THUNDER BAY — The International Wushu Federation has awarded the 2024 World Taijiquan (Tai Chi) Championships to the City of Thunder Bay.
The biennial international event features the highest competitive level within the Tai Chi discipline.
Local organizers say Wushu is the formal term for the Chinese martial art recognized by the International Olympics Committee.
It's on the short list for potential sports to be included in a future Olympic Games.
Wushu consists of various events, of which Tai Chi is the most widely practised.
City officials, in an announcement Wednesday, said they expect more than 500 participants from around the world for the 2024 event.
In preparation for it, Thunder Bay will also host next year's International Wushu Festival and National Championships, an event that will bring 300 competitors and staff to the venue at Lakehead University.
Officials estimate the economic impact from the 2020 event alone will total $500,000
The bid committee included representatives of the Thunder Bay Chinese Canadian Association, the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, Tourism Thunder Bay, Peng You Taiji Quan Association, Wushu Ontario and Wushu Canada.
Organizers said the city is already known in China as the "Taiji City" of Canada.
