IVth ITF World Cup Las Vegas 2010

Here is an important update from the Organizing Committee of the 4^th ITF World Cup – Las Vegas 2010, which will be taking place in the entertainment capital of the world in just over nine months from now.

Negotiations between the Organizing Committee and several high-quality hotels are almost completed. All the details, including the prices of the hotel packages, will be announced on February 1^st 2010. For now, we can tell you that there will be a choice of two hotel packages:

The hotel packages are for double occupancy and are available for competitors, their families, and supporters. A special package will be provided for the umpires selected for the competition and for ITF VIPs.

The hotels we have chosen are located just a short walk from the competition venue, the Las Vegas Convention Center, so you will not miss any of the action!

After the ITF World Championships in Argentina last month, it was decided to make some changes to the schedule of the 4^th World Cup in order to have more time for the Congress Meeting. The ITF Congress meets once a year to discuss and make decisions about very important matters that affect the future of the ITF, so it is important to have enough time. Therefore, it has been decided to hold the World Cup event over a five-day period, from October 13^th to October 17^th 2010. The schedule will be as follows:

Wednesday October 13^th	all day	competitions
Thursday October 14^th	all day	competitions
Friday October 15^th	AM	competitions
	PM	ITF Congress
Saturday October 16^th	all day	competitions
Sunday October 17^th	all day	competitions
	evening	farewell party!

Competitions will take place simultaneously in eight rings, all of them using the electronic scoring system! The Tournament & Umpire Committee is currently working to finalize the details of the competition schedule. We will make an official announcement when the details have been settled.

From their experience with previous competitions, the members of the Organizing Committee are aware of the importance of obtaining a visa, and we will do everything we can to assist you with the process.

For example, in collaboration with the Las Vegas Sports Committee, we have already established contact with government officials & local authorities and informed them about our event. They are aware that people from around the world will be traveling to Las Vegas for the ITF World Cup.

The United States Visa Waiver Program was established to facilitate tourism and short-term business visits to the United States. If you are a citizen of one of the countries eligible for this program, no visa is required and you will be able to apply for permission to travel to the United States by filling out an on-line form. There are certain requirements and restrictions that apply. For more information about this program, consult the government Website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html . Click on HELP at the top right of the screen to read all the Frequently Asked Questions and answers.

If this is the first time you are applying for a visa for travel to the U.S., be sure to comply with all the application requirements, fill out the form properly, and be prepared to explain why you wish to travel there. You must follow the procedure step by step, although the process is generally easier if you have been granted a visa in the past.

It is important to apply for your visa well in advance; 90 to 120 days before your departure date. All the details of the event will be posted on the official Website www.itfwclasvegas2010.org at the beginning of February 2010. That will give you plenty of time to obtain your visa.

Mention that the purpose of your visit is to participate in the IV ITF World Cup, sanctioned by the International Taekwon-Do Federation. The authorities want to be sure that you are travelling to the U.S. for the competition, not simply using that as an excuse to gain entry to the country. So they may ask you questions about the event or about Taekwon-Do. For example, you could be asked where the competition will be held or to describe about the technical rules for the event that you’ll take part at the competition for example your free sparring at the category light weight division or the individual patterns 1st degree black belt male.

If you have family members who live in the U.S., the authorities may think that you are more likely to try to stay in the country. Obviously you should not try to hide this information, but neither should you make the mistake of thinking that information will make those who grant visas more likely to approve your application.

Although each individual must apply for his own visa, local Taekwon-Do clubs and/or the National Association should make it easier for the applicants by informing the closest U.S. Embassy that a number of people will be applying for visas in order to participate in the competition.

When you pay the deposit for your hotel package, the Organizing Committee will send you a confirmation of participation for the entire event. If for any reason you do not receive a visa, you will be charged for only one day of the package.

The official Website of the 4^th ITF World Cup – Las Vegas 2010 is www.itfwclasvegas2010.org . Details of the hotel packages, the competition schedule, and much useful information will be posted on the Website early in 2010.

For now, you may wish to visit this Las Vegas website to learn about the attractions and activities the city offers for visitors: www.lasvegas.com/attractions/kids.html.

And stay tuned for more news! The members of the Organizing Committee are looking forward to welcoming you to Las Vegas for the 4th ITF World Cup.