Brčko Open 2015 successfully held

On Saturday, 6 June 2015, the international taekwondo tournament “Brčko Open 2015” was held at the JU Economic School hall in Brčko. It was organized by the Jopa Taekwondo Academy of Brčko, in co-organization with the Vermont Youth Center of Brčko and the Center for Education and Research (CER) of Bijeljina.

289 competitors took part in the tournament, ranging from children as young as 5 years old to seniors. Competitors came from 9 countries: Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

First place, with the most medals won, went to TKD Derventa from Derventa. Second place went to TKD Dedić from Šabac, and third place to TKD Kozara from Prijedor. Fourth and fifth places went to TKD Jopa and TKD Sokol from Bijeljina.

“The entire tournament went very smoothly, without any complications or injuries to competitors, which is most important to us. The aim of this tournament is, of course, to bring young competitors from different communities, cultures, and countries together and give them an opportunity to socialize,” said tournament organizer Svjetlan Vujadinović.

“This Olympic sport is becoming increasingly popular both in Brčko District and in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole, as shown by the growing number of children enrolling in our Academy,” Vujadinović added.

Mladen Dokić, CER director and member of the organizing committee, told the media that turnout at the tournament had exceeded expectations.

“Considering that this is the first time it has been organized in Brčko and that we have nearly 300 competitors from 9 countries, we certainly have every reason to be more than satisfied. We have received praise and congratulations from all sides, and I would also like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the organizers, to thank everyone who helped organize the tournament, all the competitors who took part, their coaches, and the tournament guests,” Dokić said.