WorldTaekwondo 2013 (40th Anniversary)

To the Olympics & Beyond: 40 Years of The World Taekwondo Federation

FOREWORD: By WTF President

The year 2013 was, according to the Asian Zodiac, the “Year of the Snake.” In traditional Asian thought, the snake symbolizes - among other things - enrichment, fortune, and immortality. And so it proved for the World Taekwondo Federation. 2013 marked the year in which the International Olympic Committee included taekwondo as one of the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympics. Moreover, 2013 marked the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the WTF – taekwondo’s world governing body and the vehicle which has taken it from a Korean martial art to a global sport.

This book records those 40 eventful years. In what ways has taekwondo changed over the years and decades? What challenges had to be overcome? Who were the key figures, what were the key bodies and what were the key landmarks in its development? How did taekwondo globalize - to the point where today it is one of the most widely practiced sports on earth and a firm favorite at the Summer Olympics? All these questions, and more, are answered in this book. The publication you are holding provides a record of the long, sometimes rocky but ultimately successful road the sport has travelled from 1973 to 2013. And we have added a special supplement at the end to bring this book right up to date, beyond the WTF’s first 40 years.

I congratulate and thank the editorial team for their research and writing, which constitutes an important historical record covering all that has gone before. The WTF owes them a debt, for those who are unable to look back are unable to look forward. And let me assure you, dear reader, that the WTF is looking forward to a future around the world that is brighter than ever before.

I am certain that young taekwondo enthusiasts who read this book will take part in activities that will be recorded four decades hencewhen the WTF publishes a book celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Yours in taekwondo –

Chungwon Choue President, World Taekwondo Federation

SPECIAL MESSAGE:

By IOC President

Congratulations

to the World Taekwondo Federation on your 40th anniversary.

Taekwondo made its Olympic debut at the Olympic Games Sydney 2000. Since then the WTF has expertly managed to remain true to its traditions and values whilst constantly improving the technical and operational aspects of the sport. It is this blend that continues to attract young people to the sport.

This commemorative book illustrates all the great historical moments of this popular and rapidly growing martial art. At the centre of your sport and at the heart of this book are the athletes who are responsible for making the sport what it is today.

By sharing its history through this publication, the WTF will leave a record of the achievements of the last 40 years of its existence and demonstrate the values promoted by your sport.

Let me express my sincere thanks to the World Taekwondo Federation for the close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee throughout the years and wish all of its 206 member national associations every success in the future.

Yours in taekwondo –

Thomas Bach President, International Olympic Committee

CONTENTS

FOREWORD: By WTF President

By IOC President

Taekwondo Wins Official Olympic Status

The WTF is Born: The WTF Takes Off: 1973 -1979 1994 -2000

The WTF Launches its Magazine Joining the AAU, the GAISF and the CISM

Taekwondo Referees: Expanding the Skills Pool Going Global WTF Continental Taekwondo Unions

Olympic Recognition and Globalization

Asian Games Entry, Olympic Entry - and Integration Talks

Championships, Championships, Championships

2000 Sydney Olympics

Ups and Downs

The WTF Secretariat

WTF-ITF Integration Efforts

Taekwondo Comes of Age: The 1988 Seoul Olympics

Taekwondo Values – Olympic Values?

The Post-Olympic Boost

The WTF’s March Continues

More Championships and the Barcelona Olympics

The WTF Develops: WTF Challenges, WTF Reforms: 1980 -1993 2001 -2004

Change at the Top

Momentum Regained: Poomsae Seminar

Taekwondo at the 2004 Athens Olympics

Reform Takes Root

CONTENTS Table of

The WTF Reaches Out: 2005 -2011

Time for a Rebrand: WTF Emblems, Then and Now

Gets World Championship Status

Business and International Marketing

at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

2014 -2015

Grand Prix 2014: A Classic Year

The WTF’s Golden Years: 2012 -2013

Gearing up for London 2012

The WTF Secretaries General Mobile Taekwondo

Taekwondo’s Golden Moment: London 2012

What the Media Said

Dr. Choue Takes on 4th Term at Helm of WTF

21st World Taekwondo Championships

Taekwondo in 2020 Olympics

World Taekwondo Grand Prix Kicks off

The Next 40 Years …

Appendices: 1973 -2013

The Olympics: 2000-2012

History of the WTF World Taekwondo Championships: Timeline

History of the WTF World Taekwondo Championships: Posters

History of the WTF World Taekwondo Championships: Results

Heroes and Heroines of WTF World Taekwondo Championships

The WTF World Junior Taekwondo Championships

WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships

WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships

WTF S-Class International Kyorugi Referees

WTF Best Referee Award Recipients’ List: Kyorugi

WTF Best Referee Award Recipients’ List: Poomsae

WTF Global Membership

Chronology:

Major Landmarks in the Globalization of Taekwondo,

1973 -2013

THE GLOBALIZATION OF TAEKWONDO

May 25-27, 1973 The 1st World Taekwondo Championships were held in Seoul, Korea with the participation of 16 countries (Austria, Brunei, Chinese Taipei, Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire), France, Hong Kong, Japan, Khmer (Cambodia), Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Uganda, the United States, and West Germany).

May 28, 1973 The WTF was established.

Oct. 8, 1975 The WTF was affiliated to the GAISF (General Association of International Sports Federations, which was renamed SportAccord in 2009).

April 9, 1976 Taekwondo was adopted by the CISM (International Council of Military Sports) as an official sport for the World Military Championships.

July 17, 1980 The WTF was recognized by the IOC at the 83rd IOC Session in Moscow.

Aug. 12-13, 1983 The PASO adopted taekwondo as an official sport of the Pan American Games.

Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 1983 The SCSA (Supreme Council for Sports in Africa) adopted taekwondo as an official sport of the AllAfrican Games.

Sept. 28, 1984 The OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) adopted taekwondo as an official sport of the Asian Games.

May 8-10, 1986 The FISU (International Federation of University Sports) adopted taekwondo as an event for the World University Championships.

Sept. 17-20, 1988 Taekwondo participated in the 24th Olympic Games in Seoul as a demonstration sport.

Aug. 3-5, 1992 Taekwondo participated in the 25th Olympic Games in Barcelona as a demonstration sport.

Sept. 4, 1994 Taekwondo was adopted as an official sport of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games at the 103rd IOC Session in Paris.

Feb. 15, 1995 The WTF was affiliated to the ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations).

Nov. 5-8, 1996 The IOC Executive Board decided at its meeting in Cancun, Mexico to increase the taekwondo quota at the Sydney Olympic Games from 64 to 100 athletes.

Nov. 1997 Taekwondo was adopted as an official sport of the World Military Games.

July 14, 2000

The FISU Executive Board meeting in Beijing selected Daegu, Korea as the host city of the 22nd Summer Universiade in 2003. Taekwondo was included in the 2003 Universiade as an optional sport.

Sept. 27-30, 2000 Taekwondo participated in the 27th Olympic Games in Sydney as an official sport.

Dec. 11-13, 2000 The IOC Executive Board confirmed taekwondo as an official sport of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Jan. 2001 The Chinese Olympic Committee announced that taekwondo will participate in the Chinese National Athletic Meet to be held in November 2001 for the first time.

Sept. 18-20, 2001 Taekwondo’s quota at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games was expanded to 124 athletes.

Oct. 4, 2004 Proposals for the WTF Reform Committee were passed at the extraordinary WTF Executive Council meeting in Seoul, Korea.

Dec. 8-11, 2004 The 1st WTF Reform Committee meeting was held in Seoul, Korea and the status of all aspects of taekwondo and the WTF were examined.

Jan. 25-27, 2005 The 2nd WTF Reform Committee meeting took place in Bangkok, Thailand and prepared reform recommendations.

March 2, 2005 The WTF-Kyung Hee University Partnership Taekwondo Training Program for athletes and coaches was launched in partnership between the WTF and the International Taekwondo Academy of Kyung Hee University.

Jan. 11-12, 2002

The FISU Executive Committee meeting in Tarvisio, Italy decided to include taekwondo in 23rd Summer Universiade to be held in Izmir, Turkey on July 16-26, 2005 as an optional sport.

Nov. 29, 2002 The participation of taekwondo in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as an official sport was confirmed at the 114th Session of the IOC held in Mexico City, Mexico.

Oct. 14-20, 2003 Taekwondo took part in the 5th Central Asian Games held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan for the first time.

Jan. 9, 2004 Un-yong Kim submitted his resignation as WTF president.

Feb. 15, 2004 Sun Jae Park was elected acting president of the WTF for the remaining term of office of Un-yong Kim at the extraordinary Executive Council meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand.

June 11, 2004 Chungwon Choue was elected as new president of the WTF for the remaining term of office of Un-yong Kim at the extraordinary General Assembly held in Incheon, Korea.

Aug. 26-29, 2004 Taekwondo participated in the 28th Olympic Games in Athens with an attendance of 64 males and 60 females from 60 nations.

Sept. 24, 2004 The FISU decided at its Executive Committee meeting in Insbruck, Austria to include taekwondo in the Universiade to be held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2007.

March 10, 2005 An extraordinary WTF Executive Council meeting was held in Lausanne, Switzerland and approved the reform recommendations from the WTF Reform Committee.

April 12, 2005 Chungwon Choue was reelected president of the WTF at the WTF General Assembly held in Madrid, Spain on the occasion of the 2005 WTF World Taekwondo Championships. The recommendations from the Reform Committee were accepted by the WTF General Assembly.

July 8, 2005 The 117th IOC Session in Singapore (July 7-9) decided on the programs of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Out of 28 summer Olympic sports, 26 sports, including taekwondo, were confirmed as program events of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

July 20, 2005

An extraordinary WTF Executive Council meeting recognized the Oceania Taekwondo Union as the 5th Continental Union of the WTF, bringing the number of Continental Taekwondo Unions of the WTF to five (Asia/Africa/Europe/Pan America/ Oceania).

July 20, 2005

The first demonstration of electronic protector was made on the occasion of the extraordinary WTF Executive Council meeting held in Seoul, Korea.

Feb. 5-7, 2006 The IOC Executive Board decided at its meeting in Turin, Italy to expand the number of taekwondo entries at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games from 124 to 128 (two males and two females were added in consideration of the new establishment of the Oceania Taekwondo Union).

THE GLOBALIZATION OF TAEKWONDO THE GLOBALIZATION OF TAEKWONDO

July 25, 2006 The number of WTF member nations rose to 182 at the 17th WTF General Assembly held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Sept. 4, 2006 The WTF celebrated Taekwondo Day on the occasion of the 1st WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships held in Seoul, Korea on September 4-6, 2006.

Sept. 4-6, 2006 The 1st WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships took place in Seoul, Korea.

Sept. 14-18, 2006 The WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships took place in Bangkok, Thailand, the first ever team competition among WTF-promoted events.

Nov. 3-4, 2006 The WTF Paralympic Committee meeting was held in Seoul, Korea to promote poomsae as a sport for the Paralympic Games.

Nov. 7-9, 2006 A WTF Reform Evaluation Committee meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Dec. 1, 2006 Jean-Marie Ayer was appointed as the WTF’s attache in Lausanne.

March 4-5, 2007 An electronic protector test event (WTF Electronic Protector International Taekwondo Championships) took place at the Hoban Gymnasium in Chuncheon, Korea to examine the acceptability of electronic protectors.

March 5, 2007 The WTF Executive Committee meeting held in Chuncheon, Korea examined the acceptability of electronic protectors and decided not to use them at the 2007 Beijing WTF World Taekwondo Championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games taekwondo competitions.

May 16, 2007 The IOC decided to increase the number of bronze medals for the taekwondo competition at the Olympic Games from one to two beginning at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

May 17, 2007 The 18th WTF General Assembly approved two new members, bringing the total number of member nations to 184. It also approved poomsae competition uniforms.

Feb. 29, 2008 Singapore was selected as the host city of the 1st Youth Olympic Games in 2010, in which 100 taekwondo athletes would participate.

Aug. 20-23, 2008 The taekwondo competition of the 29th Olympic Games was held in Beijing, China with the participation of 128 athletes, 64 male and 64 female, from 64 nations.

May 5, 2009 An opening ceremony of the expanded WTF liaison office in Lausanne was held.

May 18, 2009 East Timor became a member of the WTF, bringing the total number of members to 189.

June 10, 2009 The first WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships were held in Baku, Azerbaijan on the occasion of the 2009 WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships held in the same place.

June 10-14, 2009 Electronic body protectors and instant video replay systems were used at the 2009 World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships and the 1st World Para-Taekwondo Championships held in Baku, Azerbaijan, the first of their kind at WTF-promoted championships, together with the new Competition Rules.

June 2009 The WTF adopted a World Ranking System.

July 1-6, 2009 Kyorugi and poomsae were both competed in the 2009 Summer Universiade held in Belgrade, Serbia, in which taekwondo participated as an optional sport.

July 11-12, 2009 Taekwondo participated in the 2nd Lusofonic Games held in Lisbon, Portugal.

Aug. 6-9, 2009 The 1st World Youth Taekwondo Camp was held in Muju and Seoul, Korea in joint cooperation between the WTF and the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation as an annual event.

Oct. 14-18, 2009 The 19th Men’s & 12th Women’s WTF World Taekwondo Championships took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, the first world championships to use electronic body protectors.

Oct. 26, 2009 The WTF and the OC of the 2013 Mediterranean Games agreed to include taekwondo in the 2013 Mediterranean Games.

Nov. 13-14, 2009 The FISU Executive Committee meeting held in Erzurum, Turkey decided to include taekwondo on the official program of the Summer Universiade from 2017 onwards as a compulsory sport.

April, 2010 Taekwondo was confirmed to participate in the 2011 European Masters Games and the 2013 World Masters Games.

June 7, 2010 The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) informed the WTF that taekwondo was approved by the CGF Sport Committee and Executive Board as a Category 2 sport.

Aug. 15-19, 2010 Taekwondo was competed in five weight categories for men and women at the 1st Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore for athletes aged 16-17 years old.

Sept. 1-2, 2010 The 1st SportAccord (World) Combat Games were held in Beijing, China with taekwondo being competed in four Olympic weight categories for both men and women.

April 29-30, 2011 The 3rd International Symposium for Taekwondo Studies was held in Gyeongju, Korea for two days under the title of “Realization of Olympism through Taekwondo Education.”

May 1-6, 2011 The WTF Global Athlete

License (GAL) was implemented in early 2011 and first introduced in the WTF-promoted championships at the 2011 WTF World Taekwondo Championships held in Gyeongju, Korea on May 1-6, 2011.

July 28, 2011 The WTF Council meeting in Vladivostok, Russia approved three new members, taking the WTF’s global membership to 200, the 8th largest among International Sports Federations.

Sept. 18-20, 2011 Taekwondo made its debut at the 2011 European Masters Games held in Lignano, Italy with taekwondo competition conducted in four Olympic weight categories each for men and women in kyorugi and individual, pair and team divisions in poomsae.

Feb. 14, 2012 The WTF announced it had appointed Jean-Marie Ayer as new Secretary General of the WTF. Outgoing Secretary General Jin-suk Yang was appointed chair of the WTF Academy.

April 2, 2012 The WTF Medical Code and Bylaws on Betting and Anti-Corruption were enacted at the WTF Council meeting held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on the occasion of the 2012 WTF World Junior Taekwondo Championships.

April 3, 2012 The WTF General Assembly in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt passed the proposed amendment to Poomsae Competition Rules on mandatory use of poomsae competition uniforms at WTF-recognized poomsae championships.

April 3, 2012 The WTF General Assembly approved the Seychelles as its 201st member at its meeting held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Aug. 8-11, 2012 The taekwondo competition of the 30th Summer Olympic Games took place in London, the U.K. with 128 athletes, 64 male and 64 female, participating from 63 nations. Eight gold medals were taken by eight countries.

Oct. 22, 2012 Sierra Leone became a

provisional member of the WTF, bringing the total membership of the WTF to 204.

Nov. 21, 2012 The creation of the WTF World Cadet Championships for athletes aged 12-14 and the WTF World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series was approved at the WTF Council meeting held in Santa Cruz, Aruba on the occasion of the 2012 WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships and the 3rd WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships.

Dec. 6-9, 2012 Free-style poomsae competition was conducted for the first time at the WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Tunja, Colombia in addition to recognized poomse competition.

Feb. 11, 2013 A Grand Prix meeting was held in Lausanne. It was recommended to hold one Grand Prix Series around the end of 2013 with Grand Prix Series 1, 2 and a final in 2014 and Grand Prix Series 1, 2, 3 and a final in 2015.

Feb. 12, 2013 The IOC Executive Board at its meeting in Lausanne selected 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympic Games, including taekwondo.

June 7, 2013 The WTF signed an MOU with CPISRA (Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association) and INAS (International Sport Federation for Para-Athletes with Intellectual Disability) on mutual cooperation for development of para-taekwondo on the occasion of the WTF extraordinary Council meeting and 2013 WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships, both held in Lausanne.

June 19, 2013 Kosovo became a provisional member of the WTF, bringing the total members of the WTF to 205.

July 26-Aug. 10, 2013 The WTF-OCA Asian Youth Taekwondo Camp was held in Bangkok with the participation of 85 athletes and coaches (1 male athlete, 1 female athlete and 1 coach per NOC) from 26 NOCs in Asia.

Sept. 1, 2013 Taekwondo was first includ -

ed in the UNOSDP Youth Leadership Camp held in Gwangju, Korea organized by the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade Organizing Committee for 34 participants from Asia and Oceania.

Sept. 7-10, 2013 Taekwondo was confirmed as one of the 25 core sports for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games at the IOC Session held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Oct. 16, 2013 The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) granted an IPC-recognized IF status to the WTF.

Oct. 25, 2013

The WTF signed an MOU with the ICSD (International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, CISS in French) on mutual cooperation in St. Petersburg on the occasion of the taekwondo competition of the 2nd SportAccord World Combat Games held in St. Petersburg on Oct. 23-24, 2013.

Nov. 24, 2013

The WTF signed an MOU with the IBSA (International Blind Sports Association) on mutual cooperation for the development of para-taekwondo in Athens, Greece during the 2013 IPC General Assembly.

Dec. 13, 2013 The WTF signed an MOU with UNOSDP (U.N. Office on Sport for Development and Peace) on mutual cooperation in Manchester on the occasion of the 2013 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final held in Manchester, the U.K. on Dec. 13-15, 2013. Following this MOU, a taekwondo session would be included in UNOSDP YLC to be held in Berlin, Gwangju and Florida in 2014.

Dec. 13-15, 2013

The 1st WTF World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final took place in Manchester, the U.K., inviting athletes ranked within the top 32 places in WTF Olympic rankings.

THE WTF IS BORN:

1973-1979

The Korea Taesoodo Association was eventually approved by the Korea Sports Council (currently the Korean Olympic Committee) in December 1962.

Taekwondo’s Early Days

The global sport of taekwondo we know today arose from among a number of kwans (schools) of kick-punch martial arts in Korea that appeared in the closing years of the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945) and which remained active after the end of the Korean War (1950-1953).

After the military coup d’etat in Seoul on May 16, 1961, all social associations were ordered to reregister with the authorities. This included martial arts groups.

The Ministry of Education urged the integration of similar associations, and hosted several meetings calling representatives from various martial arts kwans, which included the Korea Subakdo Association, the Changmookwan, the Songmookwan, the Kangdukwon, and the Hanmookwan, beginning on July 12, 1961. Other major kwans included Chungdokwan, Jidokwan, Moodukkwan, Odokwan and Jungdokwan.

Integration was no easy task, but the Korea Taesoodo Association was eventually approved by the Korea Sports Council (currently the Korean Olympic Committee) in December 1962.

The nascent organization registered some significant achievements. Retired Brigadier Myung-shin Chae was the first president of the association. Under his leadership, it laid many important foundations for the future. These included: The unification of the kwans; the issuance of dan (black belt) certificates through the association; the reorganization of the solo forms of the various kwans; the establishment of common regulations for the association; and the association’s first promotion test.

An early taekwondo class gets underway.

‘Tae’ means ‘to step, or stand up straight;’ ‘kwon’ means ‘fist;’ and ‘do’ means ‘the way’ or ‘cultivation of mind.’ For convenience, ‘taekwondo’ is usually translated into English as ‘the way of hand and foot.’

Although the physical and institutional foundation of taekwondo was laid, it took some time for the name we know today to emerge.

The kwan representatives first agreed to use the term “taekwondo” during a meeting hosted by retired General Hong-hee Choi in 1959.

“Taekwondo” became a unified term among participating kwans during the discussion of the naming of the Korea Taesoodo Association on September 19, 1961 and was officially adopted on August 5, 1965 when Choi, the newly elected third president of the association, changed the word “taesoodo” to “taekwondo.”

“Tae” means “to step, or stand up straight;” “kwon” means “fist;” and “do” means “the way” or “cultivation of mind.” For convenience, “taekwondo” is usually translated into English as “the way of hand and foot.”

Yong-chae Kim was the team leader and Korean representative of the second exchange program with Japanese karate in 1965. He

became extremely interested in taekwondo, and became the fifth president of the KTA in January 1966. He also served a second term as sixth president.

In this capacity, he sent taekwondo instructors overseas, amended competition rules and developed chest guards for full-contact competition.

As a member of the National Assembly and the chairman of the ruling party’s Youth Committee, Kim had the political clout necessary to maximize the KTA’s fund-raising capacity, notably by securing money to build an iconic central dojang (training hall) that would become the home of the art.

He was also able to secure a prominent location for the training hall in an undeveloped suburb of Seoul, south of the Han River, thanks to the assistance from Seoul Mayor Taek-shik Yang.

Moreover, Yong-chae Kim’s status as a National Assemblyman, enabled him to raise 28 million Korean won for taekwondo development funding.

In 1961, Korea Taesoodo Association President Myung-shin Choi (circled), Un-kyu Uhm (to Choi’s right) and Jun-ki Baek (on Choi’s left) at a dinner meeting.

The 5th and 6th (1967-1971) Korea Taekwondo Association President Yong-chae Kim visits Malaysia with Tae-hee Nam (Odokwan founder) and Chong-woo Lee.

Taekwondo Gets a Home

In January 1971, Un-yong Kim was inaugurated as the seventh president of the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA). Kim had a background in diplomacy, having served as counselor of the Korean embassies in Washington, the U.S.A. and London, the U.K. He pledged to promote taekwondo as a global sport and announced that a central training hall would rise for taekwondo practitioners worldwide and vowed to host major international championships at the new “mecca” of world taekwondo.

The central training hall project, designed to be a home base for taekwondo’s 1.3 million practitioners, was former KTA President Yong-chae Kim’s idea, and was funded by

monies secured from the National Assembly.

The KTA followed professional advice from historians and experts in various disciplines to build a symbolic structure that represented Korea and the Korean spirit. The design was created by the famous architecture Professor Kwang-no Lee from Seoul National University.

On November 19, 1971, the KTA broke ground, an event made possible by national funds as well as donations from supporters.

The Kukkiwon groundbreaking ceremony takes place on Nov. 19, 1971, in southern Seoul.

Korea’s world-renowned taekwondo finally had its central dojang, securing Korea’s status as the motherland of taekwondo.

Within one year and ten days, the structure was completed. Dubbed the Kukkiwon (“Hall of the National Art”), it boasted Korean-style roofing tiles, sculptures of movements from the “Muyedobotongji” (an 18th-century martial arts textbook) and a tower that represents Korean philosophy and theology.

The building contains one underground floor and three stories above ground on 7,602 sq. meters. It was designed with a 750 sq.-meter competition arena, seating for 3,000 spectators, a lecture hall, a restaurant, a shower room, a changing room and other facilities.

The opening ceremony was held on November 30, 1972. Distinguished guests included Korean Prime Minister Jong-pil Kim and Seoul Mayor Taek-shik Yang.

The prime minster said in his speech:

“Korea’s world-renowned taekwondo finally has its central dojang, securing Korea’s status as the motherland of taekwondo. I would certainly urge the 1.3 million taekwondo practitioners to unify their forces and work harder to develop taekwondo even more, to promote national pride and elevate Korea’s reputation that will demonstrate the true value of Korean taekwondo throughout the world.”

KTA President Un-yong Kim said that he would host the first World Taekwondo Championships at the new Kukkiwon facility. Competition teams were to be invited from countries where taekwondo instructors were established. The Kukkiwon would also play a role as a centralized promotion test location and a place for educating taekwondo instructors.

Goals of the Kukkiwon:

1 3 2 4 5

Unify taekwondo techniques.

Unify promotional tests of poom (pre-black belt) and dan (black belt) ranks to re-educate instructors and develop techniques so that Korean taekwondo would have a world-leading role.

Generate a higher quality of instructors in Korea and other countries.

Elevate taekwondo practitioners’ pride and promote the KTA’s national brand.

The Kukkiwon rises on open land in 1972.Today, it has been engulfed by the city of Seoul, and stands in the heart of ultra-trendy Gangnam.

The First World Taekwondo Championships

The Kukkiwon provided taekwondo with a home; now the home needed to be populated with international players. The Korea Taekwondo Association organized the first World Taekwondo Championships and sent invitations to the United States, Japan, Germany, Austria, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Thailand, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Colombia, Ivory Coast, the Philippines, Ecuador, Chinese Taipei, France, Guam, Brazil, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Mexico, Uganda and Cambodia.

‘I am pleased to have the World Taekwondo Championships at the Kukkiwon in Korea,’ said KTA President Un-yong Kim in his role as tournament chairman. ‘It is such a meaningful event because we made our own competition rules from Korea’s traditional martial art taekwondo to elevate it into a world-class sport for the first time.’

The 1st World Taekwondo Championships were held at the Kukkiwon in Seoul, Korea on May 25-27, 1973, with the participation of 161 athletes from 16 countries.

The countries that participated in the inaugural championships were Austria, Brunei, Chinese Taipei, Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire), France, Hong Kong, Japan, Khmer (Cambodia), Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Uganda, the United States, and West Germany.

The teams included three squads from the

western, central and eastern regions of the United States, while West Germany had two teams from the north and south, which resulted in identification conflicts. To mitigate these issues, German teams were divided into the West Germany team and the West Berlin team.

The opening ceremony began with the march of athletes, followed by speeches.

“I am pleased to have the World Taekwondo Championships at the Kukkiwon in Korea,” said KTA President Un-yong Kim in his role as

Scenes from the 1st World Taekwondo Championships, held in Seoul’s Kukkiwon on May 25-27, 1973.

Hosting the 1st World Taekwondo Championships at the Kukkiwon was an important step, both in developing taekwondo as a global sport and establishing its image.

tournament chairman. “It is such a meaningful event because we made our own competition rules from Korea’s traditional martial art taekwondo to elevate it into a worldclass sport for the first time.”

Seoul Mayor Taek-shik Yang and Minister of Education Gwan-sik Min delivered speeches expressing hopes of developing understanding, friendship and strong relationships among the member nations.

On behalf of the athletes, an athlete representing the Korean team, Jeong-tae Kim, made athletes‘ oath for fair competition.

Immediately after, a taekwondo demonstration was performed by a team of 80 children. They performed board breaking, sparring, poomsae and a variety of taekwondo techniques. Visitors from overseas, in particular, were full of admiration.

After a 30-minute demonstration, the team competition began with a match between French and Ugandan athletes.

After the five-member team competitions, the individual competition began. Individual events were divided into two weight classes: lightweight and heavyweight. The championships finished with the team final on May 27.

Hosting the 1st World Taekwondo Championships at the Kukkiwon was an important step, both in developing taekwondo as a global sport and establishing its image.

However, it was hardly appropriate for the KTA, a national body, to hold international events; a global federation was needed.

Herein lay the problem. There was already an established international federation – Honghee Choi’s International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) – in place, but this was dissolved by the Ministry of Education on April 17, 1973, due to corruption and for producing blackbelt certificates without proper procedures, prior to the inaugural championships.

The representatives nominated Un-yong Kim as the founding president of the WTF.

Enter the WTF

A meeting was held at the Kukkiwon for the founding members of a new international body on May 27, 1973.

Among the founding members were Unyong Kim from Korea; Jack Hwang and Edward B. Sell from the United States; Romio Osmin from Mexico; Jose Tores from Spain; J. A. Etime of Uganda; and Kyong-myong Lee and Georg Matuszek from Austria.

The general assembly meeting for the establishment of the new body, the World Taekwondo Federation, or WTF, was held the following day, on May 28, with 35 representatives from 17 countries, which were Austria, Brunei, Khmer (Cambodia), Chinese Taipei, Colombia, France, West Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire), Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Uganda, and the United States.

The representatives nominated Un-yong Kim as the founding president of the WTF. They passed the WTF Rules and Regulations. Seven countries - Austria, Brunei, Ecuador, Germany, Korea, Meico and the Philippines - were officially admitted to the WTF as full members.

During the meeting, it was agreed to hold world championships every two years. Participants requested that the second World

Championships also be held at the Kukkiwon, despite a hosting proposal from the U.S. team.

President Un-yong Kim was granted the authority to select the executives of the WTF. He then held a press conference on July 4 to announce the list.

The following executives were granted fouryear terms: President: Un-yong Kim (Korea); Vice Presidents: Roland de Marco (U.S.A.) and Leo Wagner (West Germany); Secretary General: Chong-woo Lee (Korea); Executive Council members: John M. Murphy (U.S.A.), Marx Heinz (Germany), Manuel Mondragon Y. Kalb (Mexico), Kun-suk Park (Korea), General Ungku Nazaruddin (Malaysia), J. A. Etime (Uganda), W. K. Chiang (Chinese Taipei), L. Lacoste (France), Chihat Uskan (Turkey), Moo-seung Park (Korea), Un-kyu Uhm (Korea); audtors: Nam-suk Lee (Korea) and Chong-soo Hong (Korea). Kim also mentioned that prior to the 2nd World Taekwondo Championships in 1975, the 1st Asian Taekwondo Championships should be hosted in May 1974.

On June 3, 1973, the WTF Secretariat opened in the Kukkiwon building. President Un-yong Kim held three top positions simultaneously: president of the WTF, the Kukkiwon and the KTA.

Korea swept all eight gold medals at stake, followed by Chinese Taipei with two silvers and four bronzes. Mexico and Germany shared the third place with two silvers and one bronze.

The WTF oversaw the 2nd World Taekwondo Championships, which featured eight male weight categories, took place on August 28–31, 1975.

It took place at the Kukkiwon and at the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul with the paricipation of 165 male athletes and 91 officials from 30 countries.

Korea swept all eight gold medals at stake, followed by Chinese Taipei with two silvers and four bronzes. Mexico and Germany shared the third place with two silvers and one bronze.

At the WTF Executive Council meeting on August 27, the United States and Spain competed to host the 3rd World Championships in 1977. The United States gathered 14 votes against Spain’s 12 votes, winning Chicago the rights. The host city selected for the 2nd Asian Taekwondo Championships in 1976 was Melbourne, Australia. In attendance as special guests at the general assembly were U.S. Olympic Committee President Dr. Philip

The WTF Launches its Magazine

O. Krumm and General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) Secretary General Oscar Stile.

On September 1, 1976, a General Assembly meeting on the incorporation of the World Taekwondo Federation was held at the Kukkiwon.

The agenda consisted of the establishment of the incorporation, establishment of its regulations, election of officials and other discussion items.

The meeting was held with 35 participants out of 45 members making a quorum.

Based on new regulation Article 19, Booyong Shin from Germany made a motion to select a board of directors (BOD) for the WTF’s incorporation.

