The Story
As the Event Delivery Partner, the Singapore 2024 World Taekwondo Virtual Championship successfully continued the momentum of the rapidly growing sport of virtual taekwondo, after being first featured during the Olympic Esport Week 2023. This second-time championship event has expanded to a global scale, with participation from exponents across 23 countries plus a refugee team and neutral athletes, totalling over 110 competitors. Held at the OCBC Arena within the Singapore Sports Hub, this event combined the technological innovation with the spirited competition of taekwondo, setting new standards in the realm of martial arts competitions.
The KIN team had to meet the objectives of incorporating athletes from around the world in a virtually facilitated environment, while ensuring broad and inclusive participation, the need to leverage cutting-edge technology to simulate real-time competition settings that offer a seamless experience for both athletes and viewers, as well as showcasing the advancements in virtual sports to foster mainstream acceptance and excitement for non-contact sports.
The challenges we faced included managing logistics for a global participant base in a virtual setup while achieving diverse participant coordination, integrating complex AV technology to ensure a flawless execution that mirrors physical taekwondo bouts, and keeping audiences engaged through virtual means, which requires dynamic content delivery and interactive elements.
Our solutions were:
(1) deploying advanced telecommunication tools and scheduling a comprehensive run-through with participants before the event ensured smooth coordination and familiarity with the virtual settings for athletes from various countries.
(2) managing the meticulous setup of audiovisual and lighting systems that replicated a vivid, real-life competitive taekwondo environment, thereby enhancing the sensory experience of the competition.
(3) overseeing all aspects of venue planning, logistic support, and event day operations ensuring that the championship adhered to its timeline and that all technical components functioned seamlessly.
The Singapore 2024 World Taekwondo Virtual Championship not only celebrated the skills of international taekwondo exponents but also highlighted the potential for sports technology to revolutionise how competitions are held.
This event served as a showcase of Kin’s capabilities in executing complex, high- tech events on an international scale. It further demonstrated our commitment to innovation in sports event management, setting a benchmark for future virtual sports events. As a forerunner in event innovation, Kin continues to explore new frontiers, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in sports and event management.
This championship has indeed set a precedent for future sports events, proving that effective application of innovative technology and meticulous planning can significantly enhance the traditional sports competition framework, paving the way for global, inclusive, and engaging sports events.
