City Council supports hosting major Tae Kwon-Do event

More than 600 participants from more than 20 countries will be coming to Lethbridge to get their kicks this summer.

The 2026 Tae Kwon-Do International World Cup is scheduled to take place at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre on July 4–5 and will be hosted by Legacy Tae Kwon-Do Schools and United Traditional Tae Kwon-Do Canada. The event will benefit from $33,000 in financial support from the City of Lethbridge.

The proposed overall event budget is $141,000. Revenues totaling approximately $108,000 will be generated from participant registration fees, spectator ticket sales and various forms of sponsorship.

During the Community Issues Committee meeting on March 12, members of Lethbridge City Council approved a request of the $33,000 difference – which will be funded from the Major Community Event Grant Budget in alignment with Major Community Event Hosting Policy CC55 – to offset hosting costs.

In addition to the participants, upwards of 400 spectators as well as 80 officials and volunteers will be part of the event. Per a Sport Tourism Economic Assessment Model (STEAM) report, the World Cup event is anticipated to generate nearly $750,000 in direct community benefit through spending on hotels, travel, food and shopping.

“Our City Council is pleased to support this event, which is anticipated to have significant social and economic impacts to the community,” says Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “Lethbridge has a rich history related to martial arts, so we look forward to adding to that legacy by hosting people from all around the world here this July. This is a great opportunity.”

In his presentation to the CIC last month Darin Gibson of the Legacy Tae Kwon-Do Club said the World Cup will bring the world to Lethbridge for a multi-day celebration of sport, culture and community. The event will also generate significant interest in the sport and provide a capital legacy, with items such as competition mats and rentals, weigh-in scales and score clocks, for future event use.

“For me, personally, this will be the crowning event of a 45-year journey in martial arts,” says Gibson. “I’m excited to bring the best competitors in the world to Lethbridge to compete. It’s our turn to bring the world to us so we can show them what Canada has to offer and what Lethbridge has to offer. This will be a great event. I know the community will support it.”

The Legacy Tae Kwon-Do Club has engaged with, and requested support from the Lethbridge Sport Council, Tourism Lethbridge and Excite Lethbridge.

“The Lethbridge Sport Council places high value on events that strengthen our local sport ecosystem, provide meaningful development opportunities for athletes, and showcase our welcoming and capable host community,” says Susan Eymann, Executive Director of the Lethbridge Sport Council. “It is an excellent example of how sport can simultaneously drive economic development, community pride, and youth opportunity. The Lethbridge Sport Council fully supports the 2026 Tae Kwon-Do International World Cup and its application for funding support. We are confident this event will deliver meaningful social, cultural, and economic benefits to our community and region.”

Background: 

• City Administration reviewed the Tae Kwon-Do proposal and believes it is in alignment with the intent of Major Community Event Hosting Policy CC55.
• In November 2022, City Council approved the 2023-2026 Operating Budget which includes $1,000,000 ($250,000 annually) for the Major Community Event Support Grant. As of December 31, 2025, there was $210,000 remaining in unallocated funding for that grant. No other funds have currently been requested or committed to the available funding for this grant.
• As part of the approval, City Council authorized the Mayor to prepare and distribute a letter of support for the 2026 Tae Kwon-Do International World Cup event hosted by the Lethbridge Legacy Tae Kwon-Do Club.
• In accordance with Procedure Bylaw 6250, financial approvals of up to $75,000 may take place at Community Issues Committee, re-established this year.

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