VTaekwondo Takes Aim at EOlympics

Virtual Taekwondo is poised to become reality after World Taekdondo signed a joint venture agreement with its development partner, Refract Technologies, a high-tech gaming company.

The new agreement builds on an existing memorandum of understanding between the two bodies that connects cutting-edge virtual technologies to real sport. It should enable Virtual Taekwondo around the world - including in refugee camps, where feasible - enabling Taekwondoin to compete globally, digitally.

The addition of digital sensors to the bodies of live athetes, who compete on a virtual field of play, removes multiple barriers - geography, weight and possibly even gender - from competition.

WT and Refract Technologies will jointly organise Virtual Taekwondo showcases and competitions worldwide. The opening of that campaign would subsequently take place at the Commonwealth Esports Championships in Birmingham, UK, in August. Refract is a game and technology company with expertise in extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI). Its vision is to extend the human experience beyond reality through innovations in gaming and entertainment.

Through Virtual Taekwondo, WT aspires to contribute significantly to the Olympic Agenda 2020+5, especially in growing digital engagement with the Taekwondo grassroots and the video gaming communities.

“We are excited to grow our partnership with Refract Technologies,” said World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “Refract has proven to be a valuable technology partner to World Taekwondo and has successfully developed Virtual Taekwondo, an active virtual sport that shares a likeness to the sparring discipline of Kyorugi.”

Looking ahead, WT intends to feature Virtual Taekwondo side by side with existing championships.

Choue added that his hope is to have Virtual Taekwondo appear as one of the first medal virtual sports in the Olympic Games.

“Besides removing barriers through technology, Virtual Taekwondo allows Refract to continue raising the bar on our sports-performance capable gaming system,” said Michael Chng, CEO of Refract Technologies.

“It is also an exciting opportunity to power a new high-tech sporting event that we hope will inspire generations of athletes and spectators to come.”

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