just then we got the decision from ITF that we can organize the European Open Cup.
• What challenges did the Organising Committee face preparing such a big event?
  The biggest problem was that we did not have sponsors because there was not enough time to find some.
• How many members did the Organising Committee consist of, and who were they?
  The Organizer is Slovak Union Taekwon-Do ITF and Sportovy Klub Drako Smolenice Taekwon-Do ITF. The main Organising Committee consists of five people: Ladislav Hunady, Maria Janigova, Michal Holkovic, Jozef Kotulak, Jan Goc. Of course five people is not enough to prepare as big an event as a European Open Cup. Over time the number of people expanded.
• Were there any unexpected issues during the European Open Cup, and how did you address them? We expected more referees to come to this event. So we had to ask AETF to help us with this problem.
• Did you have many latecomers or competitors who wanted (or had to) change their category?
  There were quite many changes after the deadline, even until the last moment before the beginning of the European Open Cup.
• What would you like (if anything) to improve in your next international tournament?
  It is necessary to have more time to prepare the event.
• How many competitors took part in European Open Cup? Did they draw many supporters with them?
  808 competitors took part in this event and 300 people came to support their competitors.
• How many TKD clubs do you have in Slovakia?
  At the present we have 8 clubs that are members of Slovak Union Taekwon-Do ITF.
• Is Taekwon-Do well known in Slovakia? How do you promote Taekwon-Do in your country? I think that TKD is not well known in Slovakia. It is very difficult to have some promotions in media because they are not interested in this kind of sport.
• Could you say few words about National Slovakian Team participating here?
  We had about 25 competitors from Slovakia in this event. We took one gold and one bronze medal. Although the others have not placed on top they fought with heart. In Slovakia, in this time we are building a strong juniors team for us in the future to best represent our country.
• What do you think about the level of the competitors' performances?
  I think it was a world standard of competition.
• What do you think of the professional delivery of umpires' work?
  I must commend the referees for their objective decisions.
• Did you have any special guests?
  We invited the people from the Ministry of Education and Sport and from the Sports Associations Confederation. Of course there were the ITF board members too.
• Can you tell us a bit about highlights during the Open Ceremony (Finals Night)? Who was it that performed?
  In the Finals Night there were 7 final matches and between them performed the dancers from the school of dance – ‘Dusan Nebyla Trnava’, Jugglers ‘Let Them Fly’ and Brazilian Drums – ‘Campana Batucada’.
• What is your overall impression when it comes to the event and how do you feel at the end of the competition?
  To be honest, we are very tired now and before we express any impressions we need to relax.