The board would consist of 20 BOD members, two auditors, one chairman, and one secretary general from among the BOD members. The authority of selecting officers were given to the chairman.

As part of its public relations efforts, in August 1976, the WTF launched its “World Taekwondo” magazine, published as an 18-page bimonthly publication. In 1977, the magazine changed its distribution to three times of a year. The name of the WTF magazine was changed to “WTF Taekwondo” in 1981. Since 2008, the WTF has published “WTF Taekwondo” magazine annually.

Scenes from the 2nd World Taekwondo Championships, held in Seoul.

On April 15, 1978, the USOC Board of Directors approved unanimously the AAU Taekwondo Committee’s application and recognized it as a “C” class member of the USOC.

Joining the AAU, the GAISF and the CISM

Taekwondo Referees: Expanding

the Skills Pool

Other developments were also taking place overseas.

Following his experience at the 1st World Taekwondo Championships, and following karate’s recognition by the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States in 1972, U.S.-based taekwondo master and academic Dr. Ken Min pursued the recognition of taekwondo by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) of the United States in 1974.

Between April 16 and 20, 1974, David Rivenes, president of the AAU; Jim Stevens and Min visited Korea at the invitation of Un-yong Kim.

In contrast to the AAU Karate Committee that was divided into separate factions, AAU

Taekwondo rapidly organized and developed.

The Taekwondo Committee became a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee through the AAU. The application, promoted by Min, took advantage of the Amateur Sport Act that passed the U.S. Congress in 1978.

On April 15, 1978, the USOC Board of Directors unanimously approved the AAU Taekwondo Committee’s application and recognized it as a “C” class member of the USOC.

Through this, the committee was able to receive financial benefits from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and was able to use Olympic Training Centers in three different locations.

The WTF focused its early attention not just on globalizing, but also on upgrading the sport.

For that, it needed the best and most transparent oversight.

To that end, the 1st International Kyorugi Referee Seminar was held at the Kukkiwon in Seoul, Korea from May 15-18, 1974, with 45 participants from 11 countries. Of them, 31 became certified.

The 2nd International Referee Seminar was held at the Kukkiwon on August 22-23, 1975, with 218 participants from 29 countries. Of the total, 83 participants received international referee certificates.

On May 19-20, 1976, at the 3rd seminar in Barcelona, Spain, 16 of 56 participants received certificates.

And on October 12-15, 1976, the 4th seminar was held in Mel-

bourne, Australia; three of 19 participants became certified.

On September 9-10, 1977, the 5th seminar was held in Chicago, the United States with 116 participants.

The 6th International Referee Seminar moved to Hong Kong, in which 11 of 24 participants were certified.

As of the end of 2013, a total of 76 international kyorugi referee seminars had been held around the world.

With the ongoing technical development of taekwondo, and with ongoing tweaks to the rules, refresher training was required.

The 1st International Kyorugi Referee Refresher Course was held in Singapore on December 5-7, 1982, with the attendance of 34 referees from 11 countries.

As of the end of 2013, a total of 90 international referee refresher courses were held all over the world, upgrading the professionalism of already-certified referees.

The 1st International Poomsae Referee Seminar was held on April 21-25, 2004 in Suncheon, Korea, drawing 166 referees from 19 countries.

A total of 21 international poomsae referee seminars had been held as of the end of 2013 around the world.

The 2nd International Poomsae Referee Refresher Course was held in Stuttgart, Germany on March 15-18, 2006, attracting 33 referees from 13 counries.

As of the end of 2013, a total of 18 international poomsae referee refresher courses had been held around the world.

AAU President David Rivenes visits the Kukkiwon in 1974.

On October 8, 1975, taekwondo unanimously became a GAISF-affiliated member and fully stepped onto the international stage.

Oscar Stile from the United Kingdom, secre tary general of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and president of the International Weightlifting Federation, was invited by Un-yong Kim to observe the 2nd World Taekwondo Championships in Seoul. There, he recommended to Kim how the WTF could join the GAISF (currently called SportAccord).

The GAISF General Assembly was held a year before the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

On October 8, 1975, taekwondo unanimously became a GAISF-affiliated member and fully stepped onto the international stage. Moreover, the WTF was recognized as the official governing body of taekwondo.

On April 9, 1976, one year after the WTF became a member of the GAISF, taekwondo

became an official sport of the International Military Sports Council, or CISM – the council’s 23rd sport.

The 1st CISM Taekwondo Championships were held in Seoul’s Jangchung Gymnasium on November 1-5, 1980, four years after its inception in the CISM.

The event was very successful, with the participaton of 160 athletes from 17 countries, including Bahrain, Colombia, Ghana, Jordan, Monaco, Kuwait, Singapore, the United States and Korea. Other nations such as the UAE, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Nepal and Zaire participated as observers.

Committee visits the Kukkiwon in 1974 (left to right: Ken Min, Un-yong Kim, David Rivenes, Taek-soo Kim,

WTF founding yong Kim with Vice President GAISF Secretary General Oscarpenhagen World Championships

WTF President Un-yong Kim visits Montreal, Canada, in 1975 to gain the WTF’s entry into the GAISF.

Going Global

The 3rd World Taekwondo Championships took place in Chicago, the United States on September 15-17, 1977.

The championships, which featured eight male weight divisions, attracted 720 athletes and officials from 46 countries.

Korea grabbed seven gold medals and one silver medal for the overall male team title.

Chinese Taipei came next with one gold, two silvers and one bronze, followed by the United States with two silvers and two bronzes.

The opening ceremony of the 3rd World Taekwondo Championships was headed by the Marine Corps’ marching band. VIP guests included Honorary Tournament Chairman Chicago Mayor Michael Bilandic, Korean Ameri-

can Foundation Chairman Laurent Amaroke, AAU President Joe Ferrell, USOC Chairman Jack Kelly and Congressman John Murphy.

As the first world championships held outside Korea, the Chicago event contributed greatly to the international profile of taekwondo.

The 3rd World Taekwondo Championships in Chicago in 1977.

The 4th World Taekwondo Championships were held in Stuttgart, West Germany on October 26-28, 1979.

The 4th World Taekwondo Championships were held in Stuttgart, West Germany on October 26-28, 1979.

The championships, which featured 10 male weight categories, took place at the Sinderfingen Sports Hall in Stuttgart, attracted 453 athletes and officials from 38 countries.

Korea topped other countries in the overall medal tally as it clinched seven gold medals and two bronze medals. Mexico came next with one gold, four silvers and two bronze medals, followed by host West Germany with one gold, two silvers and four bronzes, and the Netherlands with one gold and two bronzes.

The United States followed with a haul of two silvers and four bronzes, followed by Spain with one silver and one bronze, and Great Britain with one silver.

Australia and Cote d’Ivoire wone two bronze medals each, while Morocco won one bronze medal.

However, if taekwondo was to truly go global, the WTF realized it had to delegate tasks and responsibilities away from Seoul and around the world. The result of this was that five continental unions would be formed.

The 4th World Taekwondo Championships in Germany in 1979.

WTF Continental Taekwondo Unions

European Taekwondo Union: 1976

The European Taekwondo Union was founded on May 21, 1976 by 12 member nations in Barcelona, Spain. Spain, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, West Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Turkey, Greece, Denmark and the United Kingdom participated in the establishment meeting. During the meeting of the European Taekwondo Union, Antonio Garcia de La Fuentes of Spain was elected president; Manuel Marco of Spain, secretary general; and Kyong-myong Lee of Austria, technical committee chairman. On May 22-23, the Spanish Taekwondo Federation hosted the European Taekwondo Championships. Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, West Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Belgium competed in the championships.

Pan American Taekwondo Union: 1977

Ken Min, president of the North American Taekwondo Federation – a body founded in 1973 - hosted five North American Taekwondo Championships in Berkeley, Mexico City, Hawaii, Toronto, and Puerto Rico. These events were the prelude for the organization of the Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU) at the 3rd World Taekwondo Championships.

The Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU) was founded on September 15–17, 1977, during the 3rd World Taekwondo Championships in Chicago. President Un-yong Kim recommended the nomination of Don Marrow, a student of the tournament director Kyung-sun Shin, as president and the inaugural meeting of the Pan American Taekwondo Union elected Marrow as president and Min as secretary general.

During the establishment meeting, PATU’s bylaws, prepared by Min, were approved unanimously. PATU decided to host the 1st Pan American Taekwondo Championships. David Moon of Mexico City, bid for the 1st Pan American Championships and the PATU body unanimously voted to grant the championships to Mexico City. The 1st Pan American Taekwondo Championships were held on September 17–22, 1978, with 152 officials and athletes from 10 countries. The championship opening ceremony began with Mexico NOC President Mario Vasquez Rana’s declaration. The 2nd Pan American Taekwondo Championships were held in Houston, the U.S.Aㅑ, with 14 participating countries. U.S. delegate Don-ja Yang nominated Ken Min as the second PATU president; he was unanimously elected and conditionally accepted the office of president. However, WTF President Kim did not support this election result. Min felt that for the development of global taekwondo and the Pan American region, Kim’s advice had to be considered and after several months, Min stepped aside as PATU president and nominated David Rivenes as president and David Moon as secretary general. Min remained technical director. On December 13–20, 1982, the Puerto Rico Taekwondo Association hosted the 3rd Pan American Taekwondo Championships. One hundred and twenty officials and athletes from 11 countries participated, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Surinam, the U.S.A., Virgin Islands, Venezuela and Curacao. The 4th Pan American Taekwondo Championships were held in Surinam, South America. Do-ja Yang was elected as the 3rd PATU president, followed by Cha-suk Park and then Ji-ho Choi.

Asian Taekwondo Union: 1978

On October 18–20, 1974, the WTF and the KTA co-hosted the 1st Asian Taekwondo Championships at the Kukkiwon in Seoul, Korea. The tournament motto was “Peace and Friendship through Taekwondo.” Ninety-three officials and athletes participated from Australia, Chinese Taipei, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, Khmer (Cambodia), Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Korea.

The 2nd Asian Taekwondo Championships were held in Melbourne, Australia on October 16-17, 1976, hosted by the Australian Taekwondo Association. Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Iran, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea participated in the event.

On October 17, 1976, an initial meeting was held for the establishment of the Asian Taekwondo Union.

On September 10, 1978, shortly after the 3rd Asian Taekwondo Championships, a meeting was held to establish the Asian Taekwondo Union. The meeting was held at the Hong Kong Miramar Hotel with representatives from 11 countries under the supervision of Chong-woo Lee and Un-Kyu Uhm from the WTF. One hundred and forty-three officials and athletes participated from 11 countries: Australia, Brunei, Guam, Hong Kong, Iran, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore and Thailand. During the ATU establishment meeting, Sariar Shafigh from Iran was elected as president and relocated the office to Iran. However, in February the following year, President Sariar could no longer serve as president due to the revolution in Iran and the office was officially closed.

African Taekwondo Union: 1979

On April 10–12, 1979, the African Taekwondo Union was founded in Abidjan, Ivory Coast with the attendance of representatives from 11 countries. Participating countries were Ivory Coast, Benin, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Morocco, Togo and Upper Volta (known since 1984 as Burkina Faso). For the establishment of the AFTU meeting, WTF President Un-yong Kim and Secretary General Chong-woo Lee attended. During the meeting, Dr. Kanggha was elected president, Dedegbe Benjanmin as secretary general, and Yong-tae Kim as technical committee chairman.

On April 10–12, 1979, Ivory Coast organized the 1st African Taekwondo Championships. One hundred and twenty officials and athletes participated from seven countries. The participating countries were Benin, Egypt, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Upper Volta and Ivory Coast.

Oceania Taekwondo Union: 2005

The Oceania Taekwondo Union (OTU) was formally established on July 16, 2005, in Sydney, Australia, during the staging of the 1st Oceania Taekwondo Championships. It was headed by IOC Member Phillip Walter Coles from Australia, and would be a cornerstone in the WTF’s efforts to expand its operations across five continents, as in the case of the IOC. Oceania covers some 25,000 islands scattered across the Pacific. Previously, Australasian and Oceanic nations had fallen under the Asian Taekwondo Union’s purview; the establishment of the OTU granted the many smaller countries in the vast Oceanic geography greater input into their own affairs, rather than being permanently in the shadow of the big taekwondo powerhouses of the Asian region. The establishment of the OTU also granted many of the smaller Oceanic nations their first ever chance to qualify for the Olympics. The first 10 countries in the OTU were Australia, Fiji, Guam, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti (French Polynesia), Tonga and Vanuatu. It has since expanded to cover 19 nations.

Vanuatu. It has since expanded to cover 19 nations.

THE WTF DEVELOPS:

1980-1993

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted its recognition to the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) as the sole official International Sport Federation (IF) governing taekwondo worldwide during the 83rd IOC Session in Moscow, Russia.

Olympic Recognition and Globalization

A significant milestone was passed on July 17, 1980.

On that date, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted its recognition to the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) as the sole official International Sport Federation (IF) governing taekwondo worldwide during the 83rd IOC Session in Moscow, Russia.

It was a remarkable achievement. The WTF had been recognized by the IOC less than five years since it became a member of the GAISF.

WTF President Un-yong Kim praised taekwondo practitioners’ contributions, saying it was due to their extensive endeavors to modernize and globalize taekwondo.

The IOC recognition of the WTF was made possible with the support of the newly elected IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch. Additionally, the head of the GAISF, President Thomas Keller, and many other IF presidents helped by talking to IOC members in their own countries.

Subsequently, the Executive Board of the IOC approved the WTF as a member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).

Internationalization efforts were continuing.

On January 15, 1981, the WTF joined the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education.

On November 10, 1982, the Olympic Movement Independent Security Agreement was made between IOC President Juan Samaranch and WTF President Kim. Through this agreement, in August 1983, the WTF promoted taekwondo as an official sport of the Pan Am Games through the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO).

As the World Games president and as a member of the GAISF Executive Committee, Kim oversaw the first World Games to include taekwondo, baseball, bodybuilding, bowling, fly casting, fin swimming, karate, power lifting, racquetball, roller-skating, softball, trampoline, tug of war, women’s water polo, and water skiing, in California, the U.S.A.

Taekwondo was included in the World Games held in London, U.K. in 1985; in Karlsruhe, Germany in 1989; and in the Hague, the Netherlands in 1993.

The taekwondo competitions at the World Games were held at the Torso Pavilion in Santa Clara University in California on July 29-31, 1981.

The executive director of the Organizing Committee was John E. Bragg. Ken Min served as the local coordinator for taekwondo.

A total of 285 athletes and officials gathered from 14 countries. Participating countries were the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Italy, Ivory Coast, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, and West Germany.

The World Games were held every four years by the GAISF, with headquarters located in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The event represents those sports not in the Olympics.

Subsequently, taekwondo was included in the World Games held in London, the U.K, in 1985; in Karlsruhe, Germany in 1989; and in the Hague, the Netherlands in 1993.

This relationship continued until taekwondo became an official sport of the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, after which it retired from the World Games.

The 5th World Taekwondo Championships were held in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on February 24-27, 1982, the first to be held in South America, with the participation of 229 male athletes from 36 countries.

Korea topped other countries in the medal tally with eight gold medals, followed by host Ecuador with one gold and one silver, and Germany with one gold and two bronzes.

The 5th WTF General Assembly and Executive Council meetings were held at the Guayaquil Oro Verde Hotel, with the attendance of representatives from 49 countries and 11 Executive Council members.

There was further distribution of competitive taekwondo in Latin America on August 12, 1983, when the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) adopted taekwondo as an official sport during its general meeting.

As a result, taekwondo has been part of all Pan American Games since its 10th edition in 1987 in Buffalo, the United States. Further professionalism was becoming apparent in coaching. On October 9-14, 1983, the WTF conducted the International Taekwondo Instructors Seminar in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The purpose of the seminar was to educate quality instructors and secure promotion-test givers, as well as high-ranking dan holders. Seminar contents included an introduction to the WTF, taekwondo promotional testing criteria, refereeing rules and poomsae training.

Scenes from the 5th World Taekwondo Championships, held in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The 6th World Taekwondo Championships were held on October 20-23,1983 at the Brondby Hallen in Copenhagen, drawing 353 athletes and 189 officials from 51 countries.

rope.

The 6th WTF General Assembly and Executive Council meeting were held at the Idarettens Hus in Copenhagen, Denmark, with 119 national representatives from 64 countries and 19 Executive Council members present.

The 6th World Taekwondo Championships were held on October 20-23, 1983 at the Brondby Hallen in Copenhagen, Denmark, drawing 353 male athletes and 189 officials from 51 countries.

Korea achieved its sixth consecutive overall win at the championships, but the Koreans’ customary dominance of the sport was being challenged.

Korea took home eight gold medals and one bronze medal, followed by Spain with one

Turkey came next with one gold, one silver and one bronze, followed by Germany with three silvers and two bronzes, and the Netherlands and Mexico won one silver and one bronze each.

Canada and Great Britain came next, with one silver each.

Scene and poster from the 6th World Taekwondo Championships, held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In 1984, WTF-affiliated member nations reached 108.

Taekwondo became an official sport of the All African Games during the 10th Supreme Council for Sports in Africa meeting, held from November 28 to December 1, 1984.

Clearly, internationalization efforts were bearing fruit.

In 1984, WTF-affiliated member nations reached 108.

To further promote the sport, from June 16 until July 13, 1984, the WTF dispatched a taekwondo demonstration team to Europe.

The Europe Taekwondo Demonstration Tour Team was headed by team leader Sang-geun Song, deputy secretary general of the WTF, and Chief Officer Chung-yu Choi from the Kukkiwon.

The team performed demonstrations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Great Britain, Austria and Italy. The demonstration team contributed to promoting Korea and the image of the motherland of taekwondo, as well as increasing the number of participants and highlighting taekwondo’s top techniques.

The demonstration team contributed to promoting Korea and the image of the motherland of taekwondo, as well as increasing the number of participants and highlighting taekwondo’s top techniques.

Taekwondo demonstrations underway in Finland (top), Norway (left) and the U.K. (below).

Founding members of the taekwondo demonstration team.

In April 1982, the WTF issued a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the ITF on the launch of the Taekwondo Integration Coordination Committee in Vancouver and Seoul to create ways to have all taekwondo practitioners participate in the 1986 Asian Games, the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and all other official international sporting functions.

Asian Games Entry, Olympic Entry – and Integration Talks

The 6th Asian Taekwondo Championships were held in Manila, the Philippines, on November 11–13, 1984, with 300 officials and athletes from 21 countries attending.

There was exciting news for Asian taekwondo, as - just prior to the Manila event, on September 28, 1984 - taekwondo had been adopted as an official sport of the 1986 Asian Games, at the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) meeting. This was a major step, as the Asian Games are part of the Olympic movement.

The 1986 Asian Games were to be held in Seoul, the WTF’s hometown, and many in Korea saw the event as a “warm-up” for the 1988 Olympic Games, which Seoul had won the hosting rights in 1981.

More exciting news was to follow, as hosting the event gave the host country some clout when it came to choosing demonstration sports.

And indeed, during the 90th IOC Executive Board meeting in Berlin, Germany on June 2, 1985, it was agreed that taekwondo would be adopted as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. This meant that taekwondo had at least made it into the world’s biggest multi-sport event, on its home turf.

But how representative would taekwondo be in 1988?

In fact, talks had been ongoing between the two major international federations for three years. The integration movement between the WTF and the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) started in 1982.

In April 1982, the WTF issued a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the ITF on the launch of the Taekwondo Integration Coordination Committee in Vancouver and Seoul to create ways to have all taekwondo practitioners participate in the 1986 Asian Games, the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and all other official international sporting functions.

But there was little progress.

In June 1986, the WTF and the ITF gathered again to find a way to integrate their organizations at a meeting in Vienna, Austria. Both parties strongly conflicted with each other in terms of what the WTF requested from the ITF – namely, to separate the ITF from perceived North Korean control. The ITF insisted that North Korea was simply a member nation of the ITF.

There was no agreement.

Through these demonstrations, the WTF tried to convince these nations of the legitimacy of the WTF over the ITF.

Subsequently, prior to the 10th Asian Taekwondo Championships, the WTF sent a demonstration team to seven Southeast Asian countries from March 6 to April 1, 1986.

The demonstration team was headed by team leader Jong-soo Hong, vice president of the Kukkiwon, and included 15 team members.

The countries visited - Myanmar, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Japan - shared a common situation: they lacked strong internal taekwondo organizations.

Through these demonstrations, the WTF tried to convince these nations of the legitimacy of the WTF over the ITF by publicizing the WTF’s upcoming role in the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, both being held in Korea.

The WTF Demonstration Team, led by Jong-soo Hong, vice president of the Kukkiwon, in action and at rest.

August 31 to September 2, 1985, the 7th WTF General Assembly and Executive Council meetings were held in the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Korea.

Despite the failure of the WTF and the ITF to join forces ahead of the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympic Games, most other developments in the taekwondo world were positive.

From August 31 to September 2, 1985, the 7th WTF General Assembly and Executive Council meetings were held in the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Korea. There were 129 officials and 19 Executive Council members present from 63 countries.

In an endorsement of his previous activities, Un-yong Kim was reelected WTF president. Six vice presidents were also elected, with terms lasting four years.

During the General Assembly meeting, the WTF approved the World Cup Taekwondo Championships in 1986 and the 1st FISU World University Taekwondo Championships to be held at the University of California, Berkeley in the United States.

On September 4-8, 1985, the 7th World Taekwondo Championships were held in Seoul’s Jamshil Gymnasium. From 63 countries came 280 male athletes and 42 international referees.

Championships, Championships, Championships

While these various events and talks were underway, taekwondo’s sporting calendar became ever more crowded.

On September 4-8, 1985, the 7th World Taekwondo Championships, which featured eight male weight categories, were held in Seoul’s Jamshil Gymnasium. From 63 countries came 280 athletes and 42 international referees.

Korea clinched seven gold medals and one silver medal, followed by the Netherlands with one gold and one bronze. Turkey came next with two silvers and one bronze, and Cote d’Ivoire and the United States with one silver and three bronzes each.

The IOC flag was displayed during the opening ceremony to publicize the fact that taekwondo was to be a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

The IOC flag is displayed during the opening ceremony to publicize the fact that taekwondo was to be a demonstration sport of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

The FISU approved taekwondo as an official sport in Zagreb, Yugoslavia on May 8, 1986.

In a showcase of the technological upgrades the sport had been undertaking, these were the first world championships in which athletes’ scores were displayed on electronic scoreboards.

The 1st International Collegiate Taekwondo Championships were held in Seoul, Korea on December 10-11, 1983 under the auspices of the Korea Collegiate Taekwondo Federation.

The event drew 150 athletes from 13 countries.

In preparing for the 2nd International University Taekwondo Championships on November 29-30, 1986, at the University of California, Berkeley, Ken Min, the organizing committee chairman and founding president of the U.S. National Collegiate Taekwondo Association, lobbied the International Uni-

versity Sports Federation (FISU) through the U.S. Collegiate Sports Council and requested recognition of taekwondo as a FISU sport.

The FISU approved taekwondo as an official sport in Zagreb, Yugoslavia on May 8, 1986.

As a result, the 2nd International University Taekwondo Championships at U.C. Berkeley, the U.S.A., was renamed the 1st FISU World University Taekwondo Championships (WUTC).

Through this event, taekwondo gained potential for future adoption as an official sport of the Summer Universiade.

The 1st FISU World University Taekwondo Championships attracted 92 male athletes from 21 countries and 28 female athletes from five countries.

The 1st FISU WUTC was highly successful and since then, the FISU has supported taekwondo continuously.

Korea’s dominance of the sport was clear. In the male division, Korea won first place with five gold medals, one silver and two bronzes; the United States earned second place with two golds, one silver and two bronzes; and Egypt merited third with one gold, two silvers and two bronzes.

In the female division, Korea won first with five golds, two silvers and one bronze; Chinese Taipei came second and the United States won third place.

The 1st FISU WUTC was highly successful and since then, the FISU has supported taekwondo continuously. Consequently, Taekwondo Commissioner of FISU, Ken Min of the University of California, Berkeley, has served as

chairman of the technical committee in each of the 12 WUTC championships.

The 1st World Cup Taekwondo Championships were held on July 4-6, 1986 at the U.S. Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs. Participating in the event were 94 athletes and 42 officials from 13 countries.

Korea won seven gold medals and one silver. An intercontinental team competition was held for the first time with athletes selected from 10 representative countries. Five countries were selected by special invitation.

The 14th South East Asian Taekwondo Championships were held on September 1619, 1987, at the Grogol Youth Center in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The 1st Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held in Barcelona, Spain on October 7-11, 1987.

Taekwondo became an official event of the South East Asian Games; 40 male and 18 female athletes participated from five countries.

Host Indonesia won first place, followed by Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and then Singapore.

The 8th World Taekwondo Championships and the 1st Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held at the Palau Municipal d’ Esports in Barcelona, Spain on October 7-11, 1987.

A total of 291 athletes from 57 countries competed in the male division and 142 athletes from 32 countries competed in the female division, accompanied by 259 officials and 46 international referees.

Prior to this tournament, the women’s division had been either a demonstration event

or friendship event. Hence, the 1st Women’s Championships were officially opened to promote female participation in taekwondo.

Moreover, a composite point system was applied beginning with this championship. In the male division, Korea won first place with six gold medals, Spain won second place and the United States took third place. In the female division, Korea won first place with three golds, two silvers and one bronze for 88 points, while second place went to Chinese Taipei and third place to Spain.

The South Pacific Games Committee notified the WTF that taekwondo had been adopted as an official sport of the South Pacific Games in December 1987 during the 8th South Pacific Games General Assembly meeting, becoming part of the 2nd South Pacific Games in 1991.

Taekwondo Comes of Age: The 1988 Seoul Olympics

WTF President Un-yong Kim was elected as an IOC member at the 91st IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland on October 17, 1986.

Following this, President Kim was also elected as president of the GAISF on October 26 in Monte Carlo, Monaco, during the GAISF’s 20th General Assembly.

The positions Kim gained showed his skill as a sports administrator, but also displayed taekwondo’s increasing international prominence, at a time when the 1986 Asian Games, seen as a “dress rehearsal” for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, were taking place. Yet again, Korea showed its dominance, winning seven gold medals out of eight weight categories in the taekwondo competition at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, losing only in the bantamweight division. Korean Team Head Coach Seung-kook Lee said, “Although we failed to reach our goal of eight gold medals, if that one gold medal was won by another country and contributes to expanding and developing taekwondo overseas, we have nothing to regret.”

Meanwhile, the WTF was working feverishly to ensure a smooth taekwondo competition at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. The first task of training was handled by the Taekwondo Competition Department, headed by Secretary General Un-kyu Uhm and a staff of 32.

Another task was to train the entire taekwondo management staff for the games. This took place on May 14.

On June 11, management training was conducted at Seoul’s Jangchung Gymnasium where the taekwondo bouts would be held.

A full practice championship was conducted on June 24 and 25, and a second rehearsal took place on August 22. A final rehearsal was conducted on September 14-16.

In order to prepare for this event, the Kukkiwon was under reconstruction with a budget of 160 million won to accommodate rehearsals for the Seoul Olympic Games. The competition hall was equipped with 1,800 seats and a media room.

WTF President Unyong Kim was elected as an IOC member at the 91st IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland on October 17, 1986.

The Seoul Olympic Games provided a tremendous boost in terms of the globalization of taekwondo.

The 1988 Seoul Olympic Games were widely seen as a “coming out party” for Korea, a newly prosperous “tiger economy” and a newly democratized nation.

Moreover, they were fully representative, showing the Olympic movement’s recovery from politically inspired boycotts that had marred the earlier 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. In Seoul, the whole world, including Eastern European nations emerging from communism, was invited.

The Seoul Olympic Games kicked off appropriately, with a mass taekwondo demonstration forming the highlight of the spectacular opening ceremony on September 17.

For the first time, the world’s TV-watching populace got to see taekwondo performed live, in perfect synchronicity, in the land of its birth.

The interest generated by that opening ceremony transferred across to the competition

floor. The competition was hosted on September 17-20, 1988, at the Jangchung Gymnasium in central Seoul.

The WTF had granted participating opportunities to 120 male athletes from 34 countries and 63 female athletes from 16 countries, as well as 58 officials.

In taekwondo’s first Olympic appearance, the Korean team won first place in the men’s division, second place went to the United States, and Spain earned third place.

But in the women’s division, the host nation’s traditional dominance was challenged for the first time. In a welcome sign of the sport’s internationalization, it was the United States which won top slot; second place went to Korea while Chinese Taipei earned third place.

The Seoul Olympic Games provided a tremendous boost in terms of the globalization of taekwondo.

Taekwondo makes its Olympic debut - as a demonstration sport - in Seoul in 1988.

Taekwondo training is a character-building process that creates a well-rounded person and promotes devotion to the welfare of mankind. Thus, a Korean martial art finds itself in accord with the Olympic philosophy and movement.

Taekwondo Values -

Olympic Values?

In just a decade and a half since the foundation of the WTF, taekwondo had made the leap from a Korean martial art to an international Olympic sport. Yet taekwondo, despite its Asian combative roots, is not far removed from the Olympic vision.

Physically, taekwondo consists of self-defense movements utilizing techniques such as kicking, striking, blocking, and evading. But it is not simply a physical practice.

In martial arts, the concept of “do” originates in Eastern philosophy. It means “road” along which human beings pass but also includes a moral sense and rules and regulations that people should follow.

The moral principles include “loyalty” and “filial piety” from Confucianism; “good deeds” from Buddhism; and “following natural laws” from Taoism. Like all human actions, taekwondo starts with the mind. The unity of its physical and spiritual sides are achieved as taekwondo techniques demonstrate the harmony of technical and artistic characteristics.

Taekwondo has been described as more than an art of action. It is a physical expression of the human will to survive and an activity to fulfill man’s spiritual cravings. According to this description from the World Taekwondo Federation Poomsae Textbook:

“All the actions in taekwondo are developed from the human instinct for self-defense reinforced with positive elements as the needs arise, and ultimately reach the absolute state to overcome the ego and arrive at the

moment of perfection, thus giving the sport a philosophical dimension.”

Essentially, taekwondo training is a character-building process that creates a well-rounded person and promotes devotion to the welfare of mankind. Thus, a Korean martial art finds itself in accord with the Olympic philosophy and movement. Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the IOC, acknowledged this when he noted: “We find (in taekwondo) principles which come close to, one might almost say merge with, those advocated by the Baron de Coubertin - principles of which the International Olympic Committee, of which I am president, is the universal guardian.

That is the reason why the IOC agreed that taekwondo should be featured on the Olympic program, thereby recognizing the tradition perpetuated by this sport, and its educational value, and with a view to encouraging its development and expansion throughout the world by virtue of its accession to Olympic glory.”

The founders of modern taekwondo created a martial art that would transcend national borders and allow Korea to spread some of its cultural heritage to other nations. Thus, the taekwondo movement in its essence embraces the vision of worldwide unity that also drives the Olympic movement. Barriers of culture, race, gender, religion and politics are overcome as each Olympics gives the world a brief glimpse of universal peace as it can and should be.

Despite the success of taekwondo during the Seoul Olympic Games and the WTF’s expanding membership, predictions that taekwondo would soon become an official sport on the Olympic program were not immediately realized.

The Post-Olympic Boost

Following its soaring Olympic profile, taekwondo was poised for a second takeoff.

