Keimyung University holds ‘Daegu 2024 World University Taekwondo Festival’
- Over 1,000 players from 56 counties gathered to compete in the Daegu 2024 World University Taekwondo Festival
- The event occurred from 5 July to 9 July 2024, with the opening ceremony having taken place on 5 July.
The Daegu 2024 World University Taekwondo Festival took place on July 5 and lasted for five days at Keimyung University. It is a GI-grade competition that awards Olympic ranking points and is certified by the International University Sports Federation and approved by the World Taekwondo Organization. Notably, it is the only competition that continues the legacy of the World University Taekwondo Championship, as the University Taekwondo Championship is now integrated into the Summer Universiade.
The event, held at the Gymnasium on Keimyung University's Seongseo Campus, featured 1,000 athletes and leaders from about 56 countries, including Nepal and Brazil. Additionally, more than 700 domestic and international spectators attended to share the value of sports and cultural exchanges through Taekwondo.
The Daegu 2024 World University Taekwondo Festival is an event where representatives from various countries compete in Kyoguri and Poomsae. Participants have the opportunity to exchange their countries' diverse cultures through Taekwondo. College elite and club teams participated, and throughout the competition, Taekwondo skills were tested, while the passion of young people and the cultures of different countries were shared. The competition was divided into three divisions: Division 1 (G1, individual Kyoguri, Poomsae), Division 2 (Black Belt, individual Kyoguri and Poomsae), and Division 3 (Color Belt, Poomsae).
The opening ceremony took place on July 5 at the Gymnasium on Keimyung University's Seongseo Campus.
For the opening ceremony, participants from all over the world were introduced, and as Committee Chairman, Synn Ilhi, President of Keimyung University, delivered the opening speech. The ceremony was also attended by notable invitees, including Leonz Eder, President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU); Eric Saintrond, President of the International Federation for Sports Officials (IFSO); Choue Chungwon, President of the World Taekwondo Organization; Seo Jeongkang, Secretary General of the World Taekwondo Organization; and Kang Eunhee, Superintendent of Education for the Daegu Metropolitan City Office of Education.
Daegu Metropolitan City, will be the hosting city of the competition for the next three years until 2026. This will provide an opportunity for participants, including 2,000 athletes and executives, to visit the city. Starting with the first competition in July 2024, participants will continue to return, contributing to the local economy through cultural and tourism experiences.
Keimyung University, the venue of the competition, is home to the only Taekwondo department and Taekwondo center in Daegu-Gyeongbuk Province. Notably, the Keimyung University Korea Taekwondo Center was chosen as the venue for the 2022 event due to its well-established Taekwondo infrastructure, making it an ideal training site for Olympic athletes from various countries.