The tournament is in Britain for the first time from May 3 to 6 and home competitors will be battling it out for one of four places on the Olympic team.

The competition also means that supporters will have a chance to see some of the continent's top stars with less than three months to go until the Olympics begin.

As with every other Olympic sport, football excluded, all taekwondo tickets for this summer's Olympic Games were sold in the public ballot last year, though ticket holders recently had the chance to sell theirs back to London 2012 and more should be put on sale in April.

Ian Leafe, GB Taekwondo's event director, said: "We're privileged to be able to host such a prestigious event in the UK just ahead of the Olympic Games.

"It's a great chance for some of our top GB athletes to get championship experience against what will be a world-class field.

"It's obviously going to provide some serious pointers towards selection for London 2012."

The ticket sales launch was made at Manchester Town Hall, with Walkden and Harvey joined by the city's Lord Mayor Harry Lyons.

"It will be great to have the European Championships in Manchester," said Walkden.

"They're taking place five minutes from where I live and train so it's fantastic to have such home advantage.

"I know there will be a bit of extra pressure to perform but I am sure we will all get used to it.

"And it will be a great experience for anyone lucky enough to be selected for the Olympics.

"For me, I'm going to train my hardest and stay focused.

"I got a bronze at the last Europeans and believe I can do better this time."


Esther Nicholls, the head of major events for European Championships partner UK Sport, added: "It is fantastic to be able to bring the European Championships to Manchester.

"This event will provide excellent preparation for our top Olympic hopefuls as well as a great opportunity for the fans in Manchester, who have supported GB Taekwondo's journey to date, to support the team."

Walkden. 20, will be hoping to build on her success at the back end of last year, when she won two gold medals at the Polish Open and also succeeded at the British Open.

Harvey will be competing in his home city and – like Walkden – impressed last year, claiming silver at the World Championships in the -63kg category.

"This is one of our most important events, especially as it is the last one before the Olympic squad is announced," said Harvey.

"All the other nations will see it as their last big test before London so I'd be surprised if all the top players weren't there.

"It's great to have the Championships in the UK, but it's even better being the local boy to have them in Manchester."

World champion Sarah Stevenson, whose Olympic hopes were hit recently when she picked up what GB Performance Director Gary Hall described as "pretty serious damage" to her knee, still hopes to compete.

Tickets to the European Championships are priced at £6 ($9.50/€7) for children, £11 ($17.50/€13) for adults and £28 ($44/€33) for a family of two adults and two children.

For more details click here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]