The Manchester 2023 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final is set to be an incredible event. We want to create a welcoming and accessible experience for all of our guests.

In this section, we answer some of the most common questions that people have as they prepare for events. If there is anything that we haven’t addressed, please contact Annie at: disability@britishtaekwondo.org

Find Out About

• The Venue and its Physical Accessibility
• Companion Policy
• Our Support
• Communications Support
• Assistance Dogs
• Transport
• The Sensory Environment
• The Event Experience
• Dietary Requirements and Food and Drink policy
• Sharing your feedback

The Venue and its Physical Accessibility

What is the venue address?

Manchester Regional Arena, Rowsley Street, Manchester, M11 3FF

For taxi drop offs -Please use the postcode M11 3DU

Is the venue physically accessible?

The Manchester Regional Arena is a modern sporting facility which has several positive accessibility features. These includes:

• Level flooring
• Large, spacious lifts
• Accessible toilets
• Wheelchair-accessible viewing areas

Do you have electric wheelchair charging stations?

• We will be making plug sockets available for supporters who need to charge their wheelchairs. Unfortunately, this won’t be available in the accessible seating area, but will be in a location which is comfortable.

How do I access the accessible toilets?

• We have an accessible toilet on the ground floor near the main reception.
• You will not need a radar key to access this toilet.

Companion Policy

I am supporting someone to attend the event. Am I entitled to a free ticket?

We know that it is important that people receive the support that they need to enjoy our event. A free companion ticket is available for anyone who is supporting a disabled customer, with every paying ticket. These can be booked directly via the ticketing section of this website.

Our Support

If I have a problem at the event, will there be people I can speak to?

We have a brilliant team of event staff and volunteers who are there to help our guests to have a great time.

If you need any support or advice on the day, please speak to them and they will try their best to assist you. You can recognise staff and volunteers because they will be wearing:

• Volunteer – Red with Volunteer on the back.
• British Taekwondo Staff – Navy Blue with British Taekwondo on the back.

The event is supported by Stewards from the venue. They will be in High-Vis and can help connect you with a member of our team if you can’t locate them.

If you have any questions or need to flag an accessibility requirement before the event, you can do so by contacting Annie at: disability@britishtaekwondo.org

Should I wear my Sunflower lanyard?

Our event team are trained to support an accessible and inclusive experience for all our guests. This includes them understanding that not all disabilities are visible.

However, if you choose to wear your Sunflower lanyard, this can help you to discreetly flag that you might want or need us to provide you with additional support, to give you the best experience possible.

If you don’t have a Sunflower lanyard, we will have a small number available to borrow on the day. To locate these, please speak to a member of British Taekwondo staff.

Communications Support

Will you be subtitling your videos and presentations?

Our pre-recorded videos will be subtitled (close captioned). These videos help to explain the event format and help build excitement for the competition.

We love to learn. If you have any feedback on our communications style and formats, please let us know by emailing: disability@britishtaekwondo.org.

Can I access Wi-Fi?

We know that access internet access is important for many people to stay in contact with loved ones and plan their experience.

There will be Wi-Fi available for members of the public.

Network: Manchester Active Guest
Password: alivewithsport

If you need further support with accessing the wi-fi, please speak to a member of staff who can help you.

Assistance Dogs

Can I attend with my assistance dog?

Guide, hearing or other working dogs are welcome. There will be a refreshment station available for them inside the venue.

To help support you and your assistance dog as best as possible, we encourage you to contact us in advance. This will help us provide you with the best experience. Please email Annie at disability@britishtaekwondo.org.

Transport

Can I access wheelchair-accessible parking nearby?

There will be 10 disabled parking bays outside the venue in a closed car park which requires pre-booking. These spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To book a disabled parking bay, you will need to email your name, number plate and a copy of your blue badge to Annie – disability@britishtaekwondo.org.

Please note, we cannot guarantee a disabled parking bay outside the venue.

Does the Manchester City game affect parking and travel?

Manchester City play at home on Sunday 3^rd December.

As a result, General parking spaces will be highly limited and we suggest seeking alternative modes of transport to the venue on Sunday. Public transport routes will be busier than usual, so we recommend planning your journey in advance.

How can I plan my journey to the event?

Our event takes place at The Etihad Campus, which has a dedicated tram stop.

A fast and frequent tram service runs straight to the stadium’s dedicated tram stop, which is named ‘Etihad Campus’, on the Ashton line. You can purchase a zone 1+2 return ticket which will cover your journey there and back from the city centre for £3.50. The journey from Manchester Piccadilly Station to the stadium takes less than 10 minutes. All trams are accessible with space for wheelchairs and allow support dogs.

For other journey options, please review the Transport for Greater Manchester travel planner at www.tfgm.com

If you need further support or advice, you can contact the Transport for Greater Manchester team by visiting their contact us page.

Can I get taxis to the event?

There is a nearby drop off location for Taxis on Sportcity Way. Please use the postcode M11 3DU.

This location is approximately 10-minute walk from the venue with step free access.

