Dear friends in sport,

it’s a pleasure and an honour for me to be able to welcome all of our members and supporters to this World champion ship here in Almeria. I would also like to thank our host Mr. Juan PINILLA and his team, our representatives in Spain, who have worked hard in preparing this tournament.

It is interesting to see how the World is getting ever more closer and therefore, it is pleasing to see the World championships here in this wonderful and charming country.

As many of  the nations of the World gather together with their national teams in Almeria, to challenge their peers under the banner of sport to become the best of the best, we can only reflect on how far the ISKA has progressed on all 5 continents. This is due to the tireless work and effort that has been put in by it’s members on a day to day basis. The end result being this that you see here before you today.

Sport has no racial , social or political barriers, which means that it is the perfect way for all men and women , boys and girls to achieve amazing results, regardless of race, creed or colour. The opportunity to represent one’s country in the name of sport at an international level is probably one of the greatest achievements an individual can make. The pressure that the competitors have at this level is enormous, and goes far beyond normal physical endurance. To win, especially at such a high level, competitors will have to tap into inner resources that their years of training will have prepared them for.

I hope that the ISKA can continue to stride forwards with determination and a positive attitude in order to keep ourselves at the centre of the stage for martial arts. We can only stay on top with the help of our representatives and members such as yourselves, for which I thank you.

Hope to see all of you next Year again in Vienna, Austria, October 2011

yours in sport

Fritz EXENBERGER

ISKA EUROPE

President