By Tom Degun

Taekwondo test_eventDecember 4 - The London 2012 Olympic test event, the Taekwondo International Invitational, has drawn to a successful conclusion after a total of 60 athletes from 18 countries took part in the event.


The two-day competition was staged at the ExCeL in London's Docklands at the same time that the Olympic judo test event took place at the arena while goalball - the first Paralympic test event - also took place over the weekend at the Handball Arena in the Olympic Park.

The ExCeL is one of Europe's largest and most versatile exhibition centres and last week successfully hosted the boxing, table tennis and fencing test events.

The taekwondo test event was also considered a big triumph as the women competed in the -49kg weight category and the men in the -68kg weigh category.

In the women's event, Chinese Taipei's Shu-Chun Yang won the gold medal while France's Yasmina Aziez took silver and the bronze went to both Spain's Brigitte Yague and Australia's Chynea Lang.

In the men's event, Iran's Mohammad Moatamed-Bagheri earned his country the gold medal while Sweden's Milad Ashna had to settle for the silver medal.

France's Amine Manai and Mexico's Erick Osornio Nunez shared the bronze medal in the category.

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"With only eight months until the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the taekwondo team, together with our other London 2012 colleagues, have eagerly awaited the hosting of the taekwondo test event," said David Luckes, the London 2012 head of sport competition

"This significant competition has given us the unique opportunity to validate our current planning, crystallise operations and rehearse Game-time deliverables and everything here has gone very well.

"Moreover, we have been able to test parts of the venue and our technology solution, while it has been equally important for our invaluable sport-specific volunteers and workforce to gain the exposure and tangible experience of being involved at a major international event."

The event was not open to the public although the athletes were allocated two tickets for family and friends to enter to watch them compete.

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