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CF Hosts Canadian National Tae Kwon Do Championships
April 2, 2004
OTTAWA - For the first time ever, the Canadian Forces (CF) is hosting the Canadian National Tae Kwon Do (TKD) Championships from April 2-4 at CFB Kingston , Ont .
Presented by the Personnel Support Programs (PSP) division of the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) and organized by the CF TKD Association and the CF Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) Team, the event will bring together more than 300 athletes from across the country. Among those will be members of Canada's 2004 Olympic TKD Team and athletes vying for the last positions on the squad.
"Sport plays an important part in the life of our military personnel and our TKD program is a particularly unique in that it is the only authorized combat sport in the CF," says the CFPSA Director of Physical Education, Gaetan Melançon. "We are extremely proud of the success of the TKD program both on the national and international stage."
Historically, CF athletes have distinguished themselves in TKD. At the 2nd Military World Games in Zagreb, then Lieutenant Anik Chayer took home Canada's only medal - ; a bronze in TKD. A s well, nd two of the most recent inductees into the CF Sports Hall of Fame, Captain Nathalie Lund and Brigadier General (Ret'd) Robert Martineau, both have long histories with the sport.
In all, 14 CF members will compete in matches that promise to be intense. Capt(N) Mark Eldridge, the CF TKD patron who is heading up the organizing committee, says he expects the Olympic calibre athletes to draw huge crowds. In fact, the Kingston Military Community Sports Complex has seating for up to 1,000 spectators. "The CF TKD Association is proud to organize the 2004 TKD Nationals," says Capt(N) Eldridge. "It's an excellent opportunity to highlight the expertise of our CF athletes on the national stage."
Colonel Larry Aitken, Commander CFB Kingston, says the facilities are among the best in Canada and has high hopes for the athletes. "The military, like the Tae Kwon Do community, believes in the concepts of the warrior and competition: combat, discipline and training. In the spirit of those ideals - I wish you good luck in the competition," he says.
The CFPSA provides personnel support programs, including national and international sports, and services to CF members and their families. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life of the military community and contribute to the operational readiness and effectiveness of the CF.
Contacts:
Major Mike Fabbro, CF TKD Association, (613) 286-8302
http://www.horizonstkd.com/Nationals/links_e.htm
Captain Daniel Madryga, Public Affairs Officer, CFB Kingston
(613) 541-5010, ext 4265 or (613) 539-2217
Kristina Davis, Media Relations Co-ordinator, CFPSA, (613) 996-6204
davis.Kristina@cfpsa.com , http://www.cfpsa.com/en/