The 12th annual U.S. Open Taekwondo Hanmadang, one of the largest and most prestigious Taekwondo events in the world, will be hosted at Ed Robson Arena July 28 and 29, 2023.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 28, with Opening Ceremonies, followed with a performance by the Shinhan University Korean Demonstration Team.
"We are honored to bring this tournament to the ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï51 campus in downtown Colorado Springs," Master Jay Lee, president and CEO of the U.S. Taekwondo Center, said in the "½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï51 has a world-class reputation for innovation and education and we are excited to use their state-of-the-art arena which will provide our athletes and families an incredible experience."
This event is open to all ages, with athletes ranging between four and 90 years old. Hanmadang is a Korean word that translates to festival. This year’s tournament will introduce a new concept of sparring, using electronic safety gear. Additionally, the inaugural William J. Hybl scholarship, a $14,000 cash prize, will be provided to winners of the Demonstration Team competitions.
Between 1,100 and 1,500 athletes from about 30 states are expected to compete at this event. Athletes from all over the world have competed in previous U.S. Open Taekwondo Hanmadangs.
This is the third major sporting event to take place this summer at Robson Arena. Last month, the venue was the host for the 2023 USA Weightlifting National Championships. The 2023 World Jump Rope Championships took place earlier this month.
This event was held in Colorado Springs in 2019 at the World Arena.
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Ed Robson Arena policies and regulations, including the clear bag policy, will be in effect for all events. .
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