The spotlight for Taekwondo is going to shine brightly in Burnaby this November, as the city welcomes athletes from across the globe for the World
Junior Taekwondo championships.
It was a jewel the city set out to acquire -- and now that they have it, are pulling out all the stops to ensure it’s success.
“This is going to bring in people from around the world, who are going to be welcomed and provided a great experience by the city of Burnaby,” said Tony Kook, who sits on the organizing committee.
The World Taekwondo Federation’s junior championships will bring more than 800 teenage athletes from approximately 110 countries to Burnaby’s Bill Copeland Sports Centre Nov. 16 to 20, each with a goal of delivering their best on the biggest stage.
Accompanying them will be an estimated 500 coaches, chaperones and team support members, as well as the sport’s highest officials from the corners of the globe.
Song Chul Kim and Kook, who operate their own taekwondo academies and are well-versed in the machinations of the sport through executive positions, feel the competition will be a huge win for both the sport and the city.
“It’s really about creating a positive experience for everyone involved, and that’s our main focus,” noted Kook.
For Kim, who is an international-level referee and worked the 2012 London Olympics, getting the Worlds to Burnaby involved a lot of planning and brave steps.
“What you are looking for as hosts is to build a legacy for the sport,” said Kim, owner/operator of SC Kim Taekwondo. “If we host a great event and a friendly event (the sport) will grow. It’s good for the city, taekwondo and everyone involved.”
Kim and Kook are just a few of the point people leading the planning and promotion for the event. As whenever a community takes on a huge responsibility like a major international sporting event, the end result is dependent upon the people who step in and volunteer their time.
Tourism Burnaby executive director Nancy Small was at the forefront of the charge from the beginning.
Small approached Kim, who is the vice-chair of WTF referees and president of WTF of B.C., with the idea to apply to host a major event.
“She asked me if (Burnaby) could possibly host a Pan American (taekwondo) Games or a big international competition, and I thought ‘Why not?,’” said Kim.
“Last August we (Small, Burnaby city councillor Paul McDonell and Kim) went to WTF headquarters in Korea to talk about it… In reality, the World juniors are much bigger than the Pan Am Games because there are 206 nations that are members of WTF.”
The diversity of the community and its people, along with great facilities to put on big-ticket cultural and sports events, had Small seeking out opportunities where Burnaby could shine.
“When we had our meeting with the (WTF) in Korea, we got to understand what opportunities and events there were,” said Small in an email.
“They knew immediately we were the real deal and that we were very interested in attracting events of this calibre to Burnaby.”
Canada last hosted a world taekwondo championship in 1999 in Edmonton.
Earlier this year, WTF officials endorsed Burnaby’s application and that put the organization committee’s volunteer base into overdrive. But the wheels were already well in motion.
“Our goal for this event is to make this the best World juniors ever,” noted Kook, who serves as second vice-president of Taekwondo Canada. “We want them to experience what Burnaby has to offer and whether they win a medal or not, leave feeling that Burnaby and Canada is a wonderful place.”
