The Future of Martial Arts Competition
Virtual, global, real
The Singapore 2024 World Taekwondo Virtual Championship continued the momentum of the rapidly growing sport of virtual taekwondo, first featured during the Olympic Esports Week 2023. This second edition 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, the event combined technological innovation with the spirited competition of taekwondo, setting new standards in the realm of martial arts competitions. KIN served as Event Delivery Partner.
KIN faced three core objectives: incorporate athletes from around the world in a virtually facilitated environment while ensuring broad and inclusive participation; leverage cutting-edge technology to simulate real-time competition settings offering a seamless experience for both athletes and viewers; and showcase advancements in virtual sports to foster mainstream acceptance of non-contact competition.
Managing logistics for a global participant base in a virtual setup required diverse participant coordination across time zones and languages. KIN deployed advanced telecommunication tools and scheduled comprehensive run-throughs with participants before the event, ensuring smooth coordination and familiarity with the virtual settings.
Meticulous setup of audiovisual and lighting systems replicated a vivid, real-life competitive taekwondo environment, enhancing the sensory experience of the competition. Integrating complex AV technology to ensure flawless execution that mirrored physical taekwondo bouts was a central technical challenge.
KIN oversaw all aspects of venue planning, logistic support, and event day operations — ensuring the championship adhered to its timeline and that all technical components functioned seamlessly. Dynamic content delivery and interactive elements kept audiences engaged through the virtual format.
