Martial Arts & Combat Sports Games (sounds pretty cool)

[Juan]

BEIJING TO HOST NEW Martial Arts & Combat Sports Games


Sport Accord Denver 2009. Photo by Sport Accord.

The annual Sportaccord 2009 was the setting for an historic moment during March as the city of Beijing and GAISF signed an agreement for the first Martial Arts & Combat Sports Games. Scheduled to take place in September 2010. The competition will showcase 13 sports, both Olympic and non-Olympic, over eight days of competition. Sports on the programme include: Aikido (IAF), Boxing (AIBA), Judo (IJF), Jiu-Jitsu (IJJF), Karate (WKF), Kendo (FIK), Kickboxing (WAKO), Muaythai (IMTA), Sambo (FIAS), Sumo (IFS), Taekwondo (WTF), Wrestling (FILA) and Wushu (IWUF). Four of them are on the Olympic programme (Boxing, Judo, Taekwondo and
Wrestling). Beijing Vice Mayor LIU JINGMIN told Share Sport, “The sports comprising martial arts are some of the oldest in the world, and they are practiced all over the world.

Since hosting the Olympic Games last year, it has been our city’s aim to become a centre of world sport and we believe we have a responsibility to contribute to the growth of this competition. After all, Beijing has about 500,000 people who engage in Martial Arts. Wushu in particular is very popular.”

WKF President Antonio Espinós Ortueta, chairman of the new Martial Arts & Combat Sports Games, said, “The signature of this contract is not only a milestone for our Federations. It is a milestone for GAISF.”

The main objectives of the project were to create a global sports event that would give more visibility to the martial arts and combat sports, to promote the Olympic values and to guarantee the participation of the best athletes from each of the 13 sports.

Each sport will have 80 only athletes in competition. “They will be the best athletes in the sport,” said Patrick Van Campenhout, treasurer of the International Wushu Federation. “That principle is a condition in the host contract.” WAKO President Ennio Falsoni hailed the new competition as a huge step for his sport. “We are a minor sport and we will be taking part in the same competition with Olympic sports in Beijing,” he said. “That will mean a big increase in our exposure and our credibility.”

Venues marked to host competitions are the National Indoor Stadium, Beijing Collegiate Gymnasium, Chinese Agricultural University Gymnasium, University of Science & Technology Beijing Gymnasium and the Beijing Aeronautics & Astronautics University Gymnasium.


The new Games will also include a cultural component. August Dragt, deputy secretary-general of the IAF, will manage the cultural programme. “Our sports have very different cultural heritages – think of Sumo and Muaythai , for example – and the Games will be a great opportunity for them to showcase their rich heritages to the world.”