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RIMINI DIARY
by Annick Van Driessche, Belgium, 3rd degree
Monday, 2nd July 2001
Today, all the teams had to arrive at Rimini.
 
We (umpire Eddy Van Damme, coach Frank Vanberghen and myself) arrived at Bologna airport, coming from Brussels,
at about 16.00h. We were worrying about which train to take, and how to get to the station, but we were lucky.
Daniele, one of the staff members, and Mark Hutton were waiting for Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha. But since the Grandmaster
didn't show up, they could give us a lift to Palasport "Flaminio" in Rimini. Paul Dekker and Stephen
Tapilatu with his family, all "neighbours" from the Netherlands, also accompanied us.
In the sportscentre we had to wait a long time before all the administration was done, but we I didn't care much,
since it gave me the opportunity to meet some old friends. Yes, the ITF is still one big family. By 22.00h we reached
the hotel by bus, the same hotel as the team from Uruguay and some members of Argentina. I was extremely happy
to notice that Naomi Prone stayed there too.
Thursday, 3rd July 2001
  The weigh-in for the categorie -52kg started at 8.30h. Without
breakfast, and after 3 weeks of diet, my weight was OK. I could eat properly again. It was nice to see most of
the competitors from the European Championships again.
While Eddy had to go to the umpiremeeting, coach/husband Frank and I visited the centre of Rimini before the coachmeeting
started. This meeting lasted for hours, so I waited in the Italian sun, reading the memoirs of General Choi.
The pizza that evening was extremely good.
Wednesday, 4th July 2001
In the morning, I was a little bit nervous.
We had to take the bus at 14.00h, because that afternoon, it was "the big moment" for me. We were with
32 competitors in the -52kg, with e.g. Bianca Tapilatu, European Champion Marzanna Pawlik, …..
In the first round, Bianca had to compete against the Korean girl. Firework!! Bianca (Slovenia) won.
I could win my first round against Latvia, but had to admit in the second round that Marzanna Pawlik (Poland) was
better than me. On Saturday, she would become vice-world champion.
Tuesday, 5th July 2001
We had a long talk with Master Choi Jung
Hwa, a very memorable person. We could also say hello to General Choi Hong Hi. In the sportscentre, we met some
good Irish friends.
Afterwards, there was some time to do a little bit of sight-seeing. We even had a "special treatment"
in an Italian brasserie, just by ordering a bottle of white wine.
Friday, 6th July 2001
The ITF-meeting was a historical moment.
General Choi has been elected as president of the ITF for the next two years. In 2003, Master Choi Jung Hwa will
become our next president.
In the evening, there was the opening ceremony. In the parade, Belgium was between Austria and Brazil. The demonstration
later on was very impressive.
Saturday, 7th July 2001
The day of all the individual semi-finals
and finals. Time to see some real taekwondo.
What impressed me the most today?
The beauty of taekwondo, when I saw the finals of the patterns.
The special techniques.
The final -52kg : Bianca Tapilatu (Slovenia) - Marzanna Pawlik (Poland).
The final -63kg of Tomaz Barada against Corea.
The happiness of the new world champions. …….
Sunday, 8th July 2001
Today, the teams had their semi-finals and
finals.
Eddy had to work all day, Frank & I again visited Rimini. Afterwards, we had a swim in the Adriatic Sea and
an excellent dinner with mussels and salad.
In the evening, there was a party.
Monday, 9th July 2001
Time to go home.
We took a taxi at 11.00h at the hotel to the station, the train to Bologna, a bus to the airport (where we met
Master Choi Jung Hwa ), the plane to Brussels and the car back home.
See you all in 2003 in Poland!
Photos:
1. Umpire Eddy Van Damme
2. Frank Vanberghen with Raul Sanchez (Brazil)
3. Belgium - Latvia
4. Frank & Annick with Master Sereff
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