Please note, our evening session will be starting and closing at peak times for taxi usage, so you might want to pre-book your taxi, if possible.

The Sensory Environment

I have sensory considerations. What should I expect?

Like any event, the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final will have a lot of noise, excitement, and action. However, with a capacity of around 1000 fans, this event might not be as intense a sensory environment as other big sporting competitions that take place in larger arenas.

There are some important sensory considerations to bear in mind, including:

• We will have big screens, that can be bright.
• We will be playing music and doing interviews that will be played through loudspeakers.
• There will be bright LED lights, adding colour to our event.
• This is an indoor venue. At times, it might get noisy – particularly as people get excited – and the venue might be warm!
• We will be flashing lights during the sports presentations.
• There will be a smoke haze at times to enhance the lights.
• There will be loud noises from the PA, (Presenters, Music, Videos, Stings)
• No pyrotechnics are planned at this event.

We hope by being aware of these factors, you feel empowered to be best prepared for this event. If you wish to highlight any adjustments or request free sensory aids before the event, please contact Annie – disability@britishtaekwondo.org

For support on the day, please speak to a member of the volunteer team or British Taekwondo staff. We are confident this event will provide an enjoyable experience of Taekwondo and what the sport has to offer.

What can I bring to help manage my sensory experience?

If there are items that will help you to enjoy this event experience and support your sensory wellbeing, we encourage you to bring them.

Our event staff recognise that items such as ear defenders, weighted blankets, and anxiety aids are important for many people. If you can, we encourage you to bring items that fit within one bag, as space is limited in our stands.

Please note, bag checks will take place at arrival to the event for security purposes.

If you forget to bring your sensory support tools, we have a limited number of free items available to guests. These include noise-cancelling ear defenders and sensory items that can help to reduce anxiety. To request these, please speak to a member of our event support team.

What can I do if I need a break from things?

It’s fine if you need to get away from the event arena for a bit if things get too much!

Our tickets allow you to freely enter and exit the venue.

Please speak to our volunteers or a member of our staff if you need any support.

The Event Experience

I want to prepare for the event. What can I expect?

Taekwondo is an exciting sport to watch. Every day the event will feature a number of fights showcasing athletes from around the world. There are three competition areas to watch during the day. The matches in the later sessions, which include the medal matches, take place on one court in the middle of the arena.

During this session there will be player walk outs at the start of each match, these will take approximately 2 minutes and include bright lights, music, videos and stings, the venue will be dark during this time. During the event there will be a light haze effect which is like a thin mist which captures the lights and makes them more visible.

There will be low levels of natural light in the venue but the venue will be suitably lit throughout the day.

There will be lots of excitement from the crowd for each match. We expect people to be cheering and shouting, so please feel free to wear or bring ear defenders if this helps. We will have a small number of ear defenders to borrow on the day, if the noise levels are too much.

Our Fan Zone will have lots of exciting and interesting aspects to them including activities for spectators to join in with. We have some give-it-a-go sessions, a reaction board, an area you can write a message to an athlete and The Paralympic Heritage Trust, who will be showcasing the history of the Paralympics. This area is all accessible and we will make relative adaptions to each section of the Fan Zone if you need support. Please find one of the staff in the Fan Zone area if you need assistance.

The Fan Zone will be running each day of the event but please be aware the Friday will be the busiest due to engagement with schools and local support groups.

I don’t like big queues and being in busy spaces. What can I do?

We anticipate the busiest day to be Friday during the day due to engagement with schools and support groups.

We have plenty of seating available in the venue, seats are not allocated so you can sit in space if you want to. Your ticket also allows you to leave and re-enter the venue as often as you wish, so you can always grab some fresh air.

We don’t anticipate there being large queues into the venue but if you’d rather avoid queuing, we recommend being at the venue at least 30 minutes early to be near the front.

If at any point you feel uncomfortable, please let a member of staff know and they will support you in the best way possible.

Dietary Requirements and Food and Drink Policy

What food stalls are available?

There will be a few food trucks inside the event. These include Chinese and Mexican.

I have a special dietary need. What is your food and drink policy?

Our event will have food trucks onsite. This includes gluten-free and vegetarian food options. The vendors can be paid with card and cash.

The venue are happy for food to be brought into the event. Please discard any rubbish in the bins provided. For schools or groups, we can provide black bin bags, please ask any staff to provide you with these.

We recognise that some people have dietary needs which means that they will need to, or prefer to, bring their own food to the event. If you need a private space to breastfeed, take medication or engage in any other personal wellbeing matters, please ask a member of British Taekwondo staff who can offer you a private and safe space to do this.

You can bring refillable water bottles to the venue. There are water stations available to refill your bottle.

Sharing your feedback

I have a question, concern, or idea to share with you. What can I do?

We love feedback! No event is perfect, and we are always learning. If you have a question, concern, or idea to share with us, please contact Annie – disability@britishtaekwondo.org. If you experience any challenges whilst at the event, we will want to try and fix things in the moment, so you can enjoy your experience. You can share any feedback directly with a member of our event team and we will try to resolve things for you, wherever possible.