As soon as the Seoul Olympic Games were over, a number of countries requested WTF membership. Hungary was first, on March 11, 1989, and a week later, on March 18, Vietnam and Syria also applied to join the WTF. Soon afterwards a flood of nations - Myanmar, Bangladesh, Congo, Palestine, Bahamas, Sierra Leone and Papua New Guinea - requested membership. The reason for this rush was not simply down to the success of taekwondo in 1988. With widespread predictions that taekwondo would soon become an official, rather than demonstration sport at the Olympic Games, the new countries sought to join and gain an advantage in medal competition.

Amid this flurry of membership application, the 9th World Taekwondo Championships and the 2nd Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held in Seoul’s Jamshil Gymnasium on October 9-14, 1989.

Participants in the championships included 310 male and 136 female athletes, 246 officials and 46 referees from 59 countries.

The Korean men’s team won the team title for the 9th consecutive time with seven gold medals and one silver medal, while the Korean women’s team won its second consecutive title with five golds and two bronzes.

Egypt clinched one gold and two bronzes in the male division; Turkey took home two silvers and one bronze.

In the female category, the United States stood at second with two golds, two silvers and one bronze, followed by Chinese Taipei with one gold, two silvers and three bronzes.

Most excitingly, the traditionally powerful

sporting nations of Eastern Europe were joining the WTF.

On February 1, 1990, the Republic of Lithuania submitted an application to become a member, subsequently becoming the 114th member nation.

From May 8-21, the WTF sent a demonstration team to tour the Soviet Union, Bulgaria and Hungary, promoting taekwondo and vitalizing taekwondo exchanges.

In July 1990, the Soviet Union applied for WTF membership and was granted an associate member status.

On November 3-4, 1990, the first Soviet Union Cup Taekwondo Championships were held in Simferopol City in Ukraine.

This was the first WTF championships to be held in the Soviet Union. One hundred and sixty-two athletes from 15 Soviet republics participated.

Prior to the event, a referee seminar was given on October 24-31, attended by 124 taekwondo instructors from across the Soviet Union.

Despite the eye-catching demonstration at the Seoul Olympic opening ceremony, the success of taekwondo during the Seoul Olympic Games and the WTF’s expanding membership, predictions that taekwondo would soon become an official sport on the Olympic program were not immediately realized.

On April 27, 1989 in Barcelona, Spain, the IOC Executive Board decided that taekwondo would be included – again - as a demonstration sport at the next Summer Olympics to be held in Barcelona, Spain in 1992.

Opening ceremony of the 9th World Taekwondo Championships in Korea.

On August 2, 1991, the WTF appointed Kumhong Lee, a member of the KTA board of directors as the new WTF secretary general upon Secretary General Chong-woo Lee’s resignation.

The WTF’s March Continues

On June 7, 1989, changes were made in the WTF Secretariat.

Chong-woo Lee, the chairman of the Kukkiwon Research Institute, became vice president and secretary general of the WTF.

The WTF hosted its 9th General Assembly on October 7, 1989 at Seoul’s Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel with the attendance of 58 national representatives.

The assembly’s main agenda included the WTF’s business report, financial report, amendment of its Rules and Regultions, amendment of its Competition Rules, election of officers, selection of host countries for upcoming championships, approval of new member nations. Issues regarding Kukkiwon promotion-test applications were also on the agenda.

During the General Assembly, President Unyong Kim was reelected for his sixth term as president and Yugoslavia was selected to host the 1991 World Cup Taekwondo Championships.

On October 6, 1989, the WTF hosted a technical meeting with technical representatives from 65 countries at the Kukkiwon’s lecture hall.

On October 8, the WTF conducted an international referee refresher course at the Kukkiwon with 165 participants. The refresher course was conducted as an academic course to train them in the code of conduct during competition, rules of competition management, grading and essentials of point deductions, explanation of competition rules and

physical training.

On October 8, an International Symposium on the medical perspective of taekwondo was held at the Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel in Seoul. During the symposium, 21 medical-related scholars from seven countries discussed a paper titled “Exercise Physiological Analysis in Taekwondo Competition.”

More changes were being made to taekwondo’s look and competition practice. On May 15, 1990, the WTF held an evaluation meeting at the Kukkiwon’s lecture hall regarding improving taekwondo’s white uniforms.

Improved uniform designs were shown and the WTF decided to carry out more research on the functional aspects of the uniform, such as how to eliminate the inconvenience of putting it on and taking it off.

The WTF said that they would conduct amended competition rules and referee signals training in 1991 although it would be tight schedule.

The federation hosted an international referee seminar and refresher course to train referees on amended competition rules and referee signals prior to the 7th Pan American Taekwondo Championships in Puerto Rico from September 6-9, 1990.

On August 2, 1991, the WTF appointed Kumhong Lee, a member of the KTA board of directors as the new WTF secretary general upon Secretary General Chong-woo Lee’s resignation.

Taekwondo became an official sport of the 3rd Goodwill Games in Leningrad in 1994.

More Championships and the Barcelona Olympics

Meanwhile, taekwondo was being added to yet more international sporting fixtures.

It debuted at the 1st Central American Games on January 5-14, 1990, at Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

On November 9, 1990, the South Asian Games Federation adopted taekwondo as an official event.

On November 30, 1990, the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO) adopted taekwondo as an official sport.

On August 5, 1991, taekwondo became an official event in Bolivia. In November 1997, the World Military Championships adopted taekwondo as an official event.

And the good news rolled on. Taekwondo became an official sport at the 5th All African Games on September 21–24, 1991 in Cairo, Egypt.

The Balkan Peninsular Games in Sophia, Bulgaria adopted taekwondo as an official sport in 1992.

The WTF Executive Council meeting was held on October 26, 1991 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Athens, Greece.

The 10th WTF General Assembly was held at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Athens, Greece, with 103 members from 54 countries attending and Luxembourg participating as an observer.

The WTF announced that the 11th Men’s and the 4th Women’s World Taekwondo Championships would take place at Madison Square Garden, in New York, to be hosted by the U.S. Taekwondo Union.

The competition to host the next world championships was between Japan and Chinese Taipei. Both countries submitted applications at the 10th WTF General Assembly but the final decision was delayed since neither applicant country was completely prepared.

On October 28-November 3, 1991, the 10th World Taekwondo Championships and the 3rd Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held in Athens, Greece with the attendance of 273 male and 161 female athletes, 272 officials and 41 referees.

Korea won first place in the men’s division with five gold medals and two bronze medals, beating out Demark with two golds and one bronze, and Spain with one gold and two bronzes.

In the women’s division, Korea took three golds and two bronzes, followed by the United States with two golds and one silver, and Turkey with one gold and three silvers.

On April 22, 1991, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) approved taekwondo as an official sport of the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan scheduled for October 1994.

1992 was an Olympic year again, and from August 3-5, taekwondo was a demonstration sport in Barcelona, Spain.

1992 was an Olympic year again, and from August 3-5, taekwondo was a demonstration sport in Barcelona, Spain.

Sixty-four male competitors from 26 countries and 64 female competitors from 25 countries participated.

The Korean men’s team won first place, followed by Spain and Chinese Taipei.

Spain took first place in the women’s category and Chinese Taipei eaarned second place, while the Korean women’s team won third place.

Following Barcelona, on August 17, 1993, the 11th WTF General Assembly was held at the Penta Ramada Hotel in New York City, New York.

During the assembly meeting, 84 national representatives participated. Kim was once

again reelected, and the selection of officials was delegated to him.

During the General Assembly meeting, the hosting right of the 12th Men’s and the 5th Women’s World Championships was awarded to Cairo, Egypt. This was the first World Taekwondo Championships on the African continent, and many hoped that it would be a great opportunity to develop taekwondo across Africa and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, 16 new member nations were approved, increasing the WTF’s national membership to 130. The newly approved member nations were South Africa, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Saint Vincent Grenadines, Belarus, Gabon, Uzbekistan, Aruba, Luxembourg, Sri Lanka, Bosnia Herzegovina, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Slovenia and Kyrgyzstan.

On September 18, 1993, the WTF announced that Cuba had been accepted as a new member nation.

The 11th World Taekwondo Championships and the 4th Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held in New York, the United States on August 19-21, 1993.

Participating at the event were 443 male athletes, 226 female athletes, 474 officials and 100 referees from 83 countries.

Korea won six gold medals for the overall male title, followed by Spain with one gold and two bronzes, and France with one gold and one bronze.

In the female category, Korea took five golds, one silver and one bronze, followed by Spain with two golds and one silver, and Chinese Taipei with a gold and two bronzes.

The WTF adopted an instant scoring system that the KTA had pioneered. This event was hosted in the iconic Madison Square Garden, with live coverage by ABC TV.

On September 18, 1993, the WTF announced that Cuba had been accepted as a new member nation, following an expression of interest by the Cuban Taekwondo Association. With the addition of Cuba, the WTF’s membership rose to 140 countries.

In further publicity efforts, from November 26 to December 11, 1993, the WTF sent tae -

kwondo demonstration team to Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand.

And in January 1994, an “Olympic Status Promotion Committee for Taekwondo” met in Seoul with the attendance of 49 leaders from sports and other circles.

And in July 1994, taekwondo became an official sport of the 3rd Goodwill Games in Leningrad, Russia.

The 11th World Taekwondo Championships at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1993.

THE WTF TAKES OFF:

1994-2000

At the 103rd IOC Congress on September 4, 1994, WTF taekwondo won a unanimous 85 votes, securing its official Olympic berth in Sydney in 2000.

Taekwondo Wins Official Olympic Status

Post-Barcelona, the WTF could look back with some satisfaction at its progress. In 1980, taekwondo had been recognized by the IOC, then became a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

But it was still not a full program sport. Hence, on January 15, 1994, the WTF formed a task force to promote taekwondo as an official Olympic sport in advance of the upcoming IOC Congress in Paris in September.

The WTF hosted the International Taekwondo Championships at Seoul’s Jangchung Gymnasium on April 22-23, 1994, inviting athletes from Korea, Spain, the United States and the upcoming Olympic host Australia.

The event was conducted using WTF competition rules, and featured eight weight classes for both female and male athletes, from finweight to heavyweight.

Ostensibly, the championships were to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the inception of the modern IOC, but it was also designed to demonstrate the excellence of taekwondo to invited IOC Program Commission members. The IOC Presidential Cup was awarded to the winner of the first-place country.

When the WTF Executive Council meeting was held in the Cayman Islands, Georgetown on July 20, 1994, the agenda was full.

The host city of the 12th World Taekwondo Championships was changed. It was supposed to have been held in Cairo, Egypt, but was reassigned to Manila, the Philippines, to be held on November 15-21, 1995.

The next World Cup Taekwondo Championships on February 20-22, 1996 was granted to São Paulo, Brazil, while Spain won the rights to host the 1st World Junior Taekwondo Championships. And Madagascar, Afghanistan, Cuba and the UAE became new members of the WTF, pending the final approval at the WTF General Assembly.

Soon after, a more pressing task arrived, as in September 1994, the 103rd IOC Congress in Paris, France would pass judgment on taekwondo’s Olympic dreams.

At the 103rd IOC Congress on September 4, 1994, WTF taekwondo won a unanimous 85 votes, securing its official Olympic berth in Sydney in 2000.

The accession to Olympic status – the gold standard of world sports – was a powerful endorsement of the work done by the WTF in the preceding years.

These must include its strategy of globalizing and promoting the sport worldwide; of seeking membership in the widest possible range of international sporting bodies; of researching and developing best-of-breed scoring and judging systems; and of invit-

The 103rd IOC Congress underway in Paris on September 4, 1994.

ing key IOC members to observe taekwondo competitions both before and after the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

Kim was overjoyed. He called taekwondo’s official accession to the Olympics, “A heroic Korean deed of historical proportions.”

To celebrate the adoption of taekwondo as an Olympic sport, the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS) Cup International Taekwondo Tournament was held on December 10-11, 1994, in Seoul’s Jangchung Gymnasium, the site of the Olympic taekwondo competition at the 1988 Summer Olymipic Games.

Thirty-one male athletes and 30 female athletes from 12 countries and 12 referees participated in the tournament.

Meanwhile, the news about taekwondo’s heightened status had spread far beyond the taekwondo community.

Korean President Young-sam Kim himself delivered congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony. “I would like to congratulate taekwondo on becoming successful in globalization as a traditional martial art,” he said. “I hope you continue to develop taekwondo as a sport-for-all program, so that people in the world can enjoy it.”

After the ceremony, the president was presented with a taekwondo uniform and belt - which he immediately donned.

On February 24, 1995, the WTF hosted a

meeting “Commemorating Taekwondo Becoming an Olympic Sport” with 400 participants, including taekwondo instructors from Korea and overseas, ambassadors to Korea and VIPs from political, business and sports circles.

Taekwondo’s new status also attracted corporate sponsorship.

In a celebratory mood, the WTF hosted its 12th General Assembly on November 17, 1995, at the Grand Boulevard Hotel in Manila, the Philippines with the participation of 87 national representatives.

During the assembly, discussion focused on the tasks following taekwondo’s acceptance as an Olympic sport. Talks also addressed competition rule amendments and where to host the next world championships. Hong Kong won the hosting rights by receiving a majority of votes.

Moreover, the General Assembly approved 13 new member nations, increasing WTF membership to 137 countries. Among the newly accepted member nations were Palestine, Afghanistan, Cuba, San Marino, the UAE, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Cambodia.

The 12th World Taekwondo Championships and the 5th Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held on November 1521, 1995, at the Manila Folk Arts Theater in the Philippines.

There were 379 male competitors from 74 countries, 219 female competitors from 50 countries and 56 referees present.

And for the first time, sporting superpower China participated in the championships.

Korea’s male team won first place with five golds. Joint second places went to Spain, Germany and Turkey with one gold each, meaning Korea’s men’s team had defended

12 consecutive championships titles since the 1st championships in 1973.

The Korean women’s team grabbed five golds and two silvers for the top place, followed by Chinese Taipei with one gold and one silver, and Turkey with one gold and two bronzes. Spain came next with one gold, one silver and one bronze, while the United States clinched one silver and two bronzes.

Scenes from the 12th General Assembly in Manila, the Philippines in 1995.

Taekwondo was finally included in the official Asian Games program at the last minute, along with China’s wushu.

Pre-Sydney Upgrades

With taekwondo now an official event at the Olympic Games, the WTF worked to further upgrade the sport.

The organization accepted competition rule amendments from the KTA. These suggestions included: adopting a differential scoring system and a two-corner judge system; expanding the competition arena; and changing referees’ and supervisors’ uniforms.

The WTF Executive Council gathered on June 26, 1996 at the Plaza Hotel in Barcelona, Spain to discuss changes to WTF Rules and Regulations and Competition Rules amendments.

Prior to this meeting, the 34th International Referee Seminar was conducted, with 250 candidates in attendance. Participants trained on the competition rules and were required to pass individual written, physical and interview tests to become certified.

The WTF hosted the 1st World Junior Tae -

kwondo Championships in Barcelona, Spain from June 27-30, 1996.

There were 273 male and 183 female athletes and 33 referees from 53 countries.

Korea won first place in the men’s division, Jordan won second and the United States placed third.

In the women’s division, Korea won first place, while Chinese Taipei took second and Sweden placed third.

At this juncture, preparations were under way for the 1998 Bangkok Summer Asian Games.

Previously, taekwondo had had a hard time becoming an official sport of the Hiroshima Asian Games because Japan was trying to promote karate.

However, taekwondo was finally included in the official program at the last minute, along with China’s wushu.

Kim announced that the WTF would use blue and red head gear in all championships in order to distinguish competitors.

Meanwhile, attention was being paid to ensuring that taekwondo competition was the most dynamic possible format.

This sparked a major debate on the occasion of the 35th Anniversary of the Korea Taekwondo Association at the Olympic Hall Conference room on September 18, 1996 in Seoul.

After the Cancun, Mexico IOC Session on November 17, 1996, IOC member and WTF President Un-yong Kim said that the IOC had increased participation in the taekwondo competition at Sydney from 64 athletes to 100.

Kim was in the spotlight when the “Kim Unyong Cup International Taekwondo Championships” were held on June 13, 1997 at the Birmingham Indoor Gymnasium in Birmingham, the U.K.

Some 580 athletes from 37 countries participated. It was planned to be held every two years, but the event proved to be a one-off.

In a speech at the event, Kim announced that the WTF would use blue and red head gear in all championships in order to distinguish competitors.

On November 18, 1997, the WTF hosted its General Assembly at the Hong Kong Marina Hotel, where Kim was reelected for his seventh term as president.

As per his decision, Joshua Henson from the United States, Marco Saila of Spain, Giran -

dole of Ivory Coast, Un-kyu Uhm of Korea and Chong-woo Lee of Korea were appointed as vice presidents.

Nobuyoshi Takahashi from Japan was reappointed as treasurer and Dalibope from Croatia and Tae-eun Lee of Canada were appointed as auditors.

Also at the meeting, Tahiti and 17 new member nations were admitted to the WTF, increasing the number of member nations to 153.

The 13th World Taekwondo Championships and the 6th Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held in Hong Kong on November 19-23, 1997. Participating from 80 countries were 434 male athletes, 276 female athletes, and 68 referees.

Yet again, Korea won both the men’s and women’s divisions.

Korea won four gold medals and two bronze medals in the male category, followed by Spain with two golds and one bronze, and Chinese Taipei with one gold, one silver and two bronzes.

In the female division, Korea won seven golds and one silver, while Chinese Taipei followed with one gold, one silver and three bronzes. Morocco, Greece and France came next with one silver each.

A long-held hope was re-expressed in July 1998, when the WTF invited North Korea to join the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

During the championships, the WTF adopted a cumulative scoring method to place winners. If an athlete weighed in at their target weight for their division, he or she would receive one point; a bronze medal was awarded one point, a silver medal would receive three points and a gold seven points. Therefore, Korea earned 78 points for the men’s team and 104 points for the women’s team, winning both divisions.

Championship management was considered the best ever.

The Hong Kong Coliseum, the competition site, was an up-to-date facility equipped with 10,000 seats, and the organizing committee placed careful attention on hospitality, medical and volunteer management.

Tabulating computerized scoring encountered difficulties but the committee had specially hired programmers to run the events smoothly, and also provided convenient transportation by operating shuttle buses every 30 minutes.

The 1998 World Cup Taekwondo Championships were held on June 5-7, 1998 in Sindelfingen, Germany. One hundred sixty-five male athletes, 154 female athletes, and 40 referees participated from 27 countries.

During the championships, the WTF held Ex-

ecutive Council and General Assembly meetings. In the latter, Croatia was chosen to host the pre-Olympic World Qualification Tournament, to be held in July or August 1999. In addition, five countries were approved as new WTF members.

A long-held hope was re-expressed in July 1998, when the WTF invited North Korea to join the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Un-yong Kim held a press conference on July 30 where he revealed, “WTF Vice President Joshua Henson contacted North Korea and asked them to participate in the Olympic Selection event to be held in July 1999 in Croatia and North Korea expressed that they do have the potential to participate in the Olympic Games.”

Kim added, “If the North Korean team follow WTF competition rules and regulations, then we would proactively encourage them to participate in the event by paying for their transportation. If North Korea becomes a member of the WTF, the WTF will push forward with exchange activities and periodic exchanges between the North and South.”

The 2nd World Junior Taekwondo Championships were held on September 9-13, 1998 in Istanbul, Turkey, drawing 263 male athletes, 205 female athletes and 49 referees from 50 countries.

First-class referee training was held on each continent...the top 100 referees would be selected.

New Referees, New Gear, New Rules

Meanwhile, the WTF was tightening up its referee selection procedures prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

The WTF announced that it would eliminate accompanying referees who traveled with their competition teams.

Official letters were sent on this matter. Henceforth, at any major championships between, say, Europe and Asia, the A-class referees would have to come from a third continent.

The WTF also stated that it would partially reimburse the expenses of referees travelling from a third continent.

Given these issues, the WTF reinforced international referee training. The federation

sent a notice to the Asian Taekwondo Union and other continental unions about referee refresher courses to select 24 Olympic referees for Sydney, offering referee refresher courses in Asia, Europe and the Pan American regions.

First-class referee training was to be held on each continent to select 200 referees, then, through placements in various international championships, the top 100 referees would be selected.

They would be sent to the 14th World Taekwondo Championships in Edmonton, Canada and the Continental Olympic Qualification Tournaments up to the beginning of 2000 in order to choose the final 50; a final 24 would be selected for Sydney.

The WTF, the Kukkiwon and the KTA investigated an ‘electronic sensor scoring system’ developed by the Amest Company in the U.S.A.

To make scoring ever-more fair and transparent, an electronic scoring system for taekwondo events, similar to that used in fencing, was reviewed by the WTF in 1999.

The WTF, the Kukkiwon and the KTA investigated an “electronic sensor scoring system” developed by the Amest Company in the U.S.A.

Ideally, such a system would obviate all human error or favoritism from the corner judges’ “push button” scoring system, and from among referees’ judgments. The WTF approved the electronic impact-sensor scoring system, which uses a wireless sensor, so that when a clean attack is executed, the points automatically appear on the score board, but if a contestant kicks or punches the back or other illegal target area, a point is deducted.

Still, concerns were raised that strikes with the palm, elbow and other illegal techniques could register as legitimate scoring points.

“Although, there are still various problems, by piloting a lot of tests and practicing with it, we will decide whether we will adopt the system,” WTF Secretary General Kum-hong Lee stated.

The Organizing Committee for the Sydney Olympic Games requested equipment from the Swiss Timing Company and asked the company to design and program it in preparation for the 2000 Olympic Games.

Since the Olympic Qualification Tournaments would be held on separate continents, the WTF adopted computer scoring systems to reduce disputes in referees’ judgment and to utilize referees from third continents.

The WTF announced its list of recipients of the Olympic Solidarity Scholarships on February 5, 1999.

The recipients were selected equally from each continent based on the criteria of athletes, who had the most potential for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, or who could lead world taekwondo forward in the future.

A total of 618 Olympic Solidarity Scholarships were awarded, including 187 awards to female athletes.

The WTF hosted an Executive Council meeting at the Edmonton Coast Plaza Hotel in Edmonton, Canada, on June 1, 1999, and approved a sudden-death system for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Under this system, an additional round of three minutes would be added if a match was a tie at the conclusion of the regular three rounds of three minutes. The match would end as soon as one competitor scored a point - or if the opponent was penalized with a deduction. This was the first time a sudden-death system had been adopted since the WTF’s establishment in 1973.

The WTF also adopted a repechage for thirdand fourth-place rounds. These revised competition rules would be applied to the Sydney Olympics only – not to Olympic Qualifications, World Cup Taekwondo or other championships.

The WTF hosted its 14th General Assembly on June 2, 1999, at the Edmonton Coast Plaza Hotel in Edmonton, Canada. The members approved Lyon, France, as the hosting city for the 14th World Cup Taekwondo Championships in 2000; Jeju, Korea, as the host of the 15th World Taekwondo Championships in 2001; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as the host for the World Cup Taekwondo Championships in 2001.

The WTF also changed parts of its bylaws, increasing the number of Executive Council members from 15 to 18 and the number of vice presidents from five to six. They also created an educational committee to elevate the quality of referees and approved Bangladesh, Solomon Islands, Estonia, Haiti, the Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis as new member nations.

The WTF hosted the 14th World Taekwondo Championships and the 7th Women’s World Taekwondo Championships on June 2, 1999, in Edmonton, Canada. During the championships, the Korean men’s team won their 14th consecutive victory, while Iran placed second.

In the women’s division, the Korean team earned first place, Spain placed second. The Chinese women’s team was outstanding even though it was their first experience at a world taekwondo championship.

The Year of the Sydney Olympics

The first year of mankind’s second millennium was also the year of the Sydney Olympic Games - taekwondo’s first appearance on the program as an official, rather than demonstration, event.

One hundred taekwondo athletes from 44 countries were confirmed to participate, including eight competitors from the host country of Australia and four wildcard holders.

Out of eight weight categories, there were four male and four female divisions; each

country was limited to two male and two female athletes per division. Korea, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, Cuba and Spain sent the maximum number of competitors, filling all four weight categories.

The WTF approved the 1st Korea Open Chuncheon International Taekwondo Championship hosted by the city Chuncheon from June 24 to July 1, 2000.

Academic Symposium

Taekwondo was becoming the subject of academic inquiry. Director of the 12th World Taekwondo Championships in Manila in 1995, Sung-chung Hong, WTF Collegiate Committee Chairman Ken Min and Vice Chairman of Korea National Physical Education University Seung-kuk Lee inaugurated the 1st Academic Symposium in conjunction with the World Taekwondo Championships, an event that would continue alongside future world championships.

The Collegiate Committee organized the 1st Collegiate Scientific Congress and the WTF hosted the 1st Olympic Taekwondo Academic Congress on May 5-8, 2000, at the Seoul Olympic Hall with a theme of “Taekwondo and a New Millennium.”

The main purpose of the congress was to find a place to discuss academic approaches of taekwondo by reestablishing its theories and practices and developing it to be more scientific and systematic through collaboration with each member nation of the WTF.

The discussion on theoretical and practical aspects of taekwondo was divided into five parts: history and philosophy; biomechanics; measurement and evaluation; exercise physiology and biochemistry; taekwondo competition; and techniques.

‘We must host the Sydney Olympics successfully in order to have taekwondo in the 2004 Athens Olympics and have permanent status in the Olympics.’

Great attention was being paid within the WTF to make sure everything went smoothly in Sydney for while the sport was now officially part of the program rather than a demonstration sport, a good showing was essential if taekwondo was to keep its status.

“We must host the Sydney Olympics successfully in order to have taekwondo in the 2004 Athens Olympics and have permanent status in the Olympics,” Secretary General Kum-hong Lee said during an interview with “Taekwondo” magazine in its August 2000 edition.

On referee selection criteria, Lee stated, “We selected 71 international referees who served in various international cham -

pionships and educated them through international referee refresher courses.” He explained the referee selection for the Olympics: “The WTF has selected six referees from each of the four continents for a total 24 referees; only one referee from each country was selected.”

Asked what was needed for taekwondo to gain permanent status in the Olympic Games, Lee responded: “We must be successful in competition management and we also must ensure transparent judgment and smooth operation to receive positive recognition.”

He concluded, “Fair judgment will decide whether taekwondo will be an official sport in the next Olympic Games.”

Taekwondo at the 2000 Sydney Olympics

Then the Games began.

The taekwondo competition kicked off in Sydney on September 27, 2000 in the city’s Olympic Park State Sports Center with 103 participating athletes: 55 males and 48 females from 51 countries.

There were four weight categories for each gender. The male weight categories were -58kg, -68kg, -80kg and +80kg, and the female weight categories were -49kg, -57kg, -67kg and +67kg.

Each participating country was allowed to send two male and two female competitors per weight category, although the host country was given an exception.

Referee entry was limited to one per participating country.

The competition took place on a raised stage 1 meter off the ground, so that the bouts appeared closer to spectators.

The competition rounds were three minutes per round, with a total of three rounds, and a sudden-death round added in cases of ties.

Repechage rounds were also adopted, so that competitors who lost in the quarterfinals would get the opportunity to compete for a bronze. Therefore, only one gold, one silver and one bronze medal was awarded per weight category.

Samaranch praised the matches ‘… as excellent as any other sport.’

In the final of the -49kg female match, Australia’s Lauren Burns became the first official Olympic taekwondo gold medalist with her winning score of 4-2 against Cuba’s Urbia Melendez.

IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, WTF President and IOC Executive Board Member

Un-yong Kim, Korean IOC Member Kun-hee Lee, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Spanish King Juan Carlos and many other dignitaries from the international sports community were among the audience for the taekwondo events.

Samaranch praised the matches “… as excellent as any other sport.”

Scenes from the 2000 Sydney Olympic taekwondo events.

WTF CHALLENGES, WTF REFORMS: 2001-2004

Ups and Downs

The year 2001 got off to a good start when, in January, sporting powerhouse China accepted taekwondo as an official sport in its National Sports Festival, held every four years.

The nation had already proven its potential, winning a gold in the women’s -67kg category during the Sydney Olympic Games and one gold, one silver and two bronzes at the 1999 World Taekwondo Championships.

In the following month, the WTF held a seminar at Seoul’s Olympic Parktel with Technical Committee members from 32 countries on amending competition rules.

Following up on earlier suggestions, the group suggested that the WTF adopt a graded scoring system in order to encourage competitors to vary their attacking techniques and make competition more exciting by enabling a competitor who is behind on points to retrieve the match with a riskier, but higher scoring technique.

Hence, a one-point score for head attacks would be raised to a two-point score, with an extra point being awarded for an attack that knocks down or solidly impacts the opponent. The system was officially approved during an Executive Council and General Assembly meeting in November, 2001, at the Jeju World Taekwondo Championships.

The 15th World Taekwondo Championships and the 8th Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held in Jeju, Korea on November 1-7, 2001.

The championships attracted 368 male and 275 female athletes from 90 countries.

In the men’s division, Korea won two gold medals and two bronze medals for the overall title, followed by France, Iran and the United States with one gold and one silver medal each. In the women’s category, Korea clinched six golds and one silver, followed by Turkey with one gold and one bronze. Great Britain came next with one gold.

The amendments changed the awarding of one point for all target areas to two points for head shots and one point for body shots. One additional point would also be awarded if the opponent were to be knocked down.

Having played such a prominent role in the WTF, Un-yong Kim, who had become an IOC member in 1986 and an IOC Vice President in 1992, declared that he would run for president of the International Olympic Committee in the IOC presidential election on April 3, 2001.

Kim held a press conference at the Monte Carlo Palace Hotel in Monaco where he made a bold case. “The IOC has turned into a beast that cannot handle itself and the fundamental Olympic ideology had been ruined by commercialism,” he stated. “I have decided to run for the position of IOC president in order to fix these problems.”

When he officially declared his decision to challenge the incumbent IOC president, GAISF Secretary General Don Porter, General Director John Cloudsuff and WTF Secretary General Kum-hong Lee were part of the audience.

On October 31, 2001, at the 15th General Assembly of the WTF at the Jeju Grand Hotel, the WTF held its own presidential election. During the assembly, WTF Vice President Joshua Henson challenged Kim for the leadership position, but after the financial report was issued, said, “I acknowledge that taekwondo would develop more if President Kim continues to carry out his role as president,” and resigned from his position. Hence, Kim would continue to lead the WTF for the next four years.

Being aware of the need to make taekwondo competition more spectator friendly, and mindful of the various suggestions to this effect that had been made, on October 31, 2001, the WTF passed an amendment to competition rules.

The amendments changed the awarding of one point for all target areas to two points for head shots and one point for body shots. One additional point would also be awarded if the opponent were to be knocked down.

Target areas were expanded to the entire area of the chest guard. In addition, if a contestant moved out of the competition ring’s boundaries, or fell down after an attack, he or she received a 0.5 point deduction.

Furthermore, the competition ring was expanded from 8 x 8 to 12 x 12 meters. Women’s division matches changed from three three-minute rounds to three two-minute rounds.

The WTF decided that the 2002 World Cup Taekwondo Championships would take place in Tokyo, Japan.

The cities of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Perth, Australia and Long Beach, the United States, competed to be the host city for the 2003 World Taekwondo Championships. By vote, Garmisch-Partenkirchen was selected.

In June 2001, the WTF restructured its organization to ensure it met the goals stated in the mission statement.

