SPECTATOR GUIDE KICKINGFORGLORY.COM MANCHESTER ARENA 15-19 MAY 2019 ‘The Worlds’ promise to be biggest International Taekwondo competition that Britain has seen as the world’s best athletes once again come together to compete, over 5 days, for the World Championship title and valuable ranking point for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics! Manchester is the home of Taekwondo in British talent – including Olympic medallists Great Britain and has played host to various Jade Jones MBE, Bianca Walkden and Lutalo taekwondo events over the past decade. When Muhammad – will be joined at the event by World Taekwondo’s leaders went looking for almost 1,000 other athletes representing over an inaugural host city for the Grand Prix 150 different countries, all hoping to take series, Manchester stuck up its hand and home the crown of ‘World Champion’! successfully won its bid to stage edition one in December 2013. History can be made in Manchester this May for the hosts who are yet to boast a male Mahama Cho and Lutalo Muhammad, revelled World Champion with Damon Sansum and in the home atmosphere and struck gold; Mahama Cho both coming close claiming ‘Stockwell Slayer’ Cho having the distinction Silver medals in 2015 and 2017 respectively. of capturing the first British GP title. On the female side, Bianca Walkden could Manchester was selected twice more to host put herself on rare ground after success the Grand Prix in 2014 and 2015 before last in 2015 and 2017, the Liverpudlian will be years edition took us to the Manchester going for the treble to become only the Regional Arena in the shadow of the famous 4th Female Taekwondo athlete to have Etihad Stadium. 3 World Championship gold medals to Yet again, the Brits proved home advantage is her name. no myth claiming a record 5 medals including The World Championships have been the gold medals for Welsh duo Jade Jones and one that’s got away for 2012 and 2016 Lauren Williams who continued her form into Olympic Gold Medalist Jade Jones. It was the lucrative Grand Slam where she struck a quarter final finish in 2015 and then gold yet again to end a brilliant 2018. Jones had to settle for Bronze in 2017 And that brings us to now, the 2019 World after a close fought match went the way Taekwondo Championships. The cream of of eventual champion Ah Reum Lee. Damon Sansum makes contact W100 Manchester ManchesterTrophyTickets.co.uk 10 -16 JUNE The Northern Lawn Tennis Club Manchester Poster A4.indd 1 22/03/2019 15:48 Travel Guide Transport for Greater Manchester For journey planning on bus, train and tram, news on delays and disruptions, and information about tickets and passes: Phone: 0161 244 1000 | Monday to Friday: 7am to 8pm | Weekends and bank holidays: 8am to 8pm Or alternatively visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website where you can see a detailed travel timetable or plan your journey: www.tfgm.com WALKING CAR The arena is comfortably within walking Manchester Arena is located in Manchester distance from the city centre. The walk City Centre, on the corner of Trinity Way, should take roughly 5-10 minutes. Hunts Bank and Great Ducie Street. For Sat Nav systems the postcode for the CYCLING car park is M3 1AR and the postcode for As the arena is centrally located, all cycling the drop off point is M3 1UN. routes are easily accessible. Please note, the Victoria Station approach Please note that there is no cycle racks (running from Corporation Street down situated outside of the arena and any Hunts Bank) is a bus lane only. The road in bicycles left on site are left by risk of the the opposite direction (from Great Ducie owner. The event organisers will not be Street up Hunts Bank) will remain open for held responsible for any loss or damage. car access. A detailed cycling route can be seen at For the latest information on planned www.tfgm.co.uk roadworks in the North West, please visit the Highways Agency website or call BUS 08457 50 40 30. Many buses, including the free city centre bus service, stop within easy walking distance of Victoria Station and Manchester Arena. There are many accessible bus services in Greater Manchester. To find out whether your service is accessible, phone Traveline on 0871 200 22 33, Textphone 18001 0871 200 22 33, or check your local bus timetable. Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website for more details about bus services. Bianca Walkden kicks out Travel Guide MANCHESTER VICTORIA TAXI Network Rail. The station provides accessible Taxis can be pre-booked to the Manchester ticket machines, an induction loop, ramps Arena. The taxi rank is located outside Victoria for train access plus assistance to and from Station and outside The Printworks which is platforms, accessible toilets with a radar key a short walk from the venue. system, lifts or level access to all platforms, an accessible ticket counter and wheelchairs/ TRAIN mobility scooters which can be arranged in MANCHESTER VICTORIA: advance with your train company. Many national and local trains stop at Journeys can be planned through National Rail. Manchester Victoria station, right underneath the Arena. Manchester Victoria is managed TRAM by Arriva Rail North and provides accessible Manchester’s Metrolink systems pass right by ticket machines, an induction loop, ramps Manchester Arena stopping at Victoria. Your for train access plus assistance to and from journey can be planned via the Metrolink platforms, an accessible toilet and lifts or website. level access to all platforms. Metrolink is an easily accessible system. All Journeys can be planned through Arriva stops have either a ramp, lift or escalator Rail North. access. Most platforms have tactile edges for visually impaired passengers. All platforms MANCHESTER PICCADILLY: have designated wheelchair access points for Manchester Arena is only a short Metrolink step free access. Each tram has designated or free Metroshuttle ride from Piccadilly Train accessible areas with its own emergency/ Station. Manchester Piccadilly is managed by information call points. MANCHESTER ARENA PARKING AY Y W INIT P TR V MANCHESTER I C ARENA T O RIVER IRWELL R MANCHESTER I A VICTORIA T S S T N K N O A I B T T’S UN A H R O P R O TRAM P C LINE T S SHUDEHILL L E NATIONAL INTERCHANGE P A FOOTBALL CH MUSEUM PARKING We advise anyone with mobility issues to The on-site car park is operated by our arrive as early as possible and use either official parking partner NCP and has a the onsite NCP car park or the Shudehill capacity of 958 spaces. Interchange NCP On show nights, the car park is manned by an DROP OFF /PICK UP events team who work to ensure that parking Please arrange to drop off and/or pick up at the venue is as simple and easy as possible. away from the Arena as, due to our city- They conduct regular patrols of the car park centre location and size of events, road and the car park also has the Park Mark award closures and diversions may be in place at for safety. the end of an event making it difficult to You can pre-book your parking in advance to return to your chosen meeting point. guarantee your space on the lower floors of the car park and ensure a speedy entry and exit from the car park. Dear WORLD Taekwondo Family, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO MANCHESTER FOR THE 2019 WORLD TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS. Manchester has hosted many excellent taekwondo events in recent years, including the first ever World Taekwondo Grand Prix in 2013. We can therefore have complete confidence that Manchester will host a fantastic World Championships and provide the perfect environment for our athletes and fans. The World Championships are always very special as our taekwondo family comes together from around the world to share in the collective love of our sport. Not only will we enjoy displays of great skill and athleticism in Manchester but we will also witness friendship and respect from the world’s best athletes. This year’s Championships will also be particularly important as it will take place just one year before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and so athletes will not just be competing for the honour of becoming world champion, but also for vital Olympic ranking points. World Taekwondo has worked hard in recent years to adjust our rules and introduce new innovations which encourage and reward athletes to attempt the most spectacular and exciting techniques. I have no doubt that athletes here in Manchester will put on a spectacular show for all the fans watching around the world. We can expect thrilling matches, unexpected results and last-second drama that will keep us on the edge of our seats throughout the competition. I would like to thank the Organising Committee once again for their excellent preparations and I am sure this event will be a great success. I wish all the participating athletes and Member National Associations the best of luck. Thank you, Dr Chungwon Choue President, World Taekwondo A Quick Guide Rules & Tips Taekwondo – which translates into ‘the way of foot and fist’ – is the national sport of South Korea where speed and accuracy are the most important factors. The matches are scored by: EXTRA TIME If a contest ends with the competitors level 1 point = A strong punch to the chest area of the body protector on points, then the contest goes into a 4th round, where the first to score wins.