[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]The 7th WTF World Junior Taekwondo Championships kicked off for a five-day run in Izmir, Turkey on May 7, 2008, drawing over 1,000 athletes and officials from a record 80 countries.

The biennial event takes place at Halkapinar Sport Hall in downtown Izmir, drawing the local media’s special attention. The brand-new venue opened in 2005 during the Universiade.

“The Izmir World Unior Taekwondo Championships draw special attention from both the public and the media, as the International Olympic Committee is scheduled to organize the 1st Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010,” said WTF President Chungwon Choue in his remarks during the opening ceremony of the biennial event.

WTF President Choue said, “Reflecting the importance of this Izmir championships, a record 80 countries are participating in this event, which is not a mere sport event where young taekwondo athletes compete for medals, but a learning experience and opportunity for friendship, cultural exchange and education.”

He continued to say, “Sport is a powerful tool to teach young people the value of justice, morality, cooperation, understanding and the universal sport rule of fair play.”

A total of 87 international referees officiate at the Izmir World Junior Taekwondo Championships.

Mr. Metin Sahin, president of the Turkish Taekwondo Federation, also delivered a welcoming speech during the opening ceremony.

"I am very much pleased to host the young athletes from all parts of the world. As we always express, sport has got a very important duty in order to unity people in a common place," Mr. Sahin said. "This common place makes these young people peaceful men and women and so these people will make good contributions to the peace of world in future."

Mr. Sahin continued to say, "I believe that we as all humanity need peace more