The organization appointed members to the Referee and Women’s Committees as well as appointing Young-yeol Oh as deputy secretary general. Oh had worked in Australia for 30 years, was fluent in English, had served as the Australian National Team Coach for 25 years, and had been recognized for serving as Competition Committee Chairman during the Sydney Olympics. Chul-oh Kim, Manseek Choe would also serve as deputy secretary generals.

WTF President Un-yong Kim also appointed the following committee chairmen, forming the Executive Council committee: Technical Committee: Sang-keun Song (Korea); Legal Committee: Hwa Chong (U.S.A.); Medical Committee: Paul Viscogliosi (France); Public Relations Committee: Luc Sougne (Belgium); Financial Committee: Maruyama Kazunori (Japan); Women’s Committee: Young-sook Kim (U.S.A.); Collegiate Committee: Ken Min (U.S.A.); Championship Committee: Ki-seon

Kim (Korea); Referee Committee: Chan-yong Kim (U.S.A.); Junior Committee: Cengiz Yagiz (Turkey); Sports for All Committee: Mok Yoon (Kenya); and Educational Committee: Kyong-myong Lee (Korea).

A coaching seminar by the WTF was held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on September 20–22, 2003, in conjunction with the 16th World Taekwondo Championships and the 9th World Women’s Taekwondo Championships.

Ken Min and Sun-jae Park, president of the Italian Taekwondo Federation, were the main lecturers for the symposium. This symposium and certification program would be a one-of-a-kind; it was not continued afterwards.

Taekwondo was first introduced as an optional sport in the 22nd Summer Universiade in Daegu, Korea, with a total number of 303 athletes - 176 male, 127 female - from 62 nations. It continued to be featured at future universiades.

The WTF Secretariat

The WTF moved its secretariat office from the Kukkiwon on February 15, 2002 to Gwanghwamun in downtwn Seoul. On January 14, 2005 it shifted again to the Seocho-dong Diplomatic Center, also in Seoul, where it would stay until February 29,2006.

The WTF office moved to the Joyang building in Gangnam on March 1, 2006 and finally ended up in Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province just outside Seoul on May 1, 2012.

WTF-ITF Integration Efforts

While these promising developments were underway, yet more steps had been taken for taekwondo integration.

On August 24, 2002, IOC member Unyong Kim had met North Korean Sports Committee Vice Chairman and ITF President Ung Chang in Monaco where they agreed to push for taekwondo exchanges.

At the Asian Games in Busan in October 2002, Kim and Chang observed the taekwondo events together; both were members of the IOC.

Following up on this promising development, Kim met Chang at the Inter-Burgo Hotel in August 2003 in Daegu, Korea. At the meeting, Chang suggested integration committees for the different federations’ techniques and administrations.

After new WTF President Chungwon Choue was inaugurated in June 2004, he met Chang at a Korean restaurant in Athens to discuss reconciliation. The meeting lasted a couple of hours and the two agreed to continue discussions to seek a “mutual win-win.”

In June 2005 at the IOC headquarters in

Lausanne, Switzerland, Choue and Chang agreed to develop a committee to discuss the integration plan, arbitrated by IOC President Jacques Rogge.

After several working-level talks, the two signed a memorandum of understanding in December 2006 in Doha, Qatar for the launch of a Taekwondo Integration Coordination Committee.

The first WTF-ITF Taekwondo Integration Coordination Committee meeting was held in Beijing, China in March 2007. The second and third meetings were held in Beijing in June and October 2007, and the fourth meeting took place in March 2008 in Beijing.

The WTF-ITF Taekwondo Integration Coordination Committee had their fifth and last committee meeting on September 1011, 2008 in Beijing.

During these committee meetings, technical differences in poomsae and competition methods were discussed, in addition to the potential for both federations to participate in future Olympic Games. These developments, however, did not proceed.

On May 23, 2003, the Korean government recognized 23 contributors with national tokens, medals and government awards at the 30th Founding Anniversary of the WTF on May 28, 2003 at Seoul’s Hilton Hotel.

The host was Chang-dong Lee, Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism. In 30 years, the WTF had grown to 170 member nations and 50 million practitioners, as well as becoming an official sport of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Spanish Taekwondo Federation President Manuel Colmenero Perbida and four others received the Sports Merit Medal of Keosangjang (“Big Elephant”); former WTF Secretary General Bong-shik Kim and two other senior members received the Sports Merit Medal of Baekmajang (“White Horse”), and Maria Rosario Borello Castillo of the Guatemalan Taekwondo Federation received a sports medal along with ten others.

Korean President Moo-hyun Roh congratulated WTF President Un-yong Kim and eight other IOC members at the Blue House, the Korean presidential mansion in Seoul, as part of the celebrations.

In mid-July, the WTF announced an amendment to competition rules and

sent official notices to member nations. These amendments were approved at the General Assembly on September 22 and were applied to the 2003 World Taekwondo Championships scheduled for Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

The 16th World Taekwondo Championships and the 9th Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany on September 24-29, 2003.

The championships drew 542 male and 352 female athletes from 97 countries, as well as 60 international referees.

In the men’s division, Korea topped other countries in the medal tally with three gold medals and two bronze medals. Iran came next with two golds, two silvers and one bronze, followed by Chinese Taipei with two golds and one bronze. In the women’s category, Korea grabbed five golds, followed by China with one gold, one silver and one bronze, and Spain and Greece with one gold and two bronzes each. Croatia followed with two silvers.

On November 19, 2003, taekwondo was named an official sport of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the 114th Session of the IOC in Mexico City. The sport’s future seemed assured.

Scenes from the 16th World Championships (top and center) and from the WTF 30th Anniversary celebrations in Seoul in 2003 (bottom).

Change at the Top

Un-yong Kim had been the central figure in getting the WTF established and off the ground, as well as taking taekwondo into global sports arenas and into the Olympic Games.

He was noted for his development of strong international networks and allies, and his unequalled organizational abilities.

On January 19, 2004, he resigned as WTF president.

Thirty years of honorable service ended in disgrace: He was found guilty by a Korean court of corruption and embezzlement and sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment.

The presiding judge said he had granted Kim a light sentence due to his services to sport. But it was a heavy blow. Kim had previously lost his IOC position following a scandal involving his son during the bidding for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

After the court decision, Kim declared that he would resign his seat in the National Assembly and his presidencies of the Kukkiwon and the WTF.

With Kim’s shock departure, the WTF argued for two weeks over a successor, but proved unable to appoint an acting president even though the federation had six sitting vice presidents: William Hybl, Cha-sok Park and Sang-chul Lee all from the United States, Sun-jae Park from Italy, Nat Indrapana from Thailand, and Thomas Sithole from Zimbabwe.

According to the WTF Rules and Regulations, if the president is absent, then a vice

president should become acting president. Yet none of the six were appointed.

Un-yong Kim named Hybl as acting president after Kim had resigned from his position at a press conference, but due to the timing, the WTF office debated whether they should recognize Hybl or not.

The WTF scheduled an Executive Council meeting on February 15 to discuss who would succeed the president, but some consequences looked inevitable due to the sudden power vaccum: after all, Kim had been at the helm for three decades.

On February 15, 2004, WTF Vice President Sun-jae Park was elected as acting WTF president at an Executive Council meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, during the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament for the Athens Olympic Games.

Kum-hong Lee submitted his resignation letter to acting President Park after deciding that he had completed his responsibilities since he nominated Park as acting president at the Executive Council. Park strongly encouraged Lee to rescind his resignation, but he was not successful.

Park served about four months during which he appointed Ki-sun Kim as acting secretary general. He had been working as a taekwondo instructor for police officers and was recommended by taekwondo elder Chong-woo Lee. Ki-sun Kim attended the WTF office for a month.

It was in this unstable atmosphere that, on June 11, 2004, the WTF held one of its most important General Assemblies at the Incheon Hyatt Hotel in Korea.

In the WTF preisident election, Sun-jae Park withdrew from the ballot before the final vote leaving Cha-sok Park, president of the Pan American Taekwondo Union and vice president of the WTF, as the only opponent for Chungwon Choue at the ballot. Park, however, did not win. The WTF had a brandnew president.

The winner of the vote, to serve Kim Unyong’s remaining term, was Dr. Chungwon Choue, a newcomer to the WTF. Choue’s background was very different to Kim’s.

An academic and the eldest son of the founder of Kyung Hee University – one of Korea’s leading private universities - Choue inherited his father’s interest in the importance of physical training and in global peace initiatives.

Choue, who had served as president of Kyung Hee University two times, brought widespread experience to the role. He had previously served as a Korean Olympic Committee advisor, Pacific Asian Association chairman, China’s Renmin University visiting professor, Korea Sports Council vice president, and Korea Taekwondo Association advisor. He had established taekwondo as a four-year academic discipline at Kyung Hee University and served as president of the university’s International Taekwondo Academy since 1995.

Amid reports in global media that taekwondo could face Olympic disqualification, Choue realized immediately that he had to clean up the WTF’s act, but given that his first term was so short, he first had to solidify his own position. Choue was reelected to a full, four-year term on April 12, 2005 at the General Assembly that took place during the World Taekwondo Championships in Madrid, Spain.

Momentum Regained: Poomsae Seminar

Although political turmoil was shaking the WTF at the top, the federation continued to administer taekwondo.

On April 21-25, 2004, the WTF hosted the 1st International Poomsae Referee Seminar in Suncheon, Korea.

The seminar was conducted to teach newly standardized poomsae and to produce instructors and referees for international events. One hundred and seventy instructors from Korea and other countries participated in the event. Previously, taekwondo competition had been limited to kyorugi (sparring); now the aim was to expand this to poomsae (solo, choreographed patterns).

Young-yeol Oh and Kyu-hyun Lee participated as instructors, with senior 8th and 9th dan holders participating along with junior instructors. It focused on theories and techniques for eight hours a day.

The seminar was overdue as the WTF had long been preparing for poomsae tournaments.

The WTF had made a decision on April 17, 2000, at an Executive Council meeting in Lyon, France, to host the 1st World Poomsae Championships in 2002 (although that event would not, eventually, take place).

To accelerate poomsae championship developments, the Council decided to have the WTF Technical Committee prepare a first draft of poomsae competition rules.

From then on, WTF Secretary General Kumhong Lee took on the task of setting standards. The first attempt was completed after the two public hearings in March and April 2003 at the WTF office. The output was titled Taekwondo Poomsae and Poomsae Competition Rule Book.

Taekwondo at the 2004 Athens Olympics

On August 26-29, 2004, the 28th Athens Olympic Games’ taekwondo events were held with the attendace of 64 male athletes, 60 female athletes and 24 international referees.

During the final match of the last day, Daesung Moon from Korea faced Alexandros Nikolaidis from Greece in the +80kg division.

Moon led the match carefully to avoid kicks. Nikolaidis also played his game very carefully against Moon’s powerful left-leg; they were both cagey. Then, 2 minutes 10 seconds into

the first round, Nikolaidis attacked with a right-leg roundhouse kick; Moon, with perfect timing, turned counterclockwise to execute a left-leg back spinning hook kick that struck Nikolaidis in the face and dropped him. After the match, Moon approached his opponent to comfort him, winning him a round of applause for his sportsmanship.

Moon’s picture-perfect kick and sporting gesture helped restore the image of taekwondo, battered by critics who said matches were unentertaining because of the defensiveness of most fighters.

Sixty countries participated in the Athens Olympics and the regional preliminary events.

Sixty countries participated in the Athens Olympics and the regional preliminary events. Chinese Taipei, China, Korea, Iran, the U.S.A., Cuba, Greece, Mexico, Turkey, France, Thailand, Egypt and Venezuela won Olympic medals.

The medal distribution covered 18 countries in 2000, 13 countries in 2004 and increased to 22 countries in 2008. Through these endeavors, the WTF solidified its position as a truly International Federation.

Scenes from the 2004 Athens Olympic taekwondo events in 2004.

Reform Takes Root

Olympic taekwondo had, once again, been a success, but the WTF’s newly minted president saw his first priority as reform.

WTF President Choue’s chief goals were twofold: To make taekwondo more fun and dynamic to watch, and to increase ethical practices, fairness, transparency and accountability.

He also hoped to improve the overall reputation of the WTF and of taekwondo.

Moreover, there was a desire to upgrade the WTF’s administrative function, making it more globalized, professionalized, transparent and efficient, in line with the IOC’s ongoing reform efforts.

These reform efforts were undertaken internally, as well as by teams working in public relations and sports marketing, backed by a cadre of taekwondo elders and IOC members.

The WTF Reform Committee consisted of WTF Vice President Nat Indrapana as chairman and 10 other members, including Ivan Dibos, the Peru IOC member; Emmanuel Bayle, Giovanni Di Cola, Pierre Ferrari, Ahmed Fouly, Andre Gorgemans, Sung-chon Hong, Dai-soon Lee, Dae-won Moon and Jizhong Wei.

The first Reform Committee meeting was held on December 8-11, 2004, in Seoul; the second was held on January 25-27, 2005, in Bangkok, Thailand.

The reform agenda was broken down into two categories – sports issues and WTF issues - and under these, into 16 subcategories. Under sports issues, the subcategories were: competition format, referee selection, public relations, marketing, development, doping and solidarity. Under WTF issues, the subcategories were membership, organizational structure, headquarters administration, ethical guidelines, finance, competition management, international relations, information technology, internal communications and the reform fund.

The committee reviewed responses to questionnaires, based on the 16 agenda subcategories, sent by the committee’s secretariat to WTF members. It also evaluated presentations by experts and prominent members of the WTF headquarters.

As a result of these exhaustive activities, the committee produced a 189-page “WTF Reform Report” that contained 200 proposals across all areas of reform.

The report was unanimously passed at the WTF General Assembly in Madrid, Spain, on April 12, 2005. The new resolutions were adopted into the WTF bylaws and official competition rules.

It was also agreed that each of the recommendations be incorporated into the WTF’s strategic plan, with a concrete time frame and budgetary requirements.

An evaluation meeting was subsequently held in Bangkok, Thailand on November 7-9, 2006.

The litmus test of these efforts would soon come.

At the IOC’s 117th Session in Singapore in July 2005, which would select the program for the 2012 London Olympic Games, taekwondo was under immense pressure.

The sport was marred by political scandals at the top; on the competition floor, it was buffeted by criticism over biased judgments and dull matches.

Moreover, all existing sports had to have their status confirmed by vote. Voting was conducted individually for all sports in the Summer Olympics, and the ongoing results were not announced so as not to influence the other voters.

The London Games would include 26 events, rather than the 28 on the previous program as baseball and softball were dropped

To the relief of the WTF – and after much nail-biting - taekwondo won a majority vote, securing its Olympic status.

The successful vote was put down to the reform efforts overseen by Choue, which had been recognized by the IOC.

THE WTF REACHES OUT: 2005-2011

Time for a Rebrand: WTF Emblems, Then and Now

One sign that the WTF was changing under the leadership of President Chungwon Choue was a rebrand of the organization’s logo.

The WTF’s original emblem, featured on everything from letterheads and posters to competitor uniforms, had been approved during the General Assembly meeting of May 28, 1973.

It incorporates a globe, English and Korean lettering, and two taekwondo athletes kicking. The globe stood for the globalization of the sport, while “World Taekwondo Federation” was written in English - the most widely understood international language.

Taekwondo was also written in the Korean alphabet, hangeul, to indicate the founding country.

The image, composed of two persons performing high kicks, indicated international friendship.

The outer circle symbolized the cooperation of all WTF practitioners and taekwondo as a righteous sport, based on its martial art spirit.

The vertical and horizontal lines on the globe indicate the five oceans and six continents.

On April 12, 2005, the WTF approved a newlook emblem which was officially unveiled at the 17th General Assembly meeting.

The letters “W” and “F” are tilted forward to indicate taekwondo’s and the federation’s future focus and optimism.

The letter “T” is designed after an athlete unleashing a side kick, indicating the primacy of leg techniques in taekwondo.

The vibrant color design - yellow, red and blue - represents the three traditional Asian elements of the universe: the harmony of heaven, earth and man.

The colors also symbolize unification of all mankind regardless of race or culture, while the lack of Korean lettering indicates the WTF’s global outlook.

Overall the new emblem showcases a more modern, colorful, upbeat and international design.

2005 - Present

The new emblem showcases a more modern, colorful, upbeat and international design.

Moving Forward

The 17th World Taekwondo Championships and the 10th Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held in Madrid, Spain on April 13-17, 2005.

The championships drew 748 athletes, including 299 females, from 114 countries. A total of 59 international referees officiated at the championships.

In the men’s division, Korea grabbed four gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal for the overall title, followed by the United States with two golds, and Iran with one gold, three silvers and one bronze. Host

Spain came next with one gold, one silver and two bronzes.

In the women’s division, Korea clinched the overall title with three golds, two silvers and one bronze, followed by host Spain with one gold, one silver and two bronzes, and the United States and China with one gold and one bronze each.

Brazil and Morocco shared the fifth place with one gold each in the female category. France, Turkey, Great Britain, Puerto Rico and Chinese Taipei took home one silver each.

Dr. Chungwon Choue is reelected as WTF president in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Poomsae Gets World Championship Status

In a very major addition to the WTF calendar – and indeed, to the overall format of competitive taekwondo - the 1st World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships were held on September 4-6, 2006, at Seoul’s Olympic Park.

The event was promoted by the WTF and organized by the Korean Taekwondo Association, with 16 divisions including two divisions of mixed pairs (gender-mixed teams).

The championships evaluated competitors on accuracy and presentation.

The championships attracted 584 athletes and officials from 57 countries.

Korea demonstrated its supremacy at the inaugural poomsae championships as it swept all the 16 gold medals on offer.

A total of 13 countries, including eight European countries, clinched at least one medal out of 48 medals.

In terms of the overall medal tally, Iran stood second by winning four silver medals and three bronze medals, followed by Turkey with three silvers and two bronzes. Spain came next with two silvers and five bronzes, followed by Germany and Australia with one silver and one bronze each.

The 2nd World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships were held in Incheon, Korea on Nov. 4-6, 2007, drawing about 500 athletes and officials from 50 countries. The third poomsae championships were held in Ankara, Turkey on Dec. 16-18, 2008, with the attendance of 371 athletes and 150 officials from 50 countries.

The 4th World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships took place in Cairo, Egypt on Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2009, attracting 564 athletes from 59 countries. Tashkent, Uzbekistan hosted the 5th World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships on Oct. 8-10, 2010, drawing 446 athletes from 59 countries.

Vladivostok, Russia hosted the 6th World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships on July 29-31, 2011, with the attendance of 570 athletes from 53 countries. The 7th World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships were held in Tunja, Colombia on Dec. 6-9, 2012. The Indonesian resort city of Bali hosted the 8th World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships on Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2013, with the attendance of 439 athletes from 49 countries.

The electronic chest protector consisted of three parts: sensors to measure the impact of strikes; wireless radio wave receivers and transmitters; and a computer program with monitors to display results on electronic scoreboards.

On July 20, 2005, the WTF’s ad-hoc committee conducted a test of electronic chest protectors.

Korea’s LaJUST, Austria’s ATM and the U.S.A.’s Impact Management exhibited products.

The next day, the ad-hoc committee recommended to the WTF that it was necessary to develop specifications for electronic chest protectors to be made by approved manufacturers.

A request was sent to the developers so that they could complete testing and create different prototypes.

The WTF contracted the Korean Institute of Sport Science of the Korean Sports Promotion Foundation to research the protocol and reliability of the taekwondo electronic scoring system. The research team consisted of 11 researchers and two consultants working on various criteria.

The electronic chest protector consisted of three parts: sensors to measure the impact of strikes; wireless radio wave receivers and transmitters; and a computer program with monitors to display results on electronic scoreboards.

A report on the system would be submitted at a WTF-IOC meeting on November 21-24 in Montreux, Switzerland, and also at a meeting with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee and the Olympic Results and Information System (ORIS).

Great interest was paid among the global taekwondo populace when, on March 4-5, 2007, a special international tournament was held at the Chuncheon Hoban Gymnasium

in Korea to field-test the latest electronic chest protectors. One hundred sixty athletes from 19 countries competed in four Olympic weight categories with male and female divisions.

On March 5, the WTF Technical Committee and nine members of the WTF’s presidential team reviewed events.

The technology was found wanting. The WTF stated that the electronic chest protectors suffered from technical issues and thus needed careful review.

Choue, a keen proponent of electronic protectors, said, “The WTF’s presidential team agreed that it is necessary to adopt electronic chest protectors to reduce disputes on the accuracy of referee judgments.” But he acknowledged, “If we adopt electronic chest protectors in haste and problems occur, then there will be even bigger problems.”

Choue noted that the IOC had shown great interest in and support for electronic chest protectors, but IOC President Jacques Rogge had made clear that the gear should only be adopted “when we are 100 percent sure it works.” Choue conceded that this would take further time.

Thus, the plan to adopt electronic chest protectors for the upcoming World Taekwondo Championships in May and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was reluctantly dropped. Even so, the WTF stated that they planned to support electronic chest protectors at national and international events, to fix technical problems, amend competition rules and grant athletes time enough to adapt.

The WTF designated September 4 as “Taekwondo Day” during its General Assembly in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on July 25, 2006 on the occasion of the 2006 World Junior Taekwondo Championships.

The rationale for designating the date of Sept. 4 as Taekwondo Day was that on Sept. 4, 1994, the 103rd IOC Session in Paris, France decided to accept the sport of taekwondo into the official program of the 2000 Olympic Games.

The WTF celebrated its first Taekwondo Day on Sept. 4, 2006 during the 1st World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Seoul.

At a meeting in Turin, Italy on February 5-7 2006, the IOC’s Executive Board decided to add two more male and female athletes to the previous total of 124 athletes, meaning there would be 128 taekwondo athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The decision to increase the numbers was made in order to incorporate the Oceania Taekwondo Union. At the previous Games in Sydney 2000, there had been 51 participating countries with 103 athletes and 24, representing 18 nations, awarded medals. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, 60 countries participated, with a total of 124 athletes of whom 24 were awarded medals, from 12 separate countries.

The next big event was held on September 14-17, 2006, when the 1st World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships took place at the Hua Mark Gymnasium in Bangkok, Thailand, with 400 participating athletes and officials from 35 countries.

The World Cup Taekwondo Team Champion-

ships were held with eight weight categories in both male and female divisions and based on total scores by country.

The Korean team won first place in both male and female team divisions.

The WTF Paralympic Committee was paying close attention to the poomsae championships.

On May 16, 2007, the IOC decided to increase the number of bronze medals awarded per weight category from one to two, starting with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Previously, on April 10, 2007, the WTF had made a request to the IOC that taekwondo needs two bronze medals per category: this would increase the safety of athletes as they would not need to fight an extra match for the bronze. As a result, taekwondo’s Olympic medal numbers rose from 24 to 32.

The 18th World Taekwondo Championships were held in Beijing, China on May 18-22, 2007, drawing about 1,400 athletes and officials from a record 116 countries. The Beijing championships became the first WTF-promoted taekwondo tournament, in which the WTF’s taekwondo anthem was played.

In the men’s division, Korea won one gold, one silver and four bronzes to win the men’s crown, followed by Spain, Croatia, Cuba, Chinese Taipei, the United States, Turkey and Mali, which earned one gold medal each.

In the women’s category, Korea ranked number one as it grabbed three golds and three silvers, followed by China with two golds and one bronze, and Spain with one gold and one bronze.

AZ Group

International Business and International Marketing

The “new look” sport of taekwondo was gaining corporate attention.

On March 31, 2008, the WTF entered a global sponsorship contract with the Macquarie Group of Companies of Korea for five years.

Prior to this, the WTF had enjoyed global sponsorship from Samsung Electronics.

On February 2, 2010, the WTF entered into a five-year contract with Spain-based Daedo for electronic chest protectors.

Moreover, the WTF made a global sponsorship contract with Marine Engineering, part of Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd.

The WTF has official contracts with companies for taekwondo-related products, such as uniform and chest guards made in Germany, Spain, Chinese Taipei and Korea.

The WTF also took control of its marketing rights by registering the WTF trademark and logo. The WTF had accepted the Reform Committee’s suggestion to expand marketing opportunities.

The WTF signed a memorandum of understanding with sports marketing company IB Sport in March 2009.

On August 26, 2008, the WTF Taekwondo Web TV application was launched to reach worldwide taekwondo fans with the latest media technology.

The application is the easiest and fastest way to access the WTF’s official Web TV, which stores an archive of video clips filmed at the world’s top international taekwondo championships.

Whenever a new international taekwondo event is held, related video clips are uploaded immediately.

The application optimizes WTF TV’s (www. wtf-taekwondo.tv) functions by cataloging visual images, providing easy navigation, tagging important scenes, and allowing users to post evaluations and opinions.

The application, created collaboratively by the WTF and Dartfish, is an important first, providing taekwondo spectators fast and easy access to specialized video clips from world-class taekwondo matches.

SAMSUNG

MACQUARIE

Taekwondo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

The taekwondo competitions at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were held at the University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium in Beijing, China on August 2023, 2008.

This was the third consecutive time that official taekwondo competitions were being staged at the Olympic Games and expectations were higher than before.

In total, 22 countries took home at least a medal. Compared to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, the medal distribution in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was the most evenly distributed.

The even distribution of medals indicated the development of taekwondo globally.

Several historic firsts took place in Beijing that raised the profile and redefined the importance of taekwondo as an Olympic sport.

Rohullah Nikpai won a bronze medal in the men’s under 58kg weight category on August 20, 2008, which marked Afghanistan’s first-ever Olympic medal in any sport.

Nikpai created one of the biggest shocks when he upset Juan Antonio Ramos of Spain, who was the gold medalist at the 2007 WTF World Taekwondo Championships in the bronze-medal contest.

Nikpai’s victory was one of the greatest moments in the history of the Olympic Games as it united a war-torn country suffering strife from internal conflict.

During the march-in of the national teams at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the world was treated to one of the most memorable sights in Olympic history.

Just behind the national flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a female athlete and her coach were leading a group of men.

That female athlete was Sara Khosh Jamal and she was the first female athlete to represent Iran at the Olympic Games.

Khosh Jamal’s participation in the Olympic Games was a symbolic moment for empowering women, especially in the Middle East, where sport is still mostly practiced by men.

Since the start of the century, one name had been synonymous with success. It did not matter if it was the WTF World Taekwondo Championships or the taekwondo competitions at the Olympic Games. There would always be one - and the same - favorite: Steven Lopez from the United States.

Olympic history was created when Steven, his younger brother Mark and youngest sister Diana all participated in the taekwondo competitions at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

This was the first time in more than a century of U.S. Olympic history where three siblings had participated in the same sport in the same Games. To top it off, eldest brother Jean served as head coach of the taekwondo team.

Steven and Diana each won a bronze medal in the men’s under 80kg weight category and women’s under 57kg weight category respectively, while Mark won a silver medal in the men’s under 68kg weight category.

And when the Republic of the Marshall Islands participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, it was the first time that the Micronesian nation of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean had held court on the grandest stage of global sport.

The WTF Demonstration Team

In a separate but related effort to promote a positive image of taekwondo globally, the WTF officially founded a demonstration team on July 5, 2009.

The 61-strong WTF Demonstration Team ceremony of establishment was held on July 6 at Kyung Hee University’s International Campus.

“The establishment of the WTF’s Demonstration Team will share the unlimited value of sports and hope as well

as practical service through taekwondo,” said WTF President Chungwon Choue at the ceremony. “Just as the Olympic ideology is world peace, taekwondo’s ultimate ideology is also peace.”

Under the directorship of Dong-sung Choi, the WTF Taekwondo Demonstration Team’s first overseas event took place in May 2009 at the World Junior Taekwondo Championships in Mexico and the U.S.A. That same year, the

team demonstrated at the European Championships in Italy and undertook a European tour.

Starting with the March 2010 Mexico tour, the demonstration team was sent overseas to perform at events such as the 2nd WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships and the 1st Youth Olympic Games. It has subsequently performed at major championships, including the 2012 London Olympics.

‘We are convinced that taekwondo will continue to develop through regional taekwondo training centers around the world, and we plan to designate more.’

Regional Training Centers

Customarily, most of the world’s finest taekwondo facilities have been in Korea.

But on September 6, 2008, the WTF designated the Beijing Shichahai Sports Training Center as a “regional taekwondo training center” for the sport – a fully fitted regional hub, where competitions, training camps and referee courses can be conducted.

The Beijing center, under the supervision of the Shichahai Sports School, is a key location for the training of elite young athletes in Beijing. The center was built in 1958 and concentrates on high-level competitive athletes, who are in elementary and middle school, and is considered an intermediate technical school.

More were to follow.

In June 2009, the WTF designated the Musado Center in Baku, Azerbaijan as the second regional training center.

This was followed by a third regional training center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, also in 2009.

On April 29, 2010, another regional training center was opened in Tehran, Iran. The opening ceremony was attended by Seyed Mohammad Pouladgar, president of the Taekwondo Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Seyed Ali Saeedlou, vice president of Iran; WTF President Chungwon Choue; and Hadi of Iran, who won two Olympic gold medals.

Discussions took place in late 2013 to host a fifth regional training center in Shenzhen, China.

A growing number of countries, including Russia, Croatia and Kazakhstan have all expressed interest in opening WTF regional training centers in their respective countries.

WTF President Chungwon Choue explained, “We are convinced that taekwondo will continue to develop through regional taekwondo training centers around the world, and we plan to designate more.”

Shenzhen-China

Tehran-Iran Baku-Azerbaijan

Beijing-China

Tashkent - Uzbekistan

The WTF Taekwondo Peace Corps

‘We established this foundation to promote our cultural asset of taekwondo and to have it go beyond being a sport, as we hope to share its unlimited values.’

In a project close to the heart of WTF President Chungwon Choue, on April 11, 2008, the WTF Taekwondo Peace Corps was founded to keep peace and provide volunteer services through taekwondo practitioners around the world. It was sponsored by the WTF in cooperation with civic group GCS International, which has goodwill, cooperation and volunteering as its three tenets, and had previous experience in sending volunteers around the world.

The corps planned to send short-, mid- and long-term groups around the world teaching taekwondo to citizens of developing WTF member nations.

Its goal was to spread the global taekwondo cultural movement, providing spiritual hope and guidance.

Following its foundation, activity got underway almost immediately. Taekwondo Peace Corps members were selected mostly from university students with third dan or above grades in taekwondo.

Applications were reviewed on May 14, interviews and physical testing were completed on May 17, and successful applicants were announced on the WTF’s website on May 21.

The corps sent 107 taekwondo practitioners to people in 25 countries in 2008 to promote the taekwondo spirit, mutual exchange and understanding through the Korean language and Korean culture.

The Peace Corps’ activities were greatly accelerated with the creation of the World Taekwondo Peace Corps Foundation, a non-profit body established to administer and raise funds for the corps.

The Foundation held its launch ceremony on September 17, 2009 at the Plaza Hotel in

Seoul.

An inauguration ceremony for President Hyu-won Lee, CEO of Shinhan Financial Investment, was also held.

Choue became the body’s chairman. “This is very meaningful because we were able to have this ceremony take place after taekwondo was chosen to become a core sport of the 2016 Olympic Games,” Choue said. “We established this foundation to promote our cultural asset of taekwondo and to have it go beyond being a sport, as we hope to share its unlimited values.”

As of the end of 2013, 924 Taekwondo Peace Corps members had been dispatched to 99 countries. “We launched the Taekwondo Peace Corps to instill positive values and discipline in youth – two factors that are key to living a life of virtue and honor,” Choue said. “The corps also provides a platform where young athletes can not only improve their taekwondo skills, but open their minds through cultural exchange and in the process broaden and deepen their knowledge of the world so that they can be a force to promote peaceful co-existence among the world’s nations and peoples.”

