Amid the great concerns and expectations of the world sports and martial art circles, the 3rd International Martial Art Games was held at the Asian Games Village in Bangkok, Thailand from 12th~18th April 2008 by the World Muay thai Federation under the supervision of the IMGC. This Games is of great significance for marking the turning points in world martial arts movements and improving the cordial collaboration between the martial artists and the international martial art organizations the world over.
The 3rd International Martial Art Games, followed by the 1st and 2nd IMGs held in Pyongyang, showed the rapid growth and development of the IMGC to the world with the attendance of 400 participants from 42 different countries and 10 International Martial Art Federations in Taekwon-Do, Karate, Muaythai, kickboxing, Kung-Fu, Oriental, Haedong Kumdo and Tang Soo Do, Jendo, Kurash and Squay.
Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 3rd IMG was inaugurated at 4 o’clock on 12th April, 2008 at 5th stadium of Asian Games Village in Bangkok, Thailand.
In the ceremony, attended over 400 members of 10 International Martial Art Federations and NMGCs in the IMGC from 42 countries and regions including the athletes, coaches, umpires and officials, and Prof. Chang Ung, Hon.
President of IMGC and Member of IOC, and other presidents of the IFs were invited as the Guests of honor. The most highlighted view in the ceremony was the attendance of Dr. Hein Verbruggen, President of GAISF by the personal invitation of Prof. Chang Ung, that the IMGC could have the opportunity to impress upon the International Sports society with its true and real feature as the International integrated martial art entity.
There was the parade of the attendants country by country at English alphabetical order and followed the declaration of the opening of the 3rd International Martial Art Games by Dr. GM Leong Wai Meng, Secretary General of IMGC.
After his announcement, there was the Kindling of the torchlight with the flame which had been conveyed from Pyongyang, the birthplace of IMGC among the enthusiastic cheers of the attendants.
Displayed in the ceremony were the demonstrations of martial arts,
Taekwon-Do from D.P.R of Korea and Kung-Fu from Islamic Republic of Iran. The ceremony was closed by the beautiful performance of the Thai traditional dancers.
2. Competitions
Competitions of various martial art categories began on the 14th of April 2008 at 5th stadium of Asian Games Village in Bangkok, Thailand.
In the 3rd International Martial art Games, the competitions of the martial art categories; Taekwon-Do, Karate, Muaythai, Oriental, Kung-Fu and Kickboxing were conducted in 80 different divisions i.e.
weight categories, patterns, sparring, self-defense techniques, individual and team competitions under the rules of the respective IFs.
All the athletes showed the thrilling and touching scenes with their high techniques and moralities through the tournaments
Number of Divisions according to the Martial Art categories
No Events No of Divisions
1 Taekwon-Do 19
2 Karate 14
3 Muaythai 15
4 Kung-Fu 10
5 Oriental 9
6 Kickboxing 13
Number of Countries and Players according to the Events
No Event No of Country No of Players
1 Taekwon-Do 19 63
2 Karate 12 54
3 Muaythai 8 42
4 Kung-Fu 9 26
5 Oriental 10 34
6 Kickboxing 9 38
The Awarding Ceremony was taken place on the18th of April 2008. 265 gold, silver and bronze medals were presented to the winners of each martial art categories in the 3rd IMG.
Event Gold Silver Bronze
Taekwon-Do 29 29 41
Karate 16 15 15
Muaythai 15 14 8
Kung-Fu 10 10 5
Oriental 9 9 10
Kickboxing 13 13 4
3. List of the Participated Countries in the 3rd IMG
- Asia and Oceania
Azerbaijan, Australia, Bangladesh, China, D.P.R of Korea, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nepal, Palestine, Philippine, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, UAE,
- Europe
Czech Rep, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Greenland, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Scotland, Serbia, Slovenia, Srpska, Ukraine, Wales,…
- Africa
South Africa
- America
Argentina, USA, Venezuela
4. Demonstration
During the Games, several martial art categories that have not been affiliated to the IMGC performed their demonstrations in order to introduce their martial arts. Those were Jendo, Kurash, Kung-Fu, Myanmar traditional martial art (Thaing) and Squay.
The 3rd International Martial Art Games drew down its curtain with the farewell party on the 18th of April 2008.
The 3rd International Martial Art Games will remain forever in the hearts of world martial artists along with the flame of martial art movement.
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