Irish Open 2007

By Roy Baker-WAKO

The organising committee where delighted with the attendance from International and National athletes at what has become the Largest Martial Arts Tournament in the world today. It is easy to forget the beginnings of this event fifteen years ago in Leixlip Amenities Centre, when fighters from England and Italy attended the first Irish Open international and a total of 340 fighters competed at the event, of which 85 where international. Ireland should be very proud at the continued growth of this world class event that has no become one of the major sporting events on the Irish sporting calendar.

Due to the continued growth and logistics of the event, the organisers wisely decided this year to run twelve fighting areas each day. This definitely paid dividends with the event finishing for the first time ever on time and within schedule.

The Irish Open is now without question the largest WAKO tournament in the world today. It has continued to grow and prosper particularly over the last number of years to become Europe’s Premier event.

Unless you have attend the spectacle, you really can not understand the energy and excitement this event brings to this sport from a spectators perspective and fighters perspective, it is a truly unique event in the martial arts sporting calendar.

On Saturday morning all international entries went through the weight and height control at registration, this went without a hitch with all 12 registration boots working continuously from 8.30am until close of registration at 11am.