And with the World Taekwondo Peace Corps as a template, there may be more to come from other sports.

Speaking at the SportAccord World Combat Games in St. Petersburg, Russia on October 23, 2013, Choue explained his vision of a broader “Sport Peace Corps.”

The WTF hoped, in cooperation with the U.N. and the IOC, to launch the project with the governing bodies of the 15 martial arts and combat sports represented at the SportAccord World Combat Games.

Globalization Expands

The WTF was working to win greater international attention to the sport, notably in promoting spectator and media interest through developing star athletes.

With this in mind, the WTF adopted the World Athlete Ranking system in 2008, a move enabled after a bylaw on world rankings was passed in January 2009 at the WTF’s Council meeting.

This would, it was hoped, lead to seeding so competitions would be more exciting; provide statistics for athlete-related stories to the media; lay the foundation for a professional taekwondo league; help promote international events promoted or sanctioned by WTF; increase marketing opportunities; and optimize potential to establish a series of “Best of the Best” invitational events.

Since June 1, 2009, the WTF has announced athletes’ world rankings on the first day of each month.

The ranking system is based on WTF-promoted or -sanctioned events, multiplied by athletes’ competition records. It is published

in two documents: the WTF World Ranking and the WTF Olympic Ranking.

The former is comprised of eight weight divisions each for male and female athletes; the latter is comprised of four Olympic weight divisions each for male and female players. A Paralympic ranking has also been established. Rankings are updated monthly on the WTF website.

Championship rankings are based on the number of participating athletes and countries, and number of top-ranked athletes outside the host country; the organizing committee’s abidance with WTF competition rules; overall operation of tournaments; venue facilities; number and quality of registered media; TV broadcasting; number of spectators; anti-doping tests; logistic management (transport, accommodation, etc); successful submission of report; and general comments of Technical Delegate (who is assigned by the WTF and submits his report on the championships to the WTF Secretary General within two weeks of the completion of the championship).

The rankings currently cover six grades of event. Grade 20 covers the Olympic Games. Grade 12 covers WTF World Championships; Grade 8 covers Grand Prix Finals; Grade 4 covers Grand Prix Series, Continental Championships and Continental Multi-sport Games (a four-year cycle); Grade 2 covers WTF World

Cup Taekwondo Team Championships, Universiades, CISM World Games and WTF G2 Tournaments; and Grade 1 covers WTF G1 Tournaments, World University Championships, Multi-sport Games other than Continental Multi-sport Games with a four-year cycle and Military Championships.

Para-Athletes Enter the Arena

Under WTF President Chungwon Choue’s leadership, taekwondo had been diversifying, from kyorugi to poomsae.

On June 10, 2009, another major step in this direction was taken by the sport to include persons of all abilities, rather than simply the athletically gifted. The 1st WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships were held at the Baku Sports Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Thirty eight athletes and 18 officials from 18 countries participated.

“The World Para-Taekwondo Championships are part of the WTF’s endeavor to realize Olympic ideologies

through taekwondo,” Choue enthused. “All of you who are participating in this event are true winners.”

Azerbaijan’s Youth Sports Minister Azad Rahimov and many other sports-related dignitaries came to watch, and Azerbaijan’s symbolic “Country of Fire” event was demonstrated.

The Para-Taekwondo Championships pioneered the WTF’s new competition rules as well as the instant video replay system and graded scoring.

For the safety of the physically challenged athletes, matches were set for one minute, with three rounds and no head contact. Electronic chest protectors were used in the championships, which offered seven weight categories for males and one category for females.

For once, an international championships took place without Korean dominance. France won the event,

followed by host Azerbaijan in second place and Turkey in third.

The “fighting spirit award” went to the Philippines and Israel; the “encouragement award” went to Azerbaijan, Turkey and Mongolia.

Subsequently, the 2nd WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships were held on May 11, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Russia, along with the 2010 European Taekwondo Championships.

The 3rd WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships were held on November 22, 2012, in Santa Cruz, Aruba, during the 2012 WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships.

The 4th WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships were held in Lausanne, Switzerland on June 8, 2013.

The WTF made its best efforts to have taekwondo included as an official sport of the 2020 Paralympic Games.

The World Youth Taekwondo Camp

The World Youth Taekwondo Camp, jointly conducted by the WTF and the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, was inaugurated in 2009 as an annual event.

The six-day inaugural camp, held for the benefit of junior taekwondo athletes aged 14-20 from around the world, grants these youngsters access to the very finest training facilities and trainers, while educating them in Olympic values and inculcating them with Korean culture.

The first World Youth Taekwondo Camp was held in Seoul and Muju in August 2009, and drew 260 athletes and officials from 33 nations.

Olympic gold medalists met and trained the camp-goers, who also attended a forum on “The Educational Value of Olympism” and finally participated in a friendly kyorugi competition with five weight categories.

The 2nd World Youth Taekwondo Camp was held in July 2010, the third camp in August 2011 with the fourth camp in June 2012.

The 5th World Youth Taekwondo Camp, also held in Seoul and Muju in July 2013, drew 174 participants from 30 nations.

Camp participants were among the first taekwondo players to experience the brand new, purpose-built taekwondo training facility in the Muju countryside, “Taekwondowon.”

Olympic medalists and world champions coached camp goers in both kyorugi and poomsae, a taekwondo-based film was screened, and cultural themes were explored in the town of Jeonju. All participants also took part in an international talent show.

The camps have helped cement international solidarity within the WTF and contributed to Olympism among youth.

For the first time in WTF history, electronic body protectors were used at a world championship.

The 19th WTF World Taekwondo Championships took place in Copenhagen, Denmark on Oct. 14-18, 2009, drawing a total of 928 athletes, including 558 men, from 142 countries, the largest number ever in WTF championships history.

For the first time in WTF history, electronic body protectors were used at a world championship.

Under revised Competition Rules, an instant video replay system was introduced, along with a new point system, which gives an athlete three points per kick to the head and two points per turning kick to the body. A record number of TV broadcasters showed the championships in either live or delayed formats.

Korea managed to clinch the overall men’s title at the 2009 World Taekwondo Championships, while China grabbed the overall women’s title.

In the men’s division, Korea won three gold medals and one silver medal for the top place

in terms of total points, followed by Iran with one gold, one silver and three bronze medals. Spain came next with one gold, one silver and one bronze, while Turkey grabbed one gold and two bronze medals for the fourth place. The United States followed with one gold and one bronze.

In the women’s category, China took home two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal for the top place, while Korea stood at second with two golds, one silver and two bronzes. Spain came next with two golds and two bronzes, followed by France with one gold and one bronze, and the United States with one gold medal. It marked the first time that Korea failed to win both the men’s and women’s overall titles at the championships.

Steven Lopez of the United States was chosen as the male MVP of the championships, as he became the first five-time world champion, while Spain’s Brigitte Yague Enrique was chosen as the female MVP as she became the three-time world champion.

On April 26, 2010, the International Masters Games Association included taekwondo as an official program for the 2011 European Masters and 2013 World Masters Games.

Already a major fixture in some of the top sporting events on earth, the WTF continued its outreach.

On September 15, 2009, the WTF submitted taekwondo competition-related documents to the International Committee of Mediterranean Games through the Mediterranean Taekwondo Union's Secretary General Michalis Fysentizidis from Greece. On October 26, 2009, the WTF made an agreement with the Organizing Committee of the 2013 Mediterranean Games to include taekwondo.

Several other international sports organizations responsible for managing multi-sports games decided to include taekwondo in their official program.

On April 26, 2010, the International Masters Games Association included taekwondo as an official program for the 2011 European Masters and the 2013 World Masters Games.

The International University Sports Federation’s (FISU) Executive Committee decided

that taekwondo would become a compulsory sport of the 2017 Summer Universiade.

On June 4, 2010, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) sent a letter to notify the WTF that they had set taekwondo as a category 2 sport for the Commonwealth Games.

The CGF classifies sports into three categories: core sports (category 1), optional sports (category 2) and recognized sports (category 3).

In London on June 7, within five days of the letter, four WTF representatives became CGF official members for taekwondo.

The WTF representatives included WTF Games Committee Chairman Philippe Bouedo and Caribbean Taekwondo Federation President Anthony Ferguson.

On October 3-14, 2010, the 19th Commonwealth Games were held with 17 sports as part of the official program in New Delhi, India.

On August 12-26, 2010, the 1st Youth Olympic Games, promoted by the IOC, was held in Singapore, to promote youth education through sports and to contribute to world peace.

Established mainly by IOC President Jacques Rogge, 3,600 athletes from 204 countries participated at the Float Marina Bay in Singapore. The athletes were born between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1994.

In taekwondo, 48 male and 52 female athletes from 67 nations competed in five weight categories each. Of the 100 competitors in Singapore, 60 athletes from the top six male and female winners (across all weight categories) had been selected based upon their accomplishments at an earlier Youth Olympic World Taekwondo Qualification event in Tijuana, Mexico, on March 3-4, 2010.

Twenty countries from Asia, 19 countries from Europe, 14 countries from Africa, 11 countries from Pan America and two from Oceania were represented.

Throughout the event, an instant video replay was applied but electronic chest protectors were not used. The WTF Demonstration Team performed during the quarterfinals and finals.

On August 28, 2010, the 1st SportAccord Combat Games, dubbed “the Martial Arts Olympics” were held in Beijing, China. The games included taekwondo, judo, boxing and wrestling - the four Summer Olympic combat sports – as well as the non-Olympic sports of aikido, jujitsu, karate, kendo, kickboxing, sambo and wushu. (SportAccord was formerly known as the General Association of International Sports Federations, or GAISF).

The taekwondo competition took place on September 1-2 at Beijing’s Science and Technical College Gymnasium, with 58 of the best taekwondo athletes from 26 countries competing in four separate male and female Olympic weight categories.

In taekwondo, 17 of the 26 participating countries earned at least one medal, showing that the technical level of the sport was equalizing worldwide. The event used electronic chest protectors and the instant video replay system. And for added pizazz, the WTF Demonstration Team performed several times at the taekwondo arena.

Action from the 1st SportAccord Combat Games in 2010 in Beijing, China.

Under the theme ‘Strengthening Youth Education through Taekwondo,’ the fourth symposium attracted about 100 academics and dignitaries from around the world.

Since 2007, the WTF has organized an international symposium on taekwondo studies on the occasion of its World Taekwondo Championships.

The 1st International Symposium for Taekwondo Studies was held during the 2007 World Taekwondo Championships in Beijing, China, and the 2nd International Symposium for Taekwondo Studies was held during the 2009 World Taekwondo Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The third symposium was held in Gyeongju, Korea, on April 29–30, 2011 on the occasion of the 2011 World Taekwondo Championships, with the topic: “Realization of Olympism through Taekwondo Education.”

The 4th International Symposium for Taekwondo Studies was held on July 16-17, 2013 in Puebla, Mexico on the occasion of the 2013 World Taekwondo Championships.

With the attendance of about 300 taekwondo participants from Korea and overseas, the 3rd symposium was divided into four sessions: Taekwondo Philosophy, Pedagogy and Taekwondo Psychology; Taekwondo Marketing, Taekwondo Sociology; Taekwondo Physiology, Taekwondo Biochemistry; and Taekwon -

do Biomechanics, Taekwondo Rehabilitation.

IOC member Philip Coles stated in his opening remarks, “This symposium reflects the growing popularity of taekwondo worldwide as a global sport for all that transcends nationality, gender, physical disability and age.” He emphasized, “The development of taekwondo in academic fields should also involve global initiatives for the exchange of ideas and academic discussions to accommodate the characteristics of taekwondo disciplines in different parts of the world.”

The first keynote speech was by Charles Stebbins from the U.S.A. on “The Exercise Presser Reflex: What is it? Why is it important?”

The second keynote was “Social and Scientific Considerations for Successful Taekwondo Globalization.”

As a special event during the opening ceremony, Koptev Vladimir from Russia performed a 10-minute para-taekwondo demonstration, winning applause from all the participants.

Under the theme “Strengthening Youth Education through Taekwondo,” the fourth symposium attracted about 100 academics and dignitaries from around the world. A total of 40 papers were presented in the symposium.

Then events moved from discussion to action, as the 20th World Taekwondo Championships and the 13th Women’s World Taekwondo Championships were held in Gyeongju, Korea on May 1-6, 2011.

The championships attracted 1,750 athletes from 149 countries.

At the opening ceremony, a special performance themed “A Thousand Years of Spirit and Dreams” grabbed the attention of athletes from around the world.

The event started with a parade of nations, opening remarks by WTF President Chungwon Choue, an official welcome by Gyeongju Mayor Yang-sik Choi, and additional congratulatory speeches by other dignitaries. “It is so meaningful that the World Championships are being held in Gyeongju because it has been ten years since these championships have been held in the motherland of taekwondo,” Choue said, adding that Gyeongju was the capital of Korea’s ancient Silla Dynasty – from whence sprang the elite hwarang warriors.

After the opening ceremony, there were five-member team competitions between Korea and Russia, an exciting format. Russia won. The Korean Industry Taekwondo Federation developed the five-member team competitions, which appeared for the second time on the international stage, following the 2010 Russian WTF World Tour Games.

In Gyeongju, a new taekwondo star was born: Turkey’s Servet Tazegul. The 21-yearold athlete dominated audience attention with his flawless kicks, ceaseless attacks and great strength, which won him the top world-ranking position and the male MVP award. Croatia’s Ana Zaninovic won the female MVP award.

Iran’s Reza Mehmandoust earned the male Best Coach Award, while Korea’s Maeng Gon Kim won the female Best Coach Award.

The best referee awards went to Jose Ruis Gonzalo Morales from Spain, Neidas Tabirez from Puerto Rico, Abubak Codi from Saudi Arabia, Young-han Choi from Korea and Stephen Riou from New Zealand.

A freestyle poomsae demonstration event held on July 29 during the opening ceremony featured invited teams from the Philippines, Vietnam, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia and Korea.

Competition of a different kind took place on July 29-31, 2011, when the 6th WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships were held successfully at the Sports Complex Olympiets in Vladivostok, Russia.

The superb opening ceremony featured performances of Russian ballet, opera, duet singers, dances and waltzes as well as a spectacular performance by the WTF Demonstration Team.

During the opening ceremony, Alexander Kostenko, organizing committee chairman and deputy governor of the Maritime Province, Victor Gorchakop, the chairman of the National Assembly of the Maritime Province; and Igor Pusizarepu, mayor of Vladivostok, all delivered speeches.

Participants donned WTF-approved poomsae competition uniforms for the first time.

A freestyle poomsae demonstration event held on July 29 during the opening ceremony featured invited teams from the Philippines, Vietnam, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia and Korea.

Korea won first place followed by Vietnam in second and Germany in third. In the exhibition freestyle poomsae, Vietnam placed first out of the three countries that participated.

The MVP awards went to Russians Stanislavp Ligai and Yulia Arhipowa; the best referee awards went to Jung Fua Lian from Chinese Taipei, Jung-jin Jeon from Korea, Luciano Constantine from Italy, Vladimir Lifsut from Russia and El Hatji Bamarup from Morocco.

The decision to include taekwondo in the Masters Games was announced at the General Assembly of the IMGA in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on April 26, 2010

Taekwondo was included in yet another international, multi-sport fixture when it joined the 2011 European Masters Games on September 10-20, 2011 in Lignano, Italy.

The World Masters Games started in 1985 in Toronto, Canada. The summer games are held every four years and target adult athletes. International federations representing over 20 sports, including track and field, archery, soccer, hockey, shooting, table tennis, and squash are included. Taekwondo is the only combative sport represented by the International Masters Games Association.

The decision to include taekwondo in the Masters Games was announced at the General Assembly of the IMGA in Dubai, the

United Arab Emirates on April 26, 2010. The taekwondo events had Olympic weight categories of four males and four females in kyorugi as well as individual, pair and team divisions in poomsae.

IMGA President Kai Holm stated, “Because taekwondo has educational aspects and is popular around the world, the inclusion of taekwondo in the Masters Games will synergistically benefit both the WTF and the IMGA.”

Taekwondo was subsequently included in the 2013 International Masters Games in Turin, Italy.

THE WTF’S GOLDEN YEARS: 2012-2013

On December 3-4, 2011, a 2012 London Olympics taekwondo test event was held in London, Great Britain, with 60 athletes from 18 countries participating.

Gearing up for London 2012

On December 3-4, 2011, a 2012 London Olympics taekwondo test event was held in London, Great Britain, with 60 athletes from 18 countries participating.

This invitational was held at ExCel London, one of the biggest exhibition halls in Europe, located in east London. Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Croatia, France, Great Britain, Germany, Iran, Israel, Italy, Korea, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, and the U.S.A. participated.

The test event was a rehearsal for the London Olympics taekwondo event of the following summer. The athletes had opportunities to experience the competition arena and test the timing and scoring systems. Though

there were no general spectators or ticket sales, athletes were given two tickets to invite family or friends to watch the matches.

Meanwhile, the WTF had been upgrading its regulations on dope checks. On April 2, 2012, the WTF Council members passed a medical code unanimously at Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh Renaissance Hotel. The WTF’s anti-doping movement had started in December 1990, when the WTF accepted World Anti-Doping Agency rules and established its own anti-doping rules. In 2010, the WTF announced a RTP (Registered Testing Pool) that provides lists of athletes and selection guidelines for every year.

On April 3, 2012, the WTF hosted its General Assembly at the International Congress Center in Egypt. It was a busy session. The WTF passed bylaws on kyorugi and poomsae competition rules to ensure the safety of the athletes and to elevate fairness in referee judgment. The assembly decided to separate former athletes and coaches into different committees. The Athletes’ Committee would be in charge of the education and training of the athletes to enhance their rights. The chairman of the Athletes Committee serves as a member of the Competition Supervisory Board for WTF championships.

Under amended poomsae rules, the minimum age limit for freestyle poomsae became 14 years old and over, instead of having no age limit.

Competition rule amendments focused on how to score points, how to declare point deductions, simplifications to referee hand signals, competition duration and competition ring size. The competition arena, formerly 10m × 10m, was changed to 8m × 8m. The changes to round timings and competition area were designed to accelerate and amplify the action and make bouts more exciting.

At the General Assembly in Egypt, the WTF also approved four national associations as official member nations. So the WTF’s member nations rose to 201 countries.

The WTF Secretaries General

Out of the 26 international federations of Olympic sports, the WTF thus became the eighth-largest IF when measured by the number of member nations. The WTF had started with seven member nations in 1973, increased to 65 countries in the 1980s, 106 member nations in the 1990s, 153 member nations in 2000 and 179 member nations in 2005.

Participants also received reports on the WTF’s 40th-year anniversary preparations. There were announcements on the enactment of the WTF’s Medical Code and the enactment of the WTF Bylaws on Betting and Anti-Corruption. There were also announcements on the host cities of upcoming championships. All those decisions were made at the WTF Council meeting on April 2. Puebla, Mexico won the right to host the 2013 World Taekwondo Championships; Senegal’s Dakar, the 2013 World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships and the 4th World Para-Taekwondo Championships; and Taipei, Chinese Taipei, the 10th World Junior Taekwondo Championships in 2014. Furthermore, an electronic chest protector was approved for use at the 2012 London Olympic Games. This would be a first in Olympic history, and was the end result of years of research, development, testing and tweaking.

On February 14, 2012, the World Taekwondo Federation announced the appointment of a non-Korean secretary general for the first time.

WTF President Chungwon Choue appointed WTF Lausanne Office Director Jean-Marie Ayer to the post of secretary general to replace former Secretary General Jin-suk Yang. He started working in international marketing and public relations at the WTF’s Lausanne office in September 2006.

Chong-woo Lee served as the first secretary general of the WTF (from June 1973 to August 1977), followed by Woo-young Hyun (until September 1980) and Kum-hong Lee

(until January 1981), Chong-ho Bae (until November 1987) and Bong-sik Kim (until June 1986).

Chong-woo Lee again worked as WTF secretary general until August 1991, followed by Kum-hong Lee, who served again as WTF secretary general until October 4, 2004. Kiseon Kim worked as an acting WTF secretary general for about one month from May 14 to June 11, 2004.

Dong-hoo Moon worked as WTF secretary general from October 5, 2004 until January 2, 2007, followed by Jin-suk Yang who served between February 7, 2007 and February 14, 2012.

Chong-woo Lee

Bong-sik Kim

Woo-young Hyun

Dong-hoo Moon

Kum-hong Lee

Jin-suk Yang

Chong-ho Bae

Jean-Marie Ayer

The top 25 percent in each weight category would receive seed assignments, and if the host country Azerbaijan’s athletes were not included in the top 25 percent, they would automatically receive the last seed in the top 25 percent. The top three winners and two back-ups had to take mandatory doping tests.

For the London 2012 Olympic trials, all the latest technical and rule adjustments were emplaced.

The 2012 London Olympics World Qualification Tournament for taekwondo was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 30-July 3, 2011 at the Sarhadchi Olympic Center with the attendance of 345 athletes - 194 males and 151 females - from 109 countries.

Each country could field a maximum of four athletes: two males and two females. The qualification event was based on four male weight divisions (-58kg, -68kg, -80kg and +80kg) and four female weight divisions (-49kg, -57kg, -67kg and +67kg).

Electronic chest protectors and instant video replay systems, set up around three competition rings, were used. Sixty international referees participated, including 10 video replay juries, selected from the international referee selection and training camp that the WTF had conducted in early 2012 for the London Olympics.

The top 25 percent in each weight category would receive seed assignments, and if the host country Azerbaijan’s athletes were not included in the top 25 percent, they would automatically receive the last seed in the top 25 percent. The top three winners and two back-ups had to take mandatory doping tests.

The Oceania Qualification Tournament was held in November 2011 in New Caledonia with 35 athletes from 11 countries, at the Doumbia Martial Arts Hall near Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia. Athletes from New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Papua New Guinea all won tickets for London 2012. At the Oceania continental qualification, only the first place winners in each of the eight Olympic weight categories of four males and four females got entries into the Olympics.

The Pan Am Qualification Tournament was held on November 18-20, 2011, at the Centro de Cogresos in Queretaro, Mexico.

Ninety one athletes from 29 countries participated with the top three athletes from the eight weight categories going through. Thirteen countries won Olympic entry tickets. Both Mexico and the U.S.A. got four slots, Canada and Cuba got three and Argentina got two, while Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Jamaica and Peru secured one each.

For this event, the top three athletes from eight weight categories were granted participation in the Olympics. Notably, athlete Steven Lopez from the U.S.A. won his ticket, meaning he would participate in four consecutive Olympics – the only taekwondo athlete to do so. (Lopez hails from a famed taekwondo family; his younger sister Diana also qualified for London.) The Pan Am Qualification event had 30 international referees and four video replay juries. They were part of the 60 referee candidates who would be running the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The Asian Qualification Tournmanet ran on November 26–27, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event took place at Assumption University’s John Paul II Sports Center in eastern Bangkok.

Ninety-nine athletes from 30 countries competed to win slots, which were ultimately distributed to athletes from 13 countries.

Jordan and Uzbekistan got three tickets each and the host country Thailand, Afghanistan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Japan, Vietnam

and Kazakhstan each got two entry slots. China, Iran, Lebanon and Chinese Taipei got one participation ticket each. Because Korean athletes earned four Olympic participation entry tickets from the London Olympic World Qualification event that took place on June 30-July 3, 2011, a total of 14 Asian countries would enter the 2012 London Olympics, showing the great enthusiasm for taekwondo in the region.

On January 11, 2012, the African Qualification Tournament got underway at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt. A total of 85 athletes from 30 African countries competed for 16 participation places. Host Egypt won four participation entry tickets to London and Morocco got three; Nigeria and the Central African Republic each got two slots, and Gabon, Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire got one ticket each. Algeria earned its first Olympic qualification at the event.

The European Qualifications took place in Kazan, Russia, on January 27–29, 2012, with a total of 120 athletes from 39 countries competing at the Palace of Martial Arts “Ak Bars” in Kazan.

Fourteen European countries got tickets. Athletes from Serbia, Slovenia and Spain each earned three Olympic slots, while host country Russia, Ukraine and Turkey got two tickets each. (Russian athletes had already secured two Olympic participation tickets from the Baku World Qualifications.) Armenia, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Serbia, Sweden and France won one slot each.

In London 2012, a grand total of 128 taekwondo athletes would be gunning for 32 Olympic medals.

The final decision on wild cards was made on April 12, 2012, after Tripartite Commission meetings among the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and the WTF. Cambodia, Mali, Panama and Yemen received one wild card each. With the wildcard allocation, the taekwondo competition in London would feature athletes from 63 countries. In comparison, 64 countries had competed in 2008; 60 in 2004, and 51 in 2000.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, where taekwondo made its Olympic debut, 103 athletes from 51 countries competed for 24 medals. In 2004, 124 athletes from 60 countries competed for 24 medals and, in 2008, 128 athletes from a record 64 countries competed for 32 medals. In London 2012, 120 athletes were seeded; with four competitors from the host country and the four wild card holders joining, a grand total of 128 taekwondo athletes would be gunning for 32 Olympic medals.

Out of the 63 nations to compete in London, 10 qualified to send their first athletes to Olympic taekwondo competition. They were Cambodia, Lebanon, Tajikistan, Grenada, Jamaica, Panama, Armenia, Serbia, Samoa

and Algeria. Six countries won four berths for the taekwondo competition, the maximum allowed at the London Olympic Games. They were Mexico, the United States, Russia, Egypt, Korea, and Great Britain. A total of 15 countries took three tickets each for the London Olympic Games: China, Chinese Taipei, Iran, Jordan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan (Asia), Canada, Cuba (Pan America), Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey (Europe), New Zealand (Oceania) and Morocco (Africa).

Seventeen countries clinched two berths each for London: Afghanistan, Japan, Tajikistan, Vietnam (Asia), Argentina, Brazil (Pan America), Azerbaijan, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Ukraine (Europe), Australia, Samoa (Oceania), the Central African Republic and Nigeria (Africa).

A total of 25 countries earned one ticket each for the London Olympic Games: Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Yemen (Asia), Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Peru, Panama (Pan America), Armenia, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland (Europe), Papua New Guinea (Oceania), Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Senegal, Tunisia and Mali (Africa).

The 30 Olympic referees comprised nine Asians, 10 Europeans, six Pan Americans, three Africans, and two Oceanians. Six (20 percent) were female.

Obviously, there had to be referees as well as athletes. The final 30 Olympic referees were selected from among 60 referees chosen from those who served at the 2011 Gyeongju World Taekwondo Championships, the 2012 London Olympic World Qualification Tournament, and the five Continental Qualification tournaments.

The WTF evaluated them based on their abilities in competition management, competition rules, English language, physical exams (vision, blood pressure, and hearing), physical test (20m shuttle run), speech, and video replay reading. Corner judges were evaluated further on their ability to use the computer system to register points scored, and center referees were evaluated for their ability to deal with unexpected situations, use hand signals, give warnings and appropriately handle penalties.

The 30 Olympic referees comprised nine Asians, 10 Europeans, six Pan Americans, three Africans, and two Oceanians. Six (20 percent) were female.

To ensure their skills were at their keenest pitch, the WTF organized an Olympic Referee Training Camp from February 28 to March 2, 2012, in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 30 ref-

erees. They participated in a second training camp for the London Olympics in Suzhou, China on June 18-22, and a third meeting on August 6-7 at the ExCel, in London where the London Olympics’ taekwondo events were to be held, immediately preceding the Olympic competition.

During these sessions, the WTF provided detailed explanations of competition rules, unified terms that referees and coaches would use during video replay requests, an overall explanation of London Olympic taekwondo events, seeding assignments, and doping regulations. It was especially important to unify the terms that both referee and coach would use during video replay, as the use of differing terms had previously led to communication difficulties.

Exemplifying its prioritization of transparent Olympic adjudication, the WTF allocated more effort toward referee training for the London Games than it had for any prior event in its history. This was based on a widespread perception within the WTF that the success of the 2012 London Olympics would be the key test to determine whether taekwondo would remain an Olympic sport.

2012 London Olympic referee training camp in Baku, Azerbaijan.

According to the competition rules, through the video replay system, coaches could request review not only of head attacks but also of referee warnings and point deductions that could change the outcome of the match.

Technological matters were carefully reviewed. During Olympic matches, Swiss Timing would tabulate all results, so a Swiss Timing engineer in charge of scoring participated in the training.

In London’s Olympic taekwondo events, a display board indicated the blue and red corner athletes’ nationalities, names, time, score points, technique points, warnings and point deductions, impact measurements during attacks, and numbers of rounds.

In addition, the display board indicated whether video replay results were accepted or rejected. In case of video replay requests, an image of the scene was shown at the bottom of the display board, and an “X” was added to indicate rejection of a request. Moreover, the “X” mark remained to indicate that the coach had taken out his or her video replay request card. However, if the judgment was accepted, then the camera image was removed.

A total of six cameras per ring were used during the 2012 London Olympics to give accurate readings. One camera was located at each of the four corners of the ring, along with a camera above the mats and another in front of the ring. Three monitors displayed live video feed from the cameras, with each monitor displaying information from two cameras each.

According to the competition rules, through the video replay system, coaches could request review not only of head attacks but also of referee’s warnings and point deductions that could change the outcome of the match.

During London Olympic taekwondo events, a total of two video replay request cards were granted to each coach. One was to be used in preliminary events, and another card was available for bronze medal and final matches. Video reviews were handled by a jury of three.

The 9th World Junior Taekwondo Championships were held on April 4-8, 2012, at the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, athletes from a total of 90 countries.

During the opening ceremony, WTF President Chungwon Choue presented plaques of appreciation to Major General Khaled Fouda, governor of South Sinai, who contributed to preparations for the event, and to Dr. Amr Khairy of Egypt, who contributed to Egyptian Olympic taekwondo. Dr. Khairy was the middleweight silver medalist in taekwondo at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, the bronze medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and the gold medalist at the 1989 World Taekwondo Championships. He had been afflicted with health problems, but appeared in a wheelchair at the event to the applause of spectators.

Korea won first place in the male division,

followed by Iran in second and Russia placed third. In the female division, Korea won first, Russia placed second and Turkey took third.

The event was considered one of the fairest competitions the WTF had ever endorsed.

The best referee awards went to Kwangchul Oh from Azerbaijan, Stick Omenes from Norway, Jorte Deinos Cruse from Mexico, and Maria Marikuri from Georgia.

The best coach award for the male division went to Jung-won Choi from Korea and the best coach award for the female division was given to Agore Rajaref from Russia.

The male division’s MVP award was given to Young-seok Kim from Korea, while the female division’s MVP went to Byul Choi, also from Korea.

In February 2012, amid all the Olympic preparations, the WTF developed a mobile application.

This contained an introduction to the WTF, explanations of poomsae and kyorugi terminology, basic movements, and competition rules as well as taekwondo

On February 15, the WTF filmed content for the app at a studio in Seoul. The film features actress Kim Gyeong-Suk, known for her role in the 2011 taekwondo feature film “The Kick,” as well as French, Italian and Korean taekwondo players.

The app came in four languages: English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish. It was developed in collaboration with Korean tech firm SK Planet, with whom the WTF agreed to a one-year contract starting on February 7, 2012.

The 12th World University Taekwondo Championships were held on May 25-30, 2012 at Daejin University in Pocheon, Korea.

