Kickboxing World Championship 2011 Dublin - Ireland Press Pack

We have a dedicated team of volunteer support staff behind the sceneswho will be working hard for the next seven months in preparation forone of the most exciting sporting spectacles on the Irish Sporting Calendarin 2011.In fact it brings to mind one of my favorite quotes...“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people canchange the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has.” --MargaretMead.I am happy to take any questions or clarifications you might have.Regards,Roy Baker.

A Brief History of WAKOWAKO started its activity in Europe in 1976 .The founder was Mr. Georg Bruckner from Berlin, who promoted thefirst ever World Championships in semi and full contact karate (as itwas called in those days) back in 1978 with 110 competitorsrepresenting 18 countries.WAKO immediately created the rules and regulations for the newfighting sports and acted , since the very beginning, as theauthentic Kickboxing Federation in the world. In our Championships,only national teams are accepted. Each member country can presentonly 1 competitor in each weight class, the best, “la creme de la creme“. Our World Championships are NOT open competitions where everybodycan try, spending a few dollars, to become “World Champ” likethey do almost every week-end in USA.Each competitor has gone through a long selection in his country beforecompeting in WAKO tournaments and normally he is the nationalchamp of his weight class in that particular kickboxing style. (WAKOoffers 7 different styles: semi contact, light contact, full contact,low-kick, K1 Rules, aero-kickboxing and musical forms: 4 styles areon tatami or mats, 3 in the ring ). Therefore WAKO guarantees the bestpossible kickboxing fights and its gold medalists are true champions.Today WAKO can count on 110 affiliated nations in the 5 continents,and in the greatest majority of cases, WAKO unites the strongest andbest national kickboxing organisations.WAKO has today 74 affiliatednational federations which are officially recognized by either theirNational Olympic Committees or by their Highest Government SportAuthorities.recognition.

Today WAKO counts on a market of kickboxers estimated to be around2.000,000 participants and no less than 15,000 clubs around the globe.We promote , nationally and internationally, more than 1,000 amateurevents a year . These figures speak for themselves. Now officiallyrecognised by GAISF and by OCA, WAKO is growing steadily allover the world promoting regularly continental and worldchampionships and organises “open” events that spread the word aboutour movement, attracting thousands of spectators to sports-arenas.In 2007 WAKO participated in the African Games , held in Algiers(Algeria) in July and in the 2nd ASIAN INDOOR GAMES held inMacau (China) in October.On last 14th december 2007, WAKO has officially applied to get theirWAKO, being a member of GAISF, together with other IFs, has createdthe MARTIAL ARTS GAMES, an event which will gather the élites ofthe Martial Arts and Fighting Sport Federations, an umbrellaorganization stressing excellency in our sports, which will start itsacivity in 2010.Our strength lies precisely both in our numbers and quality.

The VenueCitywest Hotel & Conference CentreCitywest Hotel, Saggart, Co. Dublin, IrelandPhone: +353 1 401 0500Mail: events@citywesthotel.comGPS: N 53 17.20 W 006 26.67Taxi from Dublin International Airport approximately €40.Bus transfers will be provided.

Roy Baker, President: 087-6775614Mail: roy.baker@airtricity.comUseful InformationMichael Mc Dermott, National CoachMail: Michael.McDermott@hse.ieDeclan Corrigan, PRO: 086-2549355Mail: pro@kickboxingireland.ieDave Heffernan, Semi Contact National Coach: 086-8388478Mail: heff.dave@gmail.comWayne Rutherford, Forms National Coach:mail: wayne@mas-f.comMartin Mc Mahon, Full Contact 087-2550505Mail: martinmcmahon@hotmail.comReference Web-sites:http://www.kickboxingireland.ie/index.htmlhttp://www.wakoweb.com/en/http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/http://www.martialarts.ie/Use of abbreviation:WAKO; World Association of Kickboxing OrganisationsIMAC; Irish Martial Arts CommissionAKAI; Allstyles Kickboxing Association of Ireland (now KickboxingIreland)