On May 14-23, 2012, an international referee seminar was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The seminar started with poomsae referee training; 113 referees from 22 countries participated as new candidates, and 74 referees from 19 countries participated in a refresher course.

Following that, a kyorugi referee seminar was conducted with 80 new candidates from 21 countries and 118 returning referees from 18 countries.

Four referees served as instructors. The 2012 seminar was the first held in Malaysia, and was made possible by the support of HRH Prince Imran Tuanku Jaafar, Taekwondo Malaysia president, IOC member, and Commonwealth Games president.

The 12th World University Taekwondo Championships were held on May 25-30, 2012 at Daejin University in Pocheon, Korea.

On behalf of the International University Sports Federation President Claude-Louis Gallien, FISU executive member Mrs. Penninah Kabenge stated during the opening ceremony, “This event is part of FISU’s wonderful program featuring 28 World University Championships in 2012.” She added, “Universities are places where students refine their talents to reach their potential, and

the World University Taekwondo Championships share the same spirit.”

At the championships, Korea won first place in the male division, followed by Iran and Turkey. In the female division, Korea won first place, Chinese Taipei won second place and France won third.

The 8th Francophone World Cup Taekwondo Championships were held on June 16-17, 2012, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. During the opening ceremony, which featured a performance by the WTF Demonstration Team, WTF President Chungwon Choue received the Commander of Merit Sport of Cote d’Ivoire from Sports Minister Philippe Legre.

Roger Piarulli, president of the French Taekwondo Federation, was also awarded the Official Order of Merit for Sport.

Prior to the championships, on June 15, Choue along with other WTF leaders, visited the National Assembly to meet Cote d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, where Choue presented the president with a taekwondo uniform and black belt.

The event gathered 116 athletes from 25 French-speaking countries around the world.

France won the overall title, followed by host Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia.

12th World University Taekwondo Championships in Pocheon, Korea.

Taekwondo’s Golden Moment: London 2012

On August 8-11, 2012, an event that the WTF had prepared for like no other got underway as the London Olympic taekwondo matches kicked off at the ExCel South Arena 1 in London.

There was a huge amount at stake: the sport’s Olympic future depended upon the execution of a flawless tournament.

It all came together. Taekwondo attracted 24,000 spectators per day, filling the stadium; the total number of spectators over the four days reached 96,000 persons.

Media attention was positive, partly because the WTF had released the top-seeded athletes’ list one month prior to the Olympics.

In addition to the actual matches, the WTF Demonstration Team performed four times every day for the four days of taekwondo events, entertaining thousands of spectators in the downtime between bouts.

The electronic sensors embedded in protec-

tive gear - dubbed the “Protector and Scoring System” or PSS – worked faultlessly.

Instant video replays showcased the sport’s prioritization not just of technology, but more importantly, of transparency and fairness; the deliberations of the video review jury were clearly observable by the audience.

The newly differentiated points scoring system, which put a premium on the most spectacular techniques, made the bouts both more exciting and more unpredictable than ever before. They also made them safer: The emphasis on scoring with fast, light contact rather than “trembling shock” meant (according to a medical report commissioned after the Games) that the chances of injury were just 0.31 percent.

Finally, the shortened timing of the competition bouts and the more constricted play areas ensured that the action in the matches was more urgent, more intense and more exciting than even before.

When the smoke cleared, the London Olympic taekwondo competition distributed its eight gold medals to eight different countries; from among the 63 countries that had qualified, 21 took home medals. This widespread medal distribution eliminated the long-standing concern that Olympic taekwondo would be a gold factory for Korea, and proved the event’s overall fairness. It also provided opportunities for nations that are usually strangers to Olympic medals. Gabon’s Anthony Obame, who took silver in the men’s +80kg division, wrote the first page in his nation’s Olympic history, while

What the Media Said:

Afghanistan’s Rohullah Nikpai, who had previously won a bronze in Beijing, doubled his country’s medal haul with a second bronze in London in the men’s -68kg category. And for the countries of Argentina and Serbia, taekwondo provided the only golds of the Games.

All in all, the 2012 Summer Olympics proved to be taekwondo’s golden moment.

The triumph in London justified the many reforms made to the sport’s rules, technologies and administration under the leadership of WTF President Chungwon Choue.

“Taekwondo has done many things wrong since becoming an Olympic sport in 2000, but the Korean martial art got most things right at the London Olympics … With one eye on preserving its Olympic status, the World Taekwondo Federation introduced a new, high-tech scoring system and instant video reviews to make scoring more transparent. Rule changes spiced up fights, making it easier to earn points for head kicks while referees were also given the power to penalize overly defensive fighters. The response to the changes from the fighters and the spectators packed into the ExCel arena for every session of the four-day competition was overwhelmingly positive.”

- Reuters

“The next generation of taekwondo arrived at the London Games. The ancient Korean martial art reinvented itself for the Olympics with electronic scoring and rule changes that favor quick action and a light touch rather than the devastating power and knockouts that used to characterize the combat sport.”

- Associated Press

Scenes from the 2012 London Olympics

Dr. Choue Takes on 4th Term at Helm of WTF

The warm glow surrounding taekwondo lingered long after the Olympic closing ceremony.

Given the results in London, it was hardly surprising that WTF President Choue stood unopposed after the only other candidate for the position of WTF president withdrew from the vote at the WTF’s General Assembly in July 2013 in Puebla, Mexico.

Choue asked attending voters to cast their ballots rather than give him the position by default. “I ask you to confirm me to remain

in this position.” Choue requested. “Our organization has grown too great to expect anything less.”

It was duly done, granting Choue another term at the helm.

The General Assembly also elected 14 Council members from five continents during their annual ordinary meeting. Eleven were reconfirmed for a new four-year term, while three new members from Mexico, Korea and Jordan were selected.

Chungwon Choue takes on a fourth term at the helm of the WTF

21st World Taekwondo Championships

Subsequently, on July 15, Choue addressed the 6,500 spectators gathered at the packed Centro Expositor of Puebla for the 2013 WTF World Taekwondo Championships.

“It is so fitting that we are holding the first championships after the London Olympics here in Puebla to set a new standard for our sport,” he said. “If you look around, you will see that Puebla is the new standard.”

The WTF’s 21st World Taekwondo Championships and the 14th Women’s World Taekwondo Championships took place in Puebla, Mexico on July 15-21, 2013.

The biennial championships, which took place at the jam-packed 6,000-seat Exhibition Center Puebla, drew 950 athletes from 134 countries.

Korea again showed its supremacy in taekwondo as it took home both the men’s and the women’s overall titles.

The seven-day event attracted great interest from both the international media and the home fans. Tickets for the second and third sessions of the championships were sold out every day during the championships, show-

ing the high popularity of taekwondo in Mexico.

In the men’s division, Korea garnered three gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal for a total of 60 points, followed by Iran with one gold and two silvers for 48 points. Host Mexico came next with one gold, two silvers and one bronze for 47 points, followed by Russia with one silver and one bronze for 31 points, and China with one silver for 30 points.

In the women’s category, Korea clinched three gold medals and two silver medals for a total of 61 points, followed by Russia with one gold and one silver for 32 points and France with one gold and two bronzes for 29 points. Cuba came next with one gold and two bronzes for 27 points and Australia with one gold for 22 points.

Korea’s Dae-hoon Lee, the gold medalist in the men’s -63kg, was selected as the male Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championships, while Russia’s Olga Ivanova, the gold medalist in the women’s +73kg category, became the female MVP.

Taekwondo in 2020 Olympics

The WTF’s main objective is to grow audiences at every competition, while keeping taekwondo a universal sport with extensive and diverse participation. It offers universal opportunities, regardless of race, gender and social status and the sport is evolving technically to become more dynamic.

Over the last 10 years, the WTF, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of its founding in 2013 and boasts a global membership of 206 countries and territories around the world, has ceaselessly strived to maintain its Olympic status.

That status was never assured, though.

Shortly after taking helm of the WTF in 2004, WTF President Choue launched a Reform Committee, which produced a 200page Reform Report after months of hard work. The WTF unanimously approved the WTF Reform Report at its extraordinary Council meeting at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland in March 2005.

Since then, the WTF has carried out its recommendations, focusing on making refereeing and judging as fair as possible; making competitions more dynamic and action-packed; and making taekwondo media friendly, especially for television.

These efforts resulted in huge success at the 2012 London Olympic Games, which proved to be the best Olympics yet for taekwondo, and a golden moment for this young, but hugely popular sport. International media, surprised by the sport’s new look, new rules, new gear and new heroes at the London Olympics, were full of praise.

As 2013 drew to a close, the WTF would reap a massive reward for its efforts at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

To ensure that the Olympic Games remain relevant to sports fans of all generations, the IOC Program Commission systematically reviews every sport following each edition of the Games.

It was widely believed that taekwondo’s future on the program was not ensured. However, all the work the WTF had put into reforming and upgrading taekwondo in advance of the London Games paid its dividend when, on September 8, 2013, during its 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the

IOC confirmed taekwondo as one of the 25 core sports of the 2020 Olympic Games.

The IOC decision meant that taekwondo would retain its status as a core Olympic sport status for a full 20 years, following its official inception at Sydney in 2000.

As 2013 drew to a close, the WTF would reap a massive reward for its efforts at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

World Taekwondo Grand Prix Kicks off

The first ever WTF World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final – an event designed to showcase the excitement of top-level taekwondo in a high-profile, media-friendly format, while filling in holes in the sport’s competitive calendar – kicked off at the Manchester Central Convention Complex in Great Britain. Competitions ran over three days, on Dec. 13-15, 2013.

The Manchester Grand Prix Final was the first in a new series of events branded “Here Come the Champions.” It is a non-mandatory and invitational. Invitations are based on WTF rankings.

There will be three Grand Prix series and one Grand Prix Final every year.

Manchester welcomed 231 athletes from 59 countries. Matches in eight weight categories – men’s -58kg, men’s -68kg, men’s -80kg, men’s +80kg, women’s -49kg, women’s -57kg, women’s -67kg, and women’s +67kg – were officiated by 56 international referees. The scoring and judging systems used in London – protector and scoring system (PSS) and an instant video replay system – were also used at the Grand Prix.

Among the innovations seen in Manchester was a black competition mat.

While taekwondo is one of the world’s most

popular participation sports, it has never quite captured the attention of mainstream spectators. If the Grand Prix is any indication, this state of affairs may be changing, for media exposure in Manchester was exceptional. Some 100 channels from around the world broadcast the Grand Prix, including the BBC, which ran live coverage throughout the three-day event.

The first Grand Prix delivered a widespread medal distribution. Russia came first, followed by host Great Britain in second place, Spain in third place, Chinese Taipei in fourth and Sweden fifth.

There is a strong incentive for hosting member national associations: They can improve their athletes’ seedings. The top 31 athletes in the eight Olympic weight categories were invited to this first Grand Prix Final; one extra spot in each weight category was reserved for the home team. There is a maximum quota of two athletes per nation in any one category.

For athletes, the Grand Prix events provide important experience in fighting top contenders, and will become a key venue for all budding Olympians. It also grants the WTF, officials and referees a regular, world-class test lab to pilot new formats, rule and regulations.

The Next 40 Years …

It has been a long road since the WTF’s inception in 1973, but taekwondo, having transitioned from a Korean martial art to a global Olympic sport, has truly come of age.

Taekwondo’s past 40 years are a real-life “zero to hero” success story.

The sport’s explosive growth and global expansion were made possible by the leadership of founding President Dr. Un-yong Kim and current President Dr. Chungwon Choue, and by the dedication and efforts of countless WTF supporters worlwide.

Kim’s energy, administrative efforts and international networking elevated WTF taekwondo into an internationally practiced Olympic sport.

Choue’s vision, reform-minded management and global savvy ensured taekwondo’s position as one of the 25 core sports in the Olympics.

That sport now boats tens of millions of practitioners worldwide in 206 member nations scattered across the surface of the globe.

Given that its practice requires no equipment beyond the human body –neither balls nor bats; neither courts nor nets - taekwondo is one of the most economical and democratic sports in existence, hence offers equal opportunities for mastery to those in developing, as well as developed nations.

Unsurprisingly, taekwondo has one of the most widespread medal distributions among Olympic sports.

Yet taekwondo is more than just an Olympic sport. It is a world-class physical, behavioral and even cross-cultural asset.

On the personal front, taekwondo offers its practitioners the conditioning benefits of a demanding athletic discipline, but unlike some sports that concentrate on only one or two attributes, taekwondo is a 360-degree endeavor, requiring flexibility, agility, stamina, strength and physical courage.

Personal benefits extend beyond the physical. Challenging training, heated competition and the dignified acceptance of both victory and defeat are forges for the character.

And taekwondo offers its practitioners even loftier benefits than personal ones.

By promoting friendship and understanding across ethnic, national, religious and gender boundaries, through a shared activity and an infrastructure dedicated to fair competition, taekwondo is a vehicle for the improvement of the human condition. Persons seriously involved in taekwondo display national pride – but also an equitable, cosmopolitan outlook that respects diverse races, peoples and cultures.

These aspects of the sport are summed up in the “Taekwondo Practitioners’ Creed” established in 2009 by WTF Vice President Dr. Dai-soon Lee. The creed reads as follows:

I will keep my body and mind sound in order to lead a righteous life. (Personal)

I will take care of my parents and love my family. (Family)

I will respect my teachers and elders and develop strong friendships and trustworthiness with others. (Society) I am willing to serve my neighbor and local community and be loyal to my country. (Country)

I will live with nature and contribute to a prosperous and peaceful mankind. (World)

In an ever-increasing range of fora –from the dojangs of traditional martial art to the sweat-drenched mats of Olympic competition; from courses that teach youth positive values to academic symposia that add to the store of human knowledge; and from the global charitable efforts of the Taekwondo Peace Corps in developing nations to para-taekwondo championships that promote inclusiveness – this sport looks set to continue to fulfill and exceed its potential, and that of its practitioners around the world for another four decades - and beyond.

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: 2014-2015

Grand Prix 2014: A Classic Year

Named after the most exciting tournament series in motor sports and branded “Here Come the Champions,” the WTF’s Grand Prix series is proving itself to be a full-on showcase for competitive taekwondo and a must-attend event for athletes seeking Olympic glory.

The ice was broken on this new taekwondo tourney in one of the world’s most famous sporting cities, Manchester, the U.K., in 2013.

In 2014, the first full year of events took place, with Series 1 taking place in Suzhou, China; Series 2 in Astana, Kazakhstan; Series 3 in Manchester, the U.K.; and the Final in Queretaro, Mexico. Korean and Chinese players proved their mastery in Series 1 in Suzhou, held on July 4-6, with Korea coming on top of the tally, taking home two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal, followed by host China with two golds and two bronzes, and Chinese Taipei with one gold and one bronze. Spain, Gabon and the Isle of Man won one gold each, while Russia clinched three silvers. Brazil, France and Mexico grabbed one silver each, while Argentina, Iran and the United Kingdom took two bronzes each. Australia, Hungary, Serbia, Azerbaijan and Japan took home one bronze medal each.

Overall, 18 nations won medals.

The Grand Prix events have, in their first full year of operation, laid claim to premium status among the WTF’s roster of global championships and will increasingly provide a media platform for the sport’s top characters to leap toward stardom.

Chinese, Chinese Taipei, Croatian, French, Iranian, Spanish, Russian and U.S. athletes all took home golds at Series 2 held in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, over three days from Aug. 29. Held in the “Daulet” sports center, the event drew 206 top athletes and 181 officials from 50 countries. Forty five international referees officiated, and all semifinals and final bouts were broadcast live over Kaz Sport television.

Iran and Spain tied for top honors at Series 3 in Manchester, the U.K., held on Oct. 24-26, with two gold medals each; runners up Serbia, Russia, Germany and Korea each took home one. The tourney attracted 236 athletes from 56 nations. Fifty international referees officiated at the event, which was held in the Manchester Central Convention Complex.

As the only nation to capture two gold medals, Russia dominated the 2014 Grand Prix Final in Queretaro, Mexico held on Dec. 3-4.

Croatia, Iran, Russia and Sweden all struck gold on the first day of the event, while on the second day, it was Great Britain, Korea, the Netherlands and Russia who won the wins. After two days of combat, the final medal tally was led by Russia, with two golds and one bronze, followed by Iran with one gold, one silver and two bronzes, while Korea came a close third with one gold, one silver and one bronze.

And a full schedule is in place for 2015. Series 1 will be in Moscow, Russia; Series 2 in Samsun, Turkey; Series 3 in Manchester, the U.K.; and the Final in Mexico City, Mexico.

The Grand Prix covers four male and four female weight categories. In series events, a total of 31 athletes, men and women, are invited based on their WTF Olympic rankings. Invitations are extended to the Member National Associations to which the athletes belong; an MNA, on behalf of its pertinent National Olympic Committee, may send a maximum of two athletes per weight division among those athletes invited by the WTF. One athlete from the host country is also invited, in addition to the athletes invited through ranking. If the host country does not use its allotted invitation place, the next highest ranked athlete whose MNA has not exceeded its maximum quota is invited.

At a Grand Prix Final event, a total of eight athletes, both men and women, per weight division, are invited based on their WTF Olympic ranking. An MNA, on behalf of its pertinent NOC, may send a maximum of two athletes, per weight division, among those athletes invited.

And the 2015 Grand Prix events will be more exciting than ever:

The top six-ranked athletes in each weight category at the time of the 2015 Grand Prix Final automatically qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

For athletes, the Grand Prix delivers important ranking points on the path to the Summer Olympic Games, while also granting priceless experience fighting likely Olympic oppo -

nents. For referees and officials, the series provides a test lab in which to analyze the performance of the latest equipment and rules. Meanwhile, the sporting public gets an increased opportunity to see world-class taekwondo athletes doing battle in more venues, on more continents and on more broadcasts, than ever before.

Despite adding a grueling series of events for athletes and their coaches to plan their yearly training schedules around, the Grand Prix offers a host of benefits.

For a sport that has not yet delivered the kind of financial rewards, pro sports such as football, rugby, baseball, basketball, tennis or golf offer to their athletes, the gold, silver and bronze medalists at Grand Prix events do walk away with prize money.

Perhaps more importantly, the Grand Prix – featuring classic rivalries, great competitive moments and the drama of victory and defeat – will hopefully provide the platform from which this generation of taekwondo champions will be catapulted to media stardom.

1st WTF

Gala Awards Dinner

In Queretaro, Mexico, taekwondo’s top players, officials and the national association of 2014 were recognized by their peers.

At its inaugural WTF Gala Awards Dinner held on Dec. 5, 2014 in a convention center perched on a mountain overlooking the scenic, central Mexican city of Queretaro, the World Taekwondo Federation named Dae-hoon Lee of Korea and Jade Jones of Great Britain its athletes of the year.

Dae-hoon Lee, London Olympic silver medalist in -58kg and two-time world champion in 2011 and 2013, as well as two-time winner of five Grand Prix in -68kg in Suzhou, China and Manchester, the U.K., was named “the 2014 WTF Male Player of the Year.” He won 30 votes out of 105 cast.

December 5, 2014

Great Britain’s Jade Jones, 2012 Olympic gold medalist in -57kg, threetime runner-up and one-time Grand Prix winner in Queretaro, Mexico, was named “the 2014 WTF Female Player of the Year” with 29 out of 105 votes cast.

Jones had previously been awarded a prestigious MBE (“Member of the British Empire”) by the British government in 2013.

The “2014 WTF Coach of the Year” honors went to Korean Young-in Bang, who has served as the head coach of the Mexican national team since 1998, with 16 out of 59 votes cast.

The athletes and coaches were voted for by dinner attendees, while the 2014 WTF National Association and the 2014 WTF Referee of the Year were chosen by a five-member Nomination Committee.

Those eligible to vote for the awardees were all participating 64 players, 30 international referees and 27 national federations, which attended the Grand Prix Final, as well as registered journalists covering the event, one vote per country.

The “2014 WTF Referee of the Year” award went to Neydis Tavarez of Puerto Rico, whose refereeing duties had included officiating the taekwondo events at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The “2014 WTF National Association of the Year” award went to the event’s host, Mexico.

The red carpet dinner took place in a candlelit convention hall ballroom, illuminated with a giant WTF logo. The sport’s elite athletes were attired, not in their usual workout gear, but in formal garb.

The diners were greeted by hosts in traditional Mexican costumes and entertained by Mariachi bands and the WTF Taekwondo Demonstration Team.

The WTF Gala Awards Dinner was designed to grant long-overdue recognition to athletes.

The event was the brain child of Juan Manuel Lopez Delgado, president of the Mexican Taekwondo Federation.

The 5th WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships were held in Moscow, Russia on June 21-22, 2014.

Feet flashed, music pounded and the crowd’s tribal roars reverberated off the domed roof of Moscow’s Dinamo Sport Palace as the 5th WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships kicked off on June 21, 2014.

It was the first time the WTF para-taekwondo championships had been held independently - i.e, rather than as an add-on to the able-bodied championships - and was also the first to run over two days, rather than one.

The two-day event drew a total of 111 athletes, 107 for kyorugi (sparring) and four for poomsae (solo pattern routines), from a record 37 countries across all five IPC regions - making it the biggest para-taekwondo championships ever held.

It was the second time the WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships had been held in Russia, following the 2nd tourney, which took place in 2010 in St. Petersburg.

Classifications and weigh-in of the kyorugi athletes were held on June 19-20 at Moscow’s Kassado Plaza Hotel. The classifications were overseen by medical and technical staff.

The championship leveraged high technology which both raised the excitement of the bout and also ensured fairness and transparency.

In a striking visual advance, matches were projected live on giant LCD screens behind the mats.

A Daedo protector and scoring system (PSS) was used. Impacts of strikes on the protective gear were electronically recorded and immediately registered on the electronic scoreboards. This system obviated human error in scoring points, while allowing the crowd to follow every match, point by point.

An instant video replay system was also used in disputed calls.

The duration of each contest was three rounds of one minute and 30 seconds, with a one-minute break between rounds.

Modified competition rules were applied. As most of the athletes had upper limb disabilities, preventing the blocking of high-line attacks, kicks to the head were banned. Punches were allowed as a tactical move, but no points were given.

The core techniques of taekwondo are its kicks. A valid kick to the body earned an athlete one point and a valid turning kick to the body two points. This point differential encouraged the athletes to use the sport’s more spectacular and crowd-pleasing techniques, such as spinning back kicks and

jump spinning turning kicks.

Given the athletes’ predominantly upper-limb disabilities, their defensive skills – i.e. their ability to block, parry or cover – were, obviously not on a par with that of their able-bodied counterparts.

However, as they have had to compensate throughout their lives for their upper-limb disabilities with increased lower-limb dexterity – for example, members of the Moroccan demonstration team wrote messages and even poured tea with their feet – their offensive techniques were as good, if not better, than able-bodied athletes. This varied combination of factors – high technology; wider-than-ever participation; athletes with scorching skills; and a good-natured, but thunderously vocal audience - made for exciting two days.

In the men’s category, Russia grabbed three golds, three silvers and four bronzes, for a total of 71 points for the top honors, followed by Iran with two golds and one silver for 31 points. Turkey came next with two golds and one bronze for 31 points. Azerbaijan finished fourth with one gold and one bronze for 28 points, followed by Mongolia with one gold and one silver for 21 points.

In the women’s division, Turkey seized two golds and two bronzes for a total of 23 points for the overall title. Russia was close behind with one gold, three silvers and one bronze for a total of 23 points. Ukraine stood in third place with one gold and one bronze for a total of 12 points, followed by Denmark with one gold for 11 points and Great Britain with one gold for 10 points.

The Good Fighting Spirit Award of the championships went to Morocco, while Colombia took the Active Participation Award.

Ukraine’s Viktoriia Marchuk – one of para-taekwondo’s stars - who won the gold in the female K43 -49kg category to become a three-time champion, was selected as the female MVP of the Moscow championships. Mongolia’s Bolor-Erdene Ganbat, the winner at the male K44 -61kg division, was chosen as the male MVP.

Australia’s Maher Mgableh, Morocco’s Tarik Benradi and Jordan’s Ms. Haya Qubain-Kara were selected as best referees of the championships.

Russia’s Efremov Alexander was chosen as the male team’s best coach and Turkey’s Zehra Orkan was named as the female team’s best coach.

Para-Taekwondo to Go to Tokyo in 2020

Above all, taekwondo’s Paralympic inclusion is testament to the WTF’s formidable roster of para-taekwondo athletes, who have proven at five world championships that their dedication, technical skill and level of athleticism are at least the equal of their able-bodied counterparts.

“We have always been 100 percent committed to making our sport a sport for all and inclusion in the Paralympic Games will help us engage with more people than ever,” Choue continued.

Indeed, the sport’s Paralympic entry should sharply raise para-taekwondo’s profile among national sport federations. This profile is expected to grant para-taekwondo athletes long-awaited access to their respective nation’s top training facilities, as well as wider public exposure and increased opportunities for government incentives and commercial sponsorships.

For taekwondo to be a truly inclusive “sport for all” - a sport in which no athlete is left behind, it had to offer all players, be they able-bodied or disabled, the opportunity to scale the world’s ultimate sporting pinnacle.

That desirable outcome was reached on January 31, 2015, when the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that taekwondo would be on the official program of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

It was the New Year’s present taekwondo had long been awaiting. With the IPC decision, taekwondo is now “complete” as a top-tier competitive sport, represented at both the Summer Olympics and the Paralympics.

The outcome is due to a lot of hard work by the WTF - work acknowledged by the IPC.

“I’d like to pay testament to the sports of badminton and taekwondo for the work they have undertaken in securing their place at the Paralympic Games for the first time,” said IPC President Sir Philip Craven in his announcement of the Tokyo program, following a meeting of the IPC Governing Board in Abu Dhabi.

The head of the WTF was in raptures.

“We are delighted and humbled that the IPC Governing Board has selected para-taekwondo for inclusion on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games sports programme for the very first time,” said WTF President Chungwon Choue. “Today is not just the realization of a dream for us, but the realization of a dream for para-taekwondo athletes around the world.”

For inclusion in the 2020 Paralympics, sports were assessed by the IPC for worldwide participation in terms of countries and continents, where the sport is regularly practiced, quadrennial competition programs, athlete classifications, anti-doping programs, rules and regulations, and initiatives undertaken to make the prospective sports more attractive.

Craven called the process of bidding for Paralympic inclusion, which began in November 2013, “the most extensive and rigorous review process ever, of all the sports.”

In a letter addressed to the “WTF Family,” WTF Paralympic Committee Chairman Koos Engelbrecht wrote: “As you are aware, much had to be done in a very short period, but all the efforts and work was not in vain. For the progress made, all the input of the different stakeholders must be acknowledged.”

Among those stakeholders, Engelbrecht praised his team who have been working overtime for the last 12 months to meet the IPC requirements.

Engelbrecht reserved his highest praise, however, for Choue, who had made it his aim to promote “… the growth and inclusion of para-taekwondo during his term of office – he has been a constant support to the initiatives of the Para-Taekwondo Committee.”

Still, now that the celebrations are over, Choue warned that the hard work begins all over again.

“We have achieved a lot, but we know this is only the beginning for para-taekwondo,” said Choue. “We look forward to working closely with the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee to provide the ultimate sporting spectacle for Paralympic fans in 2020.”

On January 31, 2015, the IPC voted to put taekwondo on the program for the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020.

Para-Taekwondo Chronology

World Para-Taekwondo Championships

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

May 11, 2010

2nd WTF World Para-Taekwondo Champion ships were held in St. Petersburg, Russia

July 2010

WTF applied for 2016 Paralympic Program

held at the welcoming reception of Seoul IPC General Assembly

June 2006

WTF President sent letter to IPC President expressing high interest in Paralympic Games

July 2006

WTF GA approved establishment of WTF Paralympic Committee (renamed to WTF Para-Taekwondo Committee)

September 2006

A para-taekwondo demonstration was held at opening ceremony of 1st World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships

Jan. 21-24, 2014

WTF’s second stage of research was conducted in Moscow, Russia

March 8, 2014

WTF signed MOU with IWAS (International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation) in Sochi, Russia

June 21-22, 2014

5th WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships were held in Moscow, Russia

2013 2014

Jan 31, 2015

The IPC voted to put taekwondo on the program for the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020

Oct. 16, 2013

IPC granted WTF IPC-recognized IF status

Oct. 25, 2013

WTF signed MOU with ICSD (International Committee of Sports for the Deaf) in St. Petersburg, Russia

November 2013

WTF signed MOU with IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) in Athens, Greece

Dec. 21-22, 2013

WTF’s rst stage of research was conducted at Yong In University in Korea for the development of sport-speci c classi cation systems

June 6, 2013

WTF para-taekwondo development task force met in Lausanne, Switzerland

June 7, 2013

WTF signed MOU with INAS in Lausanne, Switzerland

June 7, 2013

WTF signed MOU with CPISRA (the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association) in Lausanne, Switzerland

June 8, 2013

4th WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships were held in Lausanne, Switzerland

New Promise of Global Taekwondo Cooperation

The global taekwondo family may at last come together under one roof at the 2015 WTF World Taekwondo Championships in May in Russia.

Steps have been taken to bring the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) closer than they have ever been before.

WTF President Chungwon Choue wrote in January 2015 to ITF President Ung Chang, requesting an ITF taekwondo demonstration and Chang's attendance at the 2015 WTF World Taekwondo Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia, to be held on May 1218, 2015.

This development springs from a Protocol of Accord that was signed by WTF President Choue and ITF President Chang on Aug. 21, 2014. The signing took place in Nanjing, China, during the 2nd Youth Olympic Games and was personally overseen by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.

Under the protocol, athletes registered with the WTF and the ITF are free to compete in the other federation’s competitions, obviously under the rules and formats of the separate organizations.

This creates exciting new opportunities, granting the world's very best taekwondo athletes the chance to com-

pete with one another, regardless of which federation they belong to.

The two federations are seeking various ways to increase cooperation for the benefit of the entire global sport.

"The WTF is always looking at ways to develop and evolve taekwondo for the benefit of athletes and fans around the world, and opening up our relationship with the ITF is a key way of doing this," WTF President Choue said.

"In this regard, the 2015 WTF World Taekwondo Championships may be the starting point for our relations with the ITF."

If this new protocol leads to real cooperation between the two federations, it would overcome decades of disappointments.

Integration efforts between the WTF and the ITF date back to January 1982, when the two sides held their first round of talks in Vancouver, Canada.

In 1980, the IOC recognized the WTF as the sole international body governing global taekwondo.

In August 2002, former WTF President Un-yong Kim met with ITF President Ung Chang in Monaco to agree to push for taekwondo exchanges. On Aug. 20, 2003, the WTF and the ITF announced a mutual agreement on the integration matters between the two bodies

during the 2003 Summer Universiade in Daegu, Korea.

After current WTF President Choue was inaugurated in June 2004, Choue met with ITF President Chang in Athens, Greece during the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

In June 2005 at the IOC headquarters, Choue and Chang agreed to develop a committee to discuss integration plans, arbitrated by then-IOC President Jacques Rogge. After four working-level talks, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on Dec. 2, 2006 in Doha, Qatar on the formation of a coordination committee to discuss integration matters of the two taekwondo bodies.

Since then, the two sides held five Taekwondo Integration Coordination Committee meetings in Beijing, China, with the last one taking place in September 2008.

These efforts made little headway, but the new protocol offers enticing potential to overcome the schism in the sport.

WTF Invites ITF President, ITF Demonstration Team to 2015 WTF World Taekwondo Championships.

WTF Taekwondo Demonstration Team

Appendices: 1973-2013

The Olympics

(M) Male (W) Female

SYDNEY 2000

SYDNEY 2000

MEDALISTS - MALE

Under 58kg

Under 80kg

Under 68kg

Over 80kg

MATOS Angel (CUB)

SILVER EBNOUTALIB Faissal (GER)

BRONZE ESTRADA GARIBAY Victor Manuel (MEX)

GOLD

GOLD KIM Kyong Hun (KOR)

SILVER TRENTON Daniel (AUS)

BRONZE GENTIL Pascal (FRA)

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

MOUROUTSOS Michalis (GRE) ESPARZA Gabriel (ESP) HUANG Chih Hsiung (TPE)

GOLD SILVER BRONZE SAEI Hadi (IRI)

LOPEZ Steven (USA) SIN Joon Sik (KOR)

SYDNEY 2000

MEDALISTS - FEMALE

Under 49kg

Under 67kg

Under 57kg

Over 67kg

GOLD LEE Sun Hee (KOR)

SILVER GUNDERSEN Trude (NOR)

BRONZE OKAMOTO Yoriko (JPN)

GOLD CHEN Zhong (CHN)

SILVER IVANOVA Natalia (RUS) BOSSHART Dominique (CAN)

BRONZE

GOLD BRONZE

BURNS Lauren (AUS)

CHI Shu-Ju (TPE)

SILVER MELENDEZ Urbia (CUB)

GOLD SILVER BRONZE BIKCIN Hamide (TUR)

TRAN Hieu Ngan (VIE)

JUNG Jae Eun (KOR)

ATHENS 2004

ATHENS 2004

MEDALISTS - MALE

Under 80kg

Under 68kg

Over 80kg

GOLD CHU Mu Yen (TPE)

SILVER SALAZAR BLANCO Oscar Francisco (MEX)

BRONZE BAYOUMI Tamer (EGY)

GOLD

SAEI Hadi (IRI)

BRONZE

SONG Myeong Seob (KOR)

SILVER HUANG Chih Hsiung (TPE)

Under 58kg

GOLD LOPEZ Steven (USA)

SILVER TANRIKULU Bahri (TUR)

BRONZE KARAMI Yousef (IRI)

SILVER NIKOLAIDIS Alexandros (GRE)

GOLD MOON Dae Sung (KOR)

BRONZE GENTIL Pascal (FRA)

ATHENS 2004

MEDALISTS - FEMALE

GOLD CHEN Shih Hsin (TPE)

SILVER LABRADA DIAZ Yanelis Yuliet (CUB)

BRONZE BOORAPOLCHAI Yaowapa (THA)

GOLD

JANG Ji Won (KOR)

SILVER ABDALLAH Nia (USA)

BRONZE SALAZAR BLANCO Iridia (MEX)

Under 49kg

Under 57kg

GOLD LUO Wei (CHN)

SILVER SILVER

MYSTAKIDOU Elisavet (GRE)

BRONZE HWANG Kyung Seon (KOR)

GOLD CHEN Zhong (CHN) BAVEREL Myriam (FRA) CARMONA Adriana (VEN)

BRONZE

Under 67kg

Over 67kg

BEIJING 2008

BEIJING 2008

MEDALISTS - MALE

Under 58kg

Under 80kg

Under 68kg

Over 80kg

GOLD

PEREZ Guillermo (MEX)

SILVER MERCEDES Gabriel (DOM)

BRONZE NIKPAI Rohullah (AFG)

BRONZE CHU Mu-Yen (TPE)

GOLD

SON Tae Jin (KOR)

BRONZE

TAZEGUL Servet (TUR)

BRONZE SUNG Yu-Chi (TPE)

SILVER LOPEZ Mark (USA)

GOLD

SAEI Hadi (IRI)

SILVER

SARMIENTO Mauro (ITA)

BRONZE LOPEZ Steven (USA)

BRONZE ZHU Guo (CHN)

BRONZE BRONZE

CHILMANOV Arman (KAZ)

CHUKWUMERIJE Chika Yagazie (NGR)

GOLD CHA Dong Min (KOR)

SILVER

NIKOLAIDIS Alexandros (GRE)

BEIJING 2008

MEDALISTS - FEMALE

Under 67kg

Under 57kg

Over 67kg

BRONZE

MONTEJO Daynellis (CUB)

GOLD WU Jingyu (CHN)

SILVER PUEDPONG Buttree (THA)

BRONZE CONTRERAS Dalia (VEN)

GOLD

LIM Su Jeong (KOR)

SILVER TANRIKULU Azize (TUR)

BRONZE ZUBCIC Martina (CRO)

BRONZE LOPEZ Diana (USA)

Under 49kg

GOLD

HWANG Kyung Seon (KOR)

SILVER

SERGERIE Karine (CAN)

BRONZE EPANGUE Gwladys (FRA)

BRONZE SARIC Sandra (CRO)

GOLD ESPINOZA Maria del Rosario (MEX)

SILVER SOLHEIM Nina (NOR) FALAVIGNA Natalia (BRA)

BRONZE STEVENSON Sarah (GBR)

BRONZE

LONDON 2012

LONDON 2012

MEDALISTS - MALE

Over 80kg

GOLD

GONZALEZ BONILLA Joel (ESP)

SILVER LEE Dae Hoon (KOR)

BRONZE DENISENKO Alexey (RUS)

BRONZE MUNOZ OVIEDO Oscar (COL)

GOLD TAZEGUL Servet (TUR)

BRONZE JENNINGS Terrence (USA)

BRONZE NIKPAI Rohullah (AFG)

SILVER BAGHERI MOTAMED Mohammad (IRI)

Under 58kg

Under 68kg

GOLD

CRISMANICH Sebastian Eduardo (ARG)

SILVER

GARCIA HEMME Nicolas (ESP)

BRONZE MUHAMMAD LUTALO (GBR)

BRONZE SARMIENTO Mauro (ITA)

GOLD MOLFETTA Carlo (ITA)

SILVER OBAME Anthony (GAB)

BRONZE DESPAIGNE Robelis (CUB)

BRONZE LIU Xiaobo (CHN)

Under 80kg

LONDON 2012

MEDALISTS - FEMALE

Under 49kg

Under 67kg

Under 57kg

Over 67kg

GOLD

WU Jingyu (CHN)

SILVER YAQUE ENRIQUE Brigitte (ESP)

BRONZE SONKHAM Chanatip (THA)

BRONZE ZANINOVIC Lucija (CRO)

GOLD JONES Jade (GBR)

SILVER HOU Yuzhuo (CHN)

BRONZE

TSENG Li-Cheng (TPE)

BRONZE

HARNOIS Mariene (FRA)

GOLD HWANG Kyung Seon (KOR)

SILVER

TATAR Nur (TUR)

BRONZE

MCPHERSON Paige (USA)

BRONZE FROMM Helena (GER)

GOLD MANDIC Milica (SRB)

SILVER

GRAFFE Anne-Caroline (FRA) ESPINOZA Maria del Rosario (MEX)

BRONZE BARYSHNIKOVA Anastasia (RUS)

BRONZE

History of the WTF

World Taekwondo Championships

World Taekwondo Championships

Posters

History of the WTF World Taekwondo Championships

Results May 25-27, 1973

1st

Seoul, Korea

Division Rank Nation

Team 1 Korea

2 USA

3 Chinese Taipei Mexico

Weight Rank Name Nationality

ㅑ(Individual)

Light 1 Ki Hyung LEE Korea

2 Armando Chavero West Germany

3 Joe Hays USA

George Karrenberg West Germany

Heavy 1 Jeong Tae KIM Korea

2 Mike Warren USA

3 Almond Cheeks USA

Raimond Sell USA

History of the WTF World Taekwondo Championships

Results

2nd August 28-31, 1975

Seoul, Korea

Weight Rank Name Nationality

Fin 1 Soo Yong WHANG Korea

2 Jaime de Pablos Mexico

3 Liu Ching Wen Chinese Taipei

Hidesh Yamane Japan

Fly 1 You Keun HAN Korea

2 Liu Chin Chien Chinese Taipei

3 Jaime Martin Philippines

Maritz Von Marcher Mexico

Bantam 1 Tae Hwan SON Korea

2 Ramiso Guzman Mexico

3 Dennis Robinson USA

Leuchter Huvert West Germany

Feather 1 Gyeo Sung LEE Korea

2 Wolfgang Dahmen Germany

3 Martin Hall Australia

Reya Arab Iran

Light 1 Yong Hap YOO Korea

2 Michael Adey Australia

3 Want Tieh Cheng Chinese Taipei

Paman Emmanuel Cote d’Ivoire

Welter 1 Hur SONG Korea

2 Liang Ping Hui Chinese Taipei

3 A.F.Odut Uganda

Theophile Dossou Cote d’Ivoire

Middle 1 Young Kwan YANG Korea

2 Steve Pound Guam

3 Alejandro Chacon Zumivado Costa Rica

Chang Hsiang Hsing Chinese Taipei

Heavy 1 Jeong Do CHOI Korea

2 Luttecken Meinolf West Germany

3 Lin Ying Peng Chinese Taipei

Carl Pluekham Australia

3rd September 15-17, 1977 Chicago, USA

Weight Rank Name Nationality

Fin 1 Ki Yul SONG Korea

2 Jaime de Pablos Mexico

3 Sheu Jiom Shi Chinese Taipei

Ertugrul Turgay West Germany

Fly 1 Suk Kwang HA Korea

2 Jorge Ramirez Ecuador

3 Moritz Von Macher Mexico

Francisco Garcia Spain

Bantam 1 Chong Ki KIM Korea

2 Hour Waei Shing Chinese Taipei

3 Helmut Stoppe Germany

Reynaldo Salazar Mexico

Feather 1 Chung Ho PARK Korea

2 Greg Fears USA

3 Peter Salim Netherlands

Frederic Kouassi Cote d’Ivoire

Light 1 Hwang Ming Der Chinese Taipei

2 Jae Chun CHOI Korea

3 Ernie Reyes USA

Eduardo Merchan Spain

Welter 1 Yong Hap YOO Korea

2 Theophile Dossou Cote d’Ivoire

3 Manuel Jurado Mexico

Muller Rainer West Germany

Middle 1 Hur SONG Korea

2 James Kirby USA

3 Manuel Salcedo Spain

Carlos Obregon Mexico

Heavy 1 Jang Sik AHN Korea

2 Lin Ying Peng Chinese Taipei

3 Jung Dirk West Germany

John Holloway USA

4th

October 26-28, 1979

Stuttgart, West Germany

5th

February 24-27, 1982

Guayaquil, Ecuador

Weight Rank Name Nationality Weight Rank Name Nationality

Fin 1 Seung Kyung LEE Korea

2 Jaime de Pablos Mexico

3 Dae Sung Lee USA

Azofra Emilio Spain

Fly 1 Ki Mo YANG Korea

2 Jesus Benito Spain

3 Ramiro Guzman Mexico

Bachir Ouazzani Morocco

Bantam 1 Chong Ki KIM Korea

2 Pablo Arizmendi Mexico

3 Chung Sik CHOI USA

Dragan Veljovic West Germany

Feather 1 Dai Taik YIM Korea

2 Reynaldo Salazar USA

3 Bernd Bartsch Netherlands

Martin Hall Australia

Light 1 Oh Sung PARK Korea

2 George Fears USA

3 Henk Horsten Netherlands

Hubert Leuchter West Germany

Welter 1 Oscar Mendiola Mexico

2 Lindsay Lawrence UK

3 Helmut Garthner West Germany

Moo Chun KIM Korea

L/Middle 1 Rainer Muller West Germany

2 Guillermo Aragonez Mexico

3 Chung Ho PARK Korea

Hans Brugmans Netherlands

Middle 1 Sang Chun KIM Korea

2 Richard Schultz West Germany

3 Byl Be Yao Cote d’Ivoire

John Holloway USA

L/Heavy 1 Chan CHUNG Korea

2 Eugen Nefedow West Germany

3 Scott Rohr USA

Abdoulaye Cisse Cote d’Ivoire

Heavy 1 Sjef Vos Netherlands

2 Thomas Seabourne USA

3 Keith Whittemore Australia

Carlos Obregon Mexico

Fin 1 Jose Cedeno Ecuador

2 Cesar Rodriguez Mexico

3 Dae Sung Lee USA

Emilio Azofra Spain

Fly 1 Woong Hwan JEON Korea

2 Chen Chia Su Chinese Taipei

3 Turgay Ertugrul West Germany

Fernando Celada Mexico

Bantam 1 Chong Ki KIM Korea

2 Jesus Benito Spain

3 Jimmy de Fretes Netherlands

Chung Sik CHOI USA

Feather 1 Myeong Sam JANG Korea

2 Ignacio Blanco Mexico

3 Raffaele Marchione Italy

Kao Ming Lu Chinese Taipei

Light 1 Oh Sung PARK Korea

2 Juan Rosales Spain

3 Alfonso Qahhaar USA

Phillippe Bouedo France

Welter 1 Cheon Jae PARK Korea

2 Oscar Mendiola Mexico

3 Jose Alonso Spain

Lindsay Lawrence Great Britain

L/Middle 1 Kook Hyun JEONG Korea

2 Duvan Canga Ecuador

3 Francisco Garrido Spain

Helmut Gartner West Germany

Middle 1 Sang Cheon KIM Korea

2 Rashid Hassan Bahrain

3 Javier Mayen Mena Mexico

Earl Taylor USA

L/Heavy 1 Yong Seong HA Korea

2 Medhat Mansy Fahim Egypt

3 Oude Luttikhuis Netherlands

Ireno Fargas Spain

Heavy 1 Dirk Jung West Germany

2 Royce KIM USA

3 Rafael Devesa Spain

Dario Scalella Italy

History of the WTF World Taekwondo Championships

Results

6th

October 20-23, 1983

Copenhagen, Denmark

Weight Rank Name Nationality

Fin 1 Kwang Yeon WANG Korea

2 Cesar Rodriguez Mexico

3 Chan Ok Choi West Germany

Azofra Emilio Spain

Fly 1 Jeong Ho KO Korea

2 Turgut Ucan Turkey

3 Javier Benito Spain

Flotti Giuseppe Italy

Bantam 1 Hong Sik HAN Korea

2 Luis Torner Spain

3 Nadar Khodamoradi Iran

Di Constanzo Geremia Italy

Feather 1 Jae Bong LEE Korea

2 Thomas Fabula West Germany

3 Ahmet Ercan Turkey

Gustavo Sanciprian Mexico

Light 1 Jae Koo HAN Korea

2 Angel Navarrete Spain

3 Michel Della Negra France

Po Nhu Ly Australia

Welter 1 Yilmaz Helvacioglu Turkey

2 Lindsay Lawrence Great Britain

3 Kwang Keun CHOI Korea

Harald Scharmann West Germany

L/Middle 1 Kook Hyun JEONG Korea

2 Hans Brugmans Netherlands

3 Patrice Remarck Cote d’Ivoire

Luigi D’Oriano Italy

Middle 1 Dong Jun LEE Korea

2 Jersey Long Canada

3 Bayou Charles Cote d’Ivoire

Richard Warwick USA

L/Heavy 1 Ireno Fargas Spain

2 Eugen Nefedow West Germany

3 John Lee USA

Michael Knudsen Denmark

Heavy 1 Seung Hwa JANG Korea

2 Dirk JUNG West Germany

3 Henk Meijer Netherlands

Francisco Fonseca Spain

7th

September 4-8, 1985

Seoul, Korea

Weight Rank Name Nationality

Fin 1 Sun Jang LEE Korea

2 Dae Sung LEE USA

3 Koidio Konan Cote d’Ivoire

Abdula Eliamy Saudi Arabia

Fly 1 Young Sik KIM Korea

2 Bathily Younousse Cote d’Ivoire

3 Geremia Di Costanzo Italy

Sang Hon Cha USA

Bantam 1 Myeong Ok YOO Korea

2 Gustavo Sanciprian Mexico

3 Feisal Danesh Iran

Cengiz Yagiz Turkey

Feather 1 Jae Koo HAN Korea

2 Ahmet Ercan Turkey

3 Cuozzo Lucio Italy

Manuel Ivan Jejeda Dominican Rep

Light 1 Bong Kwon PARK Korea

2 Carrieri Pietro Italy

3 Manuel el Rosario Philippines

Reuben Thijs Netherlands

Welter 1 Kook Hyun JEONG Korea

2 Metin Sahin Turkey

3 Remark Patrice Cote d’Ivoire Richard Warwick USA

Middle 1 Dong Jun LEE Korea

2 S. Hassan Zahedi Iran

3 Amr Khairy Egypt

Douglas Crowper USA

Heavy 1 Henk Meijer Netherlands

2 Seung Woo KANG Korea

3 Cisse Abdoulaye Cote d’Ivoire

Moustafa El-Abrak Egypt

8th

October 7-11, 1987

Barcelona, Spain

Fin 1 Sung Wook LIM Korea Ei Suk JANG / Korea

2 Enrique Torroella / Mexico Monica Torres / Mexico

3 Dae Sung Lee USA Rosa Moreno Spain

Bidhan Lama / Nepal Chin Yu Fang / Chinese Taipei

Fly 1 Chang Mo KANG Korea Pai Yun Yiao / Chinese Taipei

2 Budi Setiawan Indonesia Young LEE / Korea

3 Gerenia Di Costanzo / Italy Ginean Hatter USA

Younousse Bathily Cote d’Ivoire Antonia Cayetano / Spain

Bantam 1 Myung Sik YOO / Korea Tennur Yerlhsu Turkey

2 Bezch Nakhr / Turkey Josefina Lopez Spain

3 Nuno Damaso / Switzerland Margarita Ogarrio / Mexico

Alfie Dell’orso Australia Torng Ya Lin / Chinese Taipei

Feather 1 Chian Hsiang Lee Chinese Taipei So young KIM / Korea

2 Luis Torner / Spain Dotson KIM USA

3 Mustafa Elmali / Turkey Zuleyha Tan Turkey

Chris Spence / USA Anne Christensen / Denmark

Light 1 Dae Seung YANG / Korea Eun Young LEE / Korea

2 Jesus Tortosa Spain Hsien Feng Lien / Chinese Taipei

3 Steve Capener USA Brigitte Evanno France

Georg Streif / West Germany Elena Navaz Spain

Welter 1 Kook Hyun JEONG / Korea Coral Bistuer Spain

2 John Wright Spain Jee Sook KIM / Korea

3 Torsten Gernahrdt / West Germany Tessa Gordon / Canada

Jay Warwick USA Tang Huey Ting / Chinese Taipei

Middle 1 Gye Haeng LEE / Korea Mandy De Jongh / Netherlands

2 Francisco Jimenez Spain Wang Chih Yu / Chinese Taipei

3 Herb Perez / USA Sharon Jewell USA

Ammar Sbeiti Jordan Biegger Angelika / West Germany

Heavy 1 Michael Arndt West Germany Lynette Love USA

2 Jimmy KIM / USA Liu Yi Ling / Chinese Taipei

3 Carmelo Medina Spain Yung Jung CHANG / Korea

Mounir Boukrouh France Anne Buijs / Netherlands

9th

October 9-14, 1989

Seoul, Korea

Fin 1 Tae Ho KWON Korea Chin Yu Fang / Chinese Taipei

2 Chang Jung San / Chinese Taipei Monica Torres Amarilla / Mexico

3 Juan Moreno / USA Jee Hyang KIM Korea

Harun Ates Turkey Sita Kumari Rai / Nepal

Fly 1 Chul Ho KIM / Korea Sun Jin WON Korea

2 Turgut Ucan Turkey Pai Yun Yao / Chinese Taipei

3 Fariborz Danesh Iran Anita Falieros / Australia

Salab Abdel Hamid Egypt Mayumi Pejo / USA

Bantam 1 Jun HAM Korea Nam Sik JUNG Korea

2 D’Alose Domenico Italy Diane Murray / USA

3 Herberth Christian France Chen Yi An / Chinese Taipei

Abdullah Nagrani Saudi Arabia Aysin Haktanir / Turkey

Feather 1 Hyuk JANG Korea So Young KIM Korea

2 Hubert Sinegre / France Kim Dotson / USA

3 Musa Cicek / West Germany Patrica Mariscal Mexico

Rassiah Dhanaraj Malaysia Raquel Palacios Spain

Light 1 Dae Seung YANG / Korea Eun Young LEE Korea

2 Nusret Tamazanoglu Turkey Liu Chao Chung / Chinese Taipei

3 Jae Hoon LEE / Canada Elena Benitez Spain

Joseph Rocamora France Seyda Serefoglu / Turkey

Welter 1 Hyun Suk LEE Korea Anita Silsby / USA

2 Hunberto Norabuena / Chile Anne Buijs Netherlands

3 Dante Pena Philippines Ayse Alkaya / Turkey

Khaled Mahmoun Fawzi / Egypt Jee Sook KIM Korea

Middle 1 Yong Suk JEONG / Korea Lydia Zele / USA

2 Renzo Zenteno Chile Marcie King Canada

3 Hassan Zahedi / Iran Antonia Vega Spain

Jarl Kaila / Finland Hsu Ju Ya / Chinese Taipei

Heavy 1 Amr Khairy / Egypt Wan Sook JUNG Korea

2 Sang Jin CHOI Korea Yvonne Franssen Canada

3 Victor Bateman / Australia Yang His Chun / Chinese Taipei

Farzad Zarakhsh / Iran Santana Yolanda Spain

History of the WTF World Taekwondo Championships

Results

10th

October 28 - November 3, 1991

Athens, Greece

11th

August 19-21, 1993

New York, USA

Fin 1 Gergely Salim Denmark Delgado Elizabeth / Spain

2 Chang Jung San / Chinese Taipei Gulnur Yerlisu Turkey

3 Syrous Rezaei / Iran Wu Shan Chen Chinese Taipei

Cheol Woo KANG / Korea Jin Seong KIM / Korea

Fly 1 Cheol Ho KIM / Korea Arzu Tan Turkey

2 Josef Salim Denmark Van Der Pas / Netherlands

3 Gabriel Esparza Spain Mariela Valenzuela / Argentina

Tapilatu Django Netherlands Tang hui Wen / Chinese Taipei

Bantam 1 Angel Alonso / Spain Dong Seon PARK / Korea

2 Sayen Najem Canada Dondu Sahin Turkey

3 Sang Joon SUN / Korea Walker Kathy Great Britain

Ekrem Boyali Turkey Solis Rosario / Spain

Feather 1 Heok CHANG Korea Tung Ya Ling /Chinese Taipei

2 Tapilatu Stefan / Netherlands Aysegul Ergin Turkey

3 Concalves Jorge / Brazil Lopez Josefina / Spain

Tamer Ard El Monem Egypt Azza Adel Egypt

Light 1 Dae Seung YANG Korea Eun Ok JEONG / Korea

2 Abratique Ramilito / Philippines Yi An CHEN Chinese Taipei

3 John Collinson / Australia Thielman Minouchka Netherlands

Hiang Ming Jen Chinese Taipei Knoll Dolores / Mexico

Welter 1 Yong Woong PARK Korea Limas Arlene USA

2 Villasana James USA Bisturer Coral / Spain

3 Kondo Hisashi / Japan Hang Mi CHO / Korea

Hugo Garcia / Mexico Morfou Drosidou Greece

Middle 1 Soon Cheul YOON / Korea In Deok YANG / Korea

2 Yehya Alam / Egypt Aaron Chavela USA

3 Metin Sahin Turkey Monica Del Real / Mexico

Perez Herbert / USA Ketesidou Theano Greece

Heavy 1 Sorensen Tonny / Denmark Love Lynette USA

2 Schawe Oliver Germany Franssen Yvonne / Canada

3 Jordan Miguell / Spain Widehov Anna / Sweden

Amr Khairy Egypt Hipf Bettina Greece

Fin 1 Seung Tae CHIN Korea Isabel Cruzado Spain

2 Gergely Salim / Denmark Rahmi Kurnia / Indonesia

3 Carlos Ayala / Mexico Vicki Slane / USA

Eamon Nolan Canada Gonca Goler / Turkey

Fly 1 Javier Argudo Spain Su Mi YOU Korea

2 Alyson Yamaguti Brazil Agueda Perez / Denmark

3 Ruben Palafox Mexico Inas Anis Mexico

Hyon LEE USA Guinar Yerlisu Canada

Bantam 1 In Kyoung KIM /Korea Hui Wen TANG / Chinese Taipei

2 Sayed Najem / Canada Elizabeth Delgado Spain

3 Walter Dean Vargas Philippines Diane Murray / USA

Wong Ching Beng / Malaysia Sun Jin WON Korea

Feather 1 Byong Cheol KIM / Korea Seung Min LEE Korea

2 Milton Iwama Brazil Nuray Deliktas Turkey

3 David Kang USA Cathrin Vetter Germany

Francisco Zas / Spain Sarah Maitimu Netherlands

Light 1 Se Jin PARK Korea Jesus Santolaria Spain

2 Victor Luke / Canada Kyung Suk PARK Korea

3 Mustafa Dagdelen Turkey Ineabelle Diaz / Puerto Rico

Aziz Acharki / Germany Marina Aguero Argentina

Welter 1 Yong Ho LIM / Korea Mi Young KIM Korea

2 Tsu Len LIU Chinese Taipei Moreno Drosidou / Greece

3 Ahmed Zahran / Egypt Shan Tsai / Chinese Taipei

Pilavakis Andreas / Cyprus Carolina Benjarano / Colombia

Middle 1 Michael Meloul France Eun Sun PARK Korea

2 Victor M. Estrada / Mexico Katerina Bassi / Greece

3 John Wright Spain Veera Liukkonen / Finland

Luis Noquera Venezuela Ju Ya HSU / Chinese Taipei

Heavy 1 Je Kyoung KIM / Korea Myoung Sook JUNG Korea

2 Ali Sahin Turkey Adriana Carmona / Venezuela

3 Oghenejobo Peters Nigeria Elisavet Mistakidou / Greece

Thierry Troudart / France Anna Widehov Sweden

12th

November 17-21, 1995

Manila, Philippines

Fin 1 Seung Tae CHIN / Korea Chiu Chin Huang / Chinese Taipei

2 Roberto Cruz Philippines So Hee YANG / Korea

3 Flah Moh’d Al-Hamed Jordan Atzen Cristina / Italy

Carlos Chamorro Sweden Coral Falco Spain

Fly 1 Cihat Kutluca / Turkey Hamide Bikcin Turkey

2 Mehrdad Rokni / Iran Monica Sprengel / Germany

3 Gergely Salim Hungary Besty Ortiz / Puerto Rico

Ruben Palafox Mexico Tran Thy My Lin Vietnam

Bantam 1 Dae Soon CHANG Korea Sun Jin WON / Korea

2 Gabriel Esparza Spain Mitchelle Thompson USA

3 Chin Hsiung Huang Chinese Taipei Minako Hatakeyama Japan

Tran Quanc Ha / Vietnam Shan Chen Wu / Chinese Taipei

Feather 1 Byoung Uk KIM Korea Seung Min LEE / Korea

2 Clayton Barber / USA Leonildes Santos /Brazil

3 Bjan Maghanloo Iran Nuray Deliktas Turkey

Nolano Claudio / Italy Janet Glassman USA

Light 1 Aziz Acharki Germany Kyung Suk PARK / Korea

2 Roberto E. Garibay / Mexico Vanina Sanchez V. Argentina

3 David Gonzalez Sweden Marlene Ramirez / Mexico

Fariborz Askari / Iran Miet Filipovic Croatia

Welter 1 Jose Marquez Spain Hyang Mi CHO / Korea

2 Jean Lopez / USA Chih Ling Hsu Chinese Taipei

3 Nico Davis Sweden Inci Tasyurek Turkey

Tsu Len Liu Chinese Taipei Dana Martin USA

Middle 1 Dong Wan LEE / Korea Ireana Ruiz Spain 2 Ulysses Marceline Philippines Sun Mi PARK / Korea

3 Mikael Meloul France Heidi Juarez Guatemala

Zoran Fredad Yugoslavia Monica Delreal Jaime / Mexico

Heavy 1 Je Kyoung KIM Korea Myoung Sook JUNG / Korea

2 Pascal Gentil / France Yolanda Garcia Spain

3 Romano Massimiliano Italy Natasa Vezmar Croatia

Lucio Aurelio Silva Brazil Hsiao Ying Huang Chinese Taipei

13th

November 19-23, 1997

Hong Kong, China

Fin 1 Juan Antonio Ramos Spain So Hee YANG Korea

2 Roberto Cruz / Philippines Huang Li / China

3 Lee Hou Kun Chinese Taipei Thy Vy Sok / Australia

Nazim Yilmaz / Turkey Kay Poe / USA

Fly 1 Seung Tae CHIN Korea Chi Shu Ju / Chinese Taipei

2 Tsai Yi Ya / Chinese Taipei Song Hee YOON Korea

3 Geraldhy Altamirano Ecuador Kylie Treadwell / Australia

Vo Ludovic / France Mandy Patricia Meloon / USA

Bantam 1 Huang Chi Hsiung / Chinese Taipei Eun Suk HWANG /Korea

2 Mehdi Bibak Asl Iran Roxane Forget Canada

3 Liu Chuang / China Lauren Burns / Australia

Oscar Salazar Blanco Mexico Elizabeth Delgado Spain

Feather 1 In Dong KIM Korea Jae Eun JUNG Korea

2 Ekrem Boyali / Turkey Zelmanovitch Carine / France

3 Rafael Z. Carreon Mexico Lai Hsio-Wen / Chinese Taipei

Hsu Chi-Hung / Chinese Taipei Raveevadee Pansombut / Thailand

Light 1 Tamer Abdel Moneim Egypt Hae Eun KANG Korea

2 Negrel Christophe France Hung Chia Chun Chinese Taipei

3 Ki Sun SHIM / Korea Luisa Arnanz Spain

Zoran Krajcinovic / Yugoslavia Miet Filipovic / Croatia

Welter 1 Jose Jesus Marquez Spain Hyang Mi CHO Korea

2 Marco Scheiterbauser Germany Drosidou Morfo / Greece

3 Kyung Hun KIM / Korea Ramirez Monroy Marlen Mexico

Madjid Aflakikhamseh Iran Hsu Chih-Ling / Chinese Taipei

Middle 1 Dong Wan LEE Korea Eun Joung WOO Korea

2 Alfredo Escobar Osorio Cuba Bourguigue Mounia Morocco

3 Ruben Montesinos Spain Monica Jaime Mexico

Tolis Michael / Greece Ireane Ruiz Spain

Heavy 1 Je Kyoung KIM / Korea Myoung Sook JUNG Korea

2 Hassan Aslani / Iran Natalia Ivanova / Russia

3 Aldosari Khalid / Saudi Arabia Natasa Vezmar / Croatia

Nelson Saenz Miller Cuba Chiu Meng-Jen / Chinese Taipei

History of the WTF World Taekwondo Championships

Results

14th

June 2-6, 1999

Edmonton, Canada

Weight Rank Name / Nation

Fin 1 Byeong Seok MIN Korea Belen Asensio / Spain

2 Roberto Cruz Philippines Song Hee YOON / Korea

3 July Mercedes Dominican Rep France Pouzoulet France

Wei Chun Chen Chinese Taipei Kadriye Selimogou / Turkey

Fly 1 Jong Il Yoon / Korea Shu Ju Chi Chinese Taipei

2 Abror Haider / Denmark Hye Young SHIM / Korea

3 Younes Sekkat / Morocco Jennifer Delgado / Spain

Nhat Thong Ho Vietnam Guiru Yuan China

Bantam 1 Dae Hyu KO / Korea Wang Su China

2 Ahmet Evcimen Turkey Jae Eun JUNG / Korea

3 Mark Lopez USA Mei Chun Meng Chinese Taipei

Ron Ivan Spain Christiana Bach / Switzerland

Feather 1 Hyun Goo NO Korea Hae Eun KANG / Korea

2 Jesper Roesen Denmark Iridia Salazar Blanco / Mexico

3 Francisco Zas Spain Gael Texier / Canada

Chi Hung Hsu / Chinese Taipei Sonia Reyes / Spain

Light 1 Hadi Saeibonehkohal / Iran Hyang Mi CHO / Korea

2 Byung Uk KIM / Korea Hui Jing Zhang China

3 Sergio Cardenas / Chile Lisa O’Keefe Australia

Rosendo Alonso / Spain Ekaterina Noskova Russia

Welter 1 Jong O JANG / Korea Elena Benitez / Spain

2 Bahri Tanrikulu Turkey Mirjam Muskens / Netherlands

3 Rodrigo Martinez H. / Mexico Wan Chen Chang Chinese Taipei

Joshua Coleman / USA Barbara Pak / Canada

Middle 1 Majid Aflakikhamseh Iran Yoon Kyung KIM / Korea

2 Yasin Yagiz Turkey Ibone Lallana / Spain

3 Faissal Ebnoutalib Germany Chen Zhong China

Adikhan Saginolykov / Kazakhstan Filliz Nur Aydin Turkey

Heavy 1 Dae Sung MOON / Korea Ching Yi Kao Chinese Taipei

2 Mictar Dounbia France Dominique Bosshart / Canada

3 Daniel Trenton Australia Rase Laurence / Belgium

Ruben Montesinos / Spain Maria Koniahina Russia

15th

November 1-7, 2001

Jeju, Korea

Fin 1 Yeon Ho CHOI Korea Kadriye Selimoglu / Turkey

2 Mu Yen Chu / Chinese Taipei Soo Yang KIM Korea

3 Juan Antonio Ramos Spain Fan Tao Kong / China

Roberto Cruz / Philippines Dalia Contreras / Vietnam

Fly 1 Behzad Khodada Kanjoberh / Iran Hye Young LEE Korea

2 Eduord Hegai / Uzbekistan Brigida Yague Spain

3 Dae Ryung KIM Korea Chia Chun Huang / Chinese Taipei

Seifula Agomedov / Russia Magda Seirekeidou / Greece

Bantam 1 Nam Won KANG Korea Jae Eun JUNG Korea

2 Peter Lopez / USA Gemma Magria Spain

3 Miguel Toledo / Spain Paola Felix Mexico

Kiyoteru Higuchi / Japan Pamela Agostinelli Italy

Feather 1 Niyamaddin Pashayey Azerbaijan Ji Won JANG Korea

2 Carlos Molfetta / Italy Iridia Salazar Mexico

3 Luis Benitez Dominica Rep Sonia Reyes Spain

Abdullah Sertcelik / Turkey Zeynep Murat / Turkey

Light 1 Steven Lopez USA Yeon Ji KIM Korea

2 Jesper Roesen / Denmark Belen Fernandez Spain

3 Athanasios Balilis / Greece Mouna Brnavrrassoul Morocco Jose Luis Ramirez / Mexico Natalia Falavigna Silva Brazil

Welter 1 Mamedhy Doucara France Hye Mi KIM Korea

2 Mahmoud Napoleon Akoush Egypt Wan Chen Chang Chinese Taipei

3 Marcin Chorzelews Poland Nina Solheim / Norway Bekir Aydin Turkey Luisa Arnanz Spain

Middle 1 Bahri Tanrikulu / Turkey Sarah Stevenson / Great Britain

2 Mickael Borot France Zhong Chen / China

3 Kyong Hun KIM / Korea Alesia Charniavskaya / Belarus

Jon Granica / Spain Elli Mistakidou / Greece

Heavy 1 Ferry Greevink Netherlands Kyung Hyeon SHIN Korea

2 Hadi Afshar Bakeshiou Iran I Hsien Wang / Chinese Taipei

3 Miodrag Kuzmanovic Croatia Maria Koniakhina / Russia

Ruben Montesinos Spain Marya Zhvravskaya / Belarus

16th

September 24-28, 2003

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Fin 1 Yeon Ho CHOI / Korea Brigitte Yague Spain

2 Paul Green Great Britain Wang Ying / China

3 Zahid Mammadov / Azerbaijan Thucuc Pham / Germany

Roberto Cruz Philippines Dalia Contreras Venezuela

Fly 1 Chu Mu Yen Chinese Taipei Ji Hye LEE / Korea

2 Behzad Khodadad Kanjobeh / Iran Yanelis Labrada / Cuba

3 Seok Hwa KO / Korea Elisha Voren USA

Tim Thackrey USA Boorapolchai Yaowapa / Thailand

Bantam 1 Huang Chih Hsiung / Chinese Taipei Jeong Yeon HA / Korea

2 Omar Badia Spain Taylor Stone USA

3 Peter Lopez / USA Nootcharin Sukkhongdumnoen / Thailand

Omid Gholamzadeh / Iran Veronique St.Jacques / Canada

Feather 1 Nam Won KANG / Korea Areti Athanasopoulou / Greece

2 Mark Lopez / USA Iridia Salazar / Mexico

3 Niyamaddin Pashayev / Azerbaijan Sonia Reyes Spain

Erdal Aylanc / Germany Lise Hjortshoj / Denmark

Light 1 Kyo Sik KIM Korea Yeon Ji KIM / Korea

2 Hadi Saeibonehkohal / Iran Karine Sergerie / Canada

3 Rashad Ahmadov / Azerbaijan Tina Morgan Australia

Tuncay Caliskan / Austria Yuliya Sukhavitskaya Belarus

Welter 1 Steven Lopez USA Sun Hee LEE / Korea

2 Mohamed Ebnoutalib Germany Sandra Saric Croatia

3 Seon Taek OH / Korea Elisavet Mistakidou Greece

Rosendo Alonso / Spain Liya Nurkina Kazakhstan

Middle 1 Yossef Karami Iran Wie Luo China

2 Michael Borot France Myriam Baverel France

3 Bahri Tanrikulu Turkey Bourguigue Mounia / Morocco

Tavakkul Bayramov Azerbaijan Atziberlos Arcos Spain

Heavy 1 Morteza Rostami Iran Hyun Jung YOUN / Korea

2 Zakaria Asidah Denmark Natasa Vezmar Croatia

3 Mici Kuzmanovic Croatia Chen Zhong China

Cheng Lin Wen Chinese Taipei Kiriaki Kouvari Greece

17th

April 13-17, 2005

Madrid, Spain

Fin 1 Jin Hee KIM Korea Asensio Belen Spain

2 Nafjam Feirollah / Iran Eun Young YU Korea

3 Rodriguez Gerardo Mexico Gulec Sumeyye Germany

Seyfula Magomedov Russia Meloon Mandy / USA

Fly 1 Seok Hwa KO Korea WING Yang / China

2 Khodadad Behrad Iran Yague Brigitte Spain

3 Thanh long Dinh / Vietnam Lukic Nevena Austria

Sutthikunkarn Dech Thailand Montejo Daynelli / Cuba

Bantam 1 Jae Sik KIM / Korea Bo Hye KIM Korea

2 Wenceslau Marcio Brazil Marat Zeynep / Turkey

3 Dincsalman Kivanc Turkey Ladouceur Orphee / Canada

Goldghmidt Llan / Israel Ahmed Helmy Eman / Egypt

Feather 1 Mark Lopez / USA Diana Lopez / USA

2 Myeong Seob SONG Korea Sae Rom KIM Korea

3 Itsisoa Aritz Spain Sergerie Karine Canada

Bekkers Dennis / Netherlands Diedhiou Bineta Senegal

Light 1 Saei Hadi / Iran Diaz Edna Mexico

2 Akoev Alan Russia Li Wen Su / Chinese Taipei

3 Niimi Takahiro / Japan Premwaew Chonnapas Thailand Vasquez Carlos Venezuela Marton Carmen / Australia

Welter 1 Steven Lopez USA Kyung Seon HWANG Korea

2 Tajik Ali / Iran Epangne Gwladys / France

3 Alonso Rosendo Spain Lallana Ibone Spain

Jukic Daniel Australia Saric Sandra / Croatia

Middle 1 Seon Taek OH Korea Falavigna Natalia Brazil

2 Garcia Jon Spain Stevenson Sarah Great Britain

3 Karami Yossef / Iran Los Arcos Aitziber Spain

Ntep Bruno France Sun Young JUNG Korea

Heavy 1 Montesinos Ruben Spain Kyung Hyeon SIN Korea

2 Abdelkader Zrouri / Morocco Diaz Iniabelle Puerto Rico

3 Jun Nyung HEO Korea Rase Laurence Belgium

Leonardo Basile Italy Liu Riu / China

History of the WTF World Taekwondo Championships

Results

18th

May 18-22, 2007

Beijing , China

Weight Rank Name / Nation (MALE) Name Nation (FEMALE)

Fin 1 Yeon Ho CHOI / Korea WU Jingyu China

2 Chutchawal Khawlaor / Thailand Yaowapa Boorapolchai Thailand

3 Batykulov Aslan Kazakhstan Yang Shu Chun Chinese Taipei

Rodolfo Osornio Mexico Charlotte Craig USA

Fly 1 Jose Antonio Ramos / Spain Brigitte Yague / Spain

2 Guillermo Perez Mexico Ana Zaninovic Croatia

3 Tamer Bayoumi / Egypt Tazhigulova Nazgul Kazakhstan

Sun Jae LEE / Korea Yajaira Peguero / Dominican Rep.

Bantam 1 Filip Grgic / Croatia Jin Hee JUNG / Korea

2 Nacha Punthong Thailand Tseng Yi Hsuan Chinese Taipei

3 Rafik Zohri Netherlands Yaimara Rosario Ferrer / Cuba

Ferreira Marcel / Brazil Andrea Rica / Spain

Feather 1 Gessler Viera Abreu / Cuba Sung Hye LEE / Korea

2 Omid Gholam Zadeh Asl Iran Hamide Bikcin Turkey

3 Myeong Seob SONG / Korea Watcharaporn Dongnoi / Thailand

Dennis Bekkers Netherlands Diana Lopez USA

Light 1 Sung Yu Chi / Chinese Taipei Karine Sergerie / Canada

2 Nesar Ahmad Bahavee / Afghanistan Hye Mi PARK / Korea

3 Tommy Mollet Netherlands Mona Solheim Norway

Hadi Sael Bonehkohal Iran Nia Abdallah USA

Welter 1 Steven Lopez USA Kyung Seon HWANG / Korea

2 Chang Ha JANG / Korea Epangue Gwladys France

3 Sebastien Michaud / Canada Helena Fromm / Germany

Balars Toth / Hungary Sandra Saric Croatia

Middle 1 Bahri Tanrikulu Turkey Maria Espinoza / Mexico

2 Tavagul Bayramov / Azerbaijan In Jong LEE / Korea

3 Min Soo PARK Korea Luo Wei China

Chilmanov Arman Kazakhstan Silava Natalia / Brazil

Heavy 1 Daba Modibo Keita Mali Chen Zhong China

2 Morteza Rostami Iran Jin Sun HAN / Korea

3 Yun Bae NAM / Korea Tsui Fang Hsuan Chinese Taipei

Zrouri Abdelkader Morocco Castrignano Daniela / Italy

19th

October 14-18, 2009

Copenhagen, Denmark

Weight Rank Name Nation (MALE) Name Nation (FEMALE)

Fin 1 Yeon Ho CHOI Korea Hyo Ji PARK Korea

2 HAIDARI Mahmood / Afghanistan SANTIAGO Zoraida / Puerto Rico

3 BAGHERI Meisam Iran PUEDPONG Buttree Thailand

KHAWLAOR Chutchawal / Thailand YVETTE Yong Canada

Fly 1 GONZALEZ BONILLA Joel Spain YAGUE ENRIQUE Brigitte / Spain

2 VILLA Damian / Mexico SOBOLEVA Anna / Russia

3 CRISMANICH Mauro Argentina AZIEZ Yasmina / France

REZAI Sayed Afghanistan WU Jingyu / China

Bantam 1 Hyo Seob YEOM Korea PELHAM Danielle / USA

2 NADERIAN Reza Iran PHONGSRI Sarita Thailand

3 MARRON JIMENEZ Javier / Spain CARIAS MORALES Euda / Guatemala

ULUGNUYAN Cem Turkey Eun Kyung KWON Korea

Feather 1 BAGHERI MOTAMED Mohammad / Iran HOU Yu / China

2 ISLAS Idulio / Mexico CALABRESE Veronica Italy

3 DIEYE Balla Senegal RICA TABOADA Andrea Spain

TAZEGUL Servet / Turkey TSENG Pei / Chinese Taipei

Light 1 Joon Tae KIM Korea Su Jeong LIM/ Korea

2 MAXIME Potvin Canada ZHANG Hua / China

3 LOPEZ Mark / USA HERNANDEZ GARCIA Estefania Spain

OUNIS Mokdad Germany PREMWAEW Chonnapas Thailand

Welter 1 LOPEZ Steven USA EPANGUE Gwladys / France

2 GARCIA HEMME Nicolas / Spain CASTELLANOS ESTRADA Taimi / Cuba

3 AHMADOV Rashad / Azerbaijan KURSAR Nikolina Norway SEBASTIEN Michaud Canada SARIC Sandra / Croatia

Middle 1 TANRIKULU Bahri Turkey HANG Ying Ying / China

2 MOLFETTA Carlo / Italy In Jong LEE Korea

3 BABIC Vanja Serbia AYDIN Furkan / Turkey

KARAMI Yousef / Iran BARYSHNIKOVA Anastasia / Russia

Heavy 1 KEITA Daba / Mali SIMON ALAMO Rosana Spain

2 Yun Bae NAM Korea LIU Rui / China

3 CHILMANOV Arman Kazakhstan Seol JO Korea

TAJIK Hossein Iran SILVA Natalia Brazil

20th

May 1-6, 2011

Gyeongju, Korea

Weight Rank Name Nation (MALE) Name Nation (FEMALE)

Fin 1 KHAWLAOR Chutchawal Thailand So Hui KIM / Korea

2 Ji Woong PARK / Korea LI Zhaoyi / China

3 BAGHERI DEHCHESHMEH Meisam / Iran MANZ Suemeyye Germany

MAGOMEDOV Seyfula / Russia YILDIRIM Rukiye Turkey

Fly 1 GONZALEZ Joel Spain WU Jingyu / China

2 BRAGANCA Rui Portugal YANG Shu Chun / Chinese Taipei

3 MERCEDES REYES Yulis Gabriel Dominican Rep. ATABROUR Sanaa Morocco

WEI Chen Yang / Chinese Taipei YAGUE Brigida Spain

Bantam 1 Dae Hoon LEE Korea ZANINOVIC Ana Croatia

2 HARVEY Michael Paul Great Britain BEKKALI Lamyaa / Morocco

3 LE HUYNH Chau / Vietnam Hye Young LEE / Korea

PUNTHONG Nacha Thailand YANGIN Hatice Kubra Turkey

Feather 1 TAZEGUL Servet / Turkey HOU Yuzhuo / China

2 BAGHERI MOTAMED Mohammad Iran JONES Jade Louise Great Britain

3 NIKPAA Rohullah / Afghanistan HARNOIS Marlene France

STAMPER Martin / Great Britain Su Jeong LIM / Korea

Light 1 NASSRAZADANY Alireza / Iran NISAISOM Rangsiya Thailand

2 THONGSALUP Patiwat Thailand SUMIC Marina Croatia

3 BAYGUT Ridvan / Turkey ALTUNEL Durdane Turkey

COULIBALY Ismael Mali SERGERIE Karine / Canada

Welter 1 ABDOLLAHI Farzad / Iran STEVENSON Sarah Diana / Great Britain

2 SARI Yunus Turkey GUO Yunfei / China

3 AZIZOV Ramin Azerbaijan FROMM Helena / Germany

CHERNOUBI Issam / Morocco Kyung Seon HWANG / Korea

Middle 1 KARAMI Yousef Iran EPANGUE Gwladys France

2 Dong Min CHA / Korea Hye Ri OH / Korea

3 GARCIA Jon / Spain BARYSHNIKOVA Anastasia Russia

MOLFETTA Carlo / Italy MANDIC Milica Serbia

Heavy 1 Chol Ho JO / Korea GRAFFE Anne Caroline France

2 IRGASHEV Akmal / Uzbekistan Sae Bom AN / Korea

3 RAJOLY Kourosh Iran IVANOVA Olga Russia

STYLIANOU Andreas Cyprus SIMON Rosana Spain

21st

July 15-21, 2013

Puebla, Mexico

Weight Rank Name Nation (MALE) Name / Nation (FEMALE)

Fin 1 Tae Hun KIM / Korea So Hui KIM Korea

2 HSU Chia Lin Chinese Taipei VALUEVA Anastasia / Russia

3 NAKAVIROJ Jerranat / Thailand FARHANI Fadia / Tunisia

SHERIF Hussein Egypt REN Dandan / China

Fly 1 Tae Moon CHA Korea SONKHAM Chanatip Thailand

2 MOSTEAN LORON Hadi / Iran TOURAN Dana Jordan

3 ALVES Guilherme Brazil AGUIRRE Yania Cuba

VILLA Damian / Mexico ZANINOVIC Lucija / Croatia

Bantam 1 Dae Hoon LEE / Korea Yu Jin KIM Korea

2 MENDOZA Abel / Mexico ZANINOVIC Ana / Croatia

3 BARCLAIS Stevens / France LIBORIO Floriane / France

WEI Chen Yang / Chinese Taipei NUNEZ Yamisel Cuba

Feather 1 ASBAGHIKHANGHAH Behnam Iran So Hee KIM Korea

2 Hun KIM Korea HAMADA Mayu / Japan

3 DIEYE Balla Senegal CALVO Eva Spain

ROSILLO ATENCIA Jose Antonio / Spain FROEMMING Anna-Lena Germany

Light 1 ADRIANO Uriel / Mexico MARTON Carmen / Australia

2 GAUN Albert Russia Hwi Lang KIM Korea

3 Yoo Jin KIM Korea GUELEC Rabia Germany

TRABELSI Saifeddine / Tunisia KLAEY Nina Switzerland

Welter 1 GUELEC Tahir Germany NIARE Haby / France

2 LIZARRAGA Rene / Mexico CHUANG Chia Chia / Chinese Taipei

3 GARCIA Nicolas / Spain ANIC Franka Slovenia

KOTKOV Anton Russia AZIZOVA Farida / Azerbaijan

Middle 1 CASTILLO Rafael Cuba HERNANDEZ Glenhis Cuba

2 MA Zhao Yong / China In Jong LEE Korea

3 ISAEV Radik / Azerbaijan IKONEN Casandra Sweden

TRABELSI Yassine Tunisia VOKEY Jasmine Canada

Heavy 1 OBAME Anthony Gabon IVANOVA Olga / Russia

2 MARDANI Sajjad / Iran ACOSTA Briseida Mexico

3 DESPAIGNE Robelis / Cuba BAJIC Ana / Serbia

TRAJKOVIC Ivan Slovenia GRAFFE Anne-Caroline / France

Heroes and Heroines of WTF World Taekwondo Championships

From 1973 To 2013

Kook-hyun JEONG

4-Time Champion

KOREA

1982 Guayaquil, Ecuador (Light Middle)

1983 Copenhagen, Denmark (Light Middle)

1985 Seoul, Korea (Welter)

Steven LOPEZ

5-Time Champion

USA

2001 Jeju, Korea (Light)

2003 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (Welter)

2005 Madrid, Spain (Welter)

2007 Beijing, China (Welter)

2009 Copenhagen, Denmark (Welter)

1987 Barcelona, Spain (Welter)

Yeon-ho CHOI

4-Time Champion

KOREA

2001 Jeju, Korea (Fin)

2003 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (Fin)

2007 Beijing, China (Fin)

2009 Copenhagen, Denmark (Fin)

Chong-ki KIM Myoung-sook JUNG

3-Time Champion

1977 Chicago, United States (Bantam)

1979 Stuttgart, West Germany (Bantam)

1982 Guayaquil, Ecuador (Bantam)

3-Time Champion

KOREA

1993 New York City, United States (Heavy)

1995 Manila, Philippines (Heavy)

1997 Hong Kong (Heavy)

Dae-seung YANG Hyang-mi CHO

3-Time Champion

1987 Barcelona, Spain (Light)

1989 Seoul, Korea (Light)

1991 Athens, Greece (Light)

3-Time Champion

KOREA

1995 Manila, Philippines (Welter)

1997 Hong Kong (Welter)

1999 Edmonton, Canada (Light)

Je-kyoung KIM Brigitte YAGUE

3-Time Champion

1993 New York City, United States (Heavy)

1995 Manila, Philippines (Heavy)

1997 Hong Kong (Heavy)

Seung-tae CHIN

3-Time Champion

1993 New York City, United States (Fin)

1995 Manila, Philippines (Fin)

1997 Hong Kong (Fly)

3-Time Champion

SPAIN

2003 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (Fin)

2007 Beijing, China (Fly)

2009 Copenhagen, Denmark (Fly)

The WTF World Junior Taekwondo Championships

1st (Barcelona, Spain/ June 27-30, 1996): 53 nations, 273 male and 182 female athletes, 38 IRs

2nd (Istanbul, Turkey/ Sep. 9-13, 1998): 50 nations, 263 male and 205 female athletes, 49 IRs

3rd

(Killarney, Ireland/ Nov. 15-18, 2000): 49 nations, 295 male and 212 female athletes, 32 IRs

4th (Heraklion, Crete, Greece/ Oct. 1-6, 2002): 535 athletes from 55 nations (302 males from 54 nations and 233 females from 42 nations), 34 IRs

5th (Suncheon City, Joennam Province, Korea/ June 12-18, 2004): 643 athletes (368 males and 275 females) from 70 nations, 55 IRs

6th

(Hochiminh City, Vietnam/July 26-30, 2006): 709 athletes 73 nations (406 males from 70 nations and 303 females from 60 nations), 384 officials, 56 IRs

7th

(Izmir, Turkey/ May 7-11, 2008): 728 athletes from 80 nations (406 men from 74 nations and 322 women from 69 nations), 85 IRs

8th (Tijuana, Mexico/ Mar. 6-9, 2010): 696 athletes (396 males and 300 females) from 97 countries, 81 IRs

9th

(Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt/ April 4-8, 2012): 748 athletes from 89 nations (421 male athletes from 83 nations and 327 female athletes from 66 nations) and 420 officials (athletes & officials: total 94 nations), 85 IRs

1st

Sept. 4-6, 2006

Seoul, Korea

525 athletes from 57 nations

42 IRs

WTF WORLD TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS POOMSAE

4th

Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2009

Cairo, Egypt

564 athletes from 59 nations

40 IRs

5th

Oct. 8-10, 2010

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

443 athletes from 58 nations

40 IRs

3rd

Dec. 16-18, 2008

Ankara, Turkey

2nd

Oct. 29-31, 2007

Incheon, Korea

400 athletes from 50 nations

38 IRs

363 athletes from 48 nations

33 IRs

6th

July 29-31, 2011

Vladivostok, Russia

455 athletes from 47 nations

48 IRs

free-style Poomsae competition was demonstrated in this Championships

7th

Dec. 6-9, 2012

Tunja, Colombia

556 athletes from 53 nations

40 IRs

free-style Poomsae competition was first officially included in this Championships after demonstration in 2011

8th

Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2013

Bali, Indonesia

710 athletes from 47 nations

50 IRs

World Cup Taekwondo

Team Championships

1st

Colorado Springs, U.S.A.

July 3-5, 1986

13 nations, 94 male athletes, 42 officials, 20 IRs

2nd

Helsinki, Finland

May 15-17, 1987

14 nations, 105 male athletes, 51 officials, 15 IRs

3rd

Cairo, Egypt

Feb. 22-25, 1989

16 nations, 114 male athletes, 67 officials

4th

Madrid, Spain

Nov. 9-11, 1990

18 nations (male:18, female:9)

5th

Zagreb, Yugoslavia

May 16-18, 1991

19 nations (male:18, female: 9)

6th

George Town, Cayman Islands, July 21-23, 1994

22 nations, 115 male athletes from 16 nations, 106 female athletes from 16 nations

27 IRs

7th

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

May 24-26, 1996

20 nations, 107 male athletes from 15 nations, 103 female athletes from 16 nations

31 IRs

8th

Cairo, Egypt

March 6-8, 1997

22 nations, 126 male athletes from16 nations, 122 female athletes from 16 nations, 38 IRs

9th

Sindelfingen, Germany

June 5-7, 1998

27 nations, 165 male athletes from 22 nations, 154 female athletes from 22 nations, 40 IRs

From the 13th World Cup Taekwondo in 2006, both individual and team competitions were featured. Until the 2002 World Cup Taekwondo, only individual competitions were featured.

10th

Lyon, France April 14-16, 2000

29 nations, 178 male athletes from 24 nations, 172 female athletes from 24 nations, 41 IRs

11th

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, May 31-June 3, 2001

30 nations, 163 male athletes from 23 nations, 166 female athletes from 24 nations,

38 IRs

12th

Tokyo, Japan

July 16-19, 2002

313 athletes from 33 nations (159 males from 23 nations and 154 females from 23 nations),

41 IRs

13th

1st Team Championships

Bangkok, Thailand

Sept. 14-18, 2006

337 athletes from 33 nations (202 males from 33 nations and 135 females from 23 nations),

47 IRs

14th

Baku, Azerbaijan June 11-14, 2009

290 athletes (149 men and 141 women) and 86 officials from 28 nations, 38 IRs PSS and IVR were first used in the history of WTF-promoted championships / WTF World Ranking system was introduced from this Championships

15th

Urumqi, China

July 17 -20, 2010

210 athletes (106 males and 104 females) from 23 nations

16th

Santa Cruz, Aruba

Nov. 23-25, 2012

89 male athletes from 13 nations, 67 female athletes from 10 nations; 42 officials, 17 IRs

17th

Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Nov. 28-30, 2013

171 athletes from 15 countries (108 male athletes, including 38 substitutes, from 14 countries and 63 female athletes, including 22 substitutes, from 8 countries)

20 IRs

AMERICA (44)

1.Antigua & Barbuda 2.Argentina 3.Aruba

4.Bahamas 5.Barbados 6.Belize 7.Bermuda

8.Bolivia 9.Brazil 10.British Virgin Islands

11.Canada 12.Cayman Islands 13.Chile 14.Colombia 15.Costa Rica 16.Dominican Republic

17.Cuba 18.Dominica 19.Ecuador 20.El Salvador 21.Grenada 22.Guadeloupe 23.Guatemala

24.Guyana 25.Haiti 26.Honduras 27.Jamaica

28.Martinique 29.Mexico 30.Netherlands

Antilles 31.Nicaragua 32.Panama 33.Paraguay

34.Peru 35.Puerto Rico 36.St. Lucia 37.St. Kitts & Nevis 38.Surinam 39.St. Vincent & the Grenadines 40.Trinidad and Tobago 41.Uruguay

42.U.S.A. 43.Virgin Islands 44.Venezuela

AFRICA (50)

1.Algeria 2.Angola 3.Benin 4.Botswana

5.Burkina Faso 6.Burundi 7.Cameroon

8.Cape Verde 9.Central African Republic

10.Comoros 11.Cote d’Ivoire 12.Congo 13.D.R. of the Congo 14.Egypt 15.Equatorial Guinea

16.Ethiopia 17.Gabon 18.Gambia 19.Ghana

20.Guinea 21.Kenya 22.Lesotho 23.Liberia

24.Libya 25.Madagascar 26.Malawi 27.Mali

28.Mauritania 29.Mauritius 30.Morocco

31.Mozambique 32.Niger 33.Nigeria

34.Ruanda 35.Sao Tome & Principe

36.Senegal 37.Seychelles 38.Sierra Leone

39.Somalia 40.South Africa 41.Sudan

42.South Sudan 43.Swaziland 44.Chad

45.Tanzania 46.Togo 47.Tunisia 48.Uganda

49.Zimbabwe 50.Zambia

EUROPE (50)

1. Albania 2.Andorra 3.Armenia 4.Austria

5.Azerbaijan 6.Belarus 7.Belgium 8.Bosnia & Herzegovina 9.Bulgaria 10.Croatia 11.Cyprus

12.Czech Republic 13.Denmark 14.Estonia

15.Finland 16.France 17.Georgia 18.Germany

19.Great Britain 20.Greece 21.Hungary

22.Iceland 23.Ireland 24.Isle of Man 25.Israel

26.Italy 27.Kosovo 28.Latvia 29.Lithuania

30.Luxembourg 31.Macedonia 32.Malta

33.Moldova 34.Monaco 35.Montenegro

36.The Netherlands 37.Norway 38.Poland

39.Portugal 40.Romania 41.Russia 42.San Marino 43.Serbia 44.Slovak Republic 45.Slovenia

46.Spain 47.Sweden 48.Switzerland 49.Turkey

50.Ukraine

ASIA (43)

1.Afghanistan 2.Bahrain 3.Bangladesh 4.Bhutan 5.Brunei 6.Cambodia 7.China 8.Chinese Taipei 9.Hong Kong 10.India 11.Indonesia

12.Iran 13.Iraq 14.Japan 15.Jordan 16.Ka -

zakhstan 17.Korea 18.Kuwait 19.Kyrgyzstan

20.Laos 21.Lebanon 22.Macao 23.Malaysia

24.Mongolia 25.Myanmar 26.Nepal 27.Oman

28.Pakistan 29.Palestine 30.Philippines

31.Qatar 32.Saudi Arabia 33.Singapore 34.Sri Lanka 35.Syria 36.Tajikistan 37.Thailand

38.Timor-Leste 39.Turkmenistan 40.United Arab Emirates 41.Uzbekistan 42.Vietnam

43.Yemen

Membership

OCEANIA (19)

1.American Samoa 2.Australia 3.Cook Islands 4.Fiji 5.French Polynesia 6.Guam 7.Kiribati 8.Marshall Islands 9.Micronesia 10.Tuvalu

11.New Caledonia 12.New Zealand 13.Palau

14.Papua New Guinea 15.Samoa 16.Solomon Islands 17.Tonga 18.Tuvalu 19.Vanuatu

To the Olympics & Beyond:

40 Years of The World Taekwondo Federation

Publisher / Dr. Chungwon Choue, President

Managing Editor / Seok-jae Kang, PR Deputy Secretary General

Editorial Team / Kyong-myong Lee, Sung-won Seo, Russell Ahn, Ken Min, Andrew Salmon

Contributing Photographers / Denis Sekretev, Seuk-Je Lee, Jin-Ho Lee

Designed by / DN (d-n@daum.net)

© 2015 World Taekwondo Federation

Seoul Headquarters Lausanne International Headquarters

7148-4, Taepyeong-dong, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea 461-885

Tel: (82-2) 566-2505 / 557-5446

Fax: (82-2) 553-4728

E-mail: pr@wtf.org

Website: www.wtf.org

Avenue de Rhodanie 54, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland

Tel: (41-21) 601-5013

Fax: (41-21) 601-5983

E-mail: lausanne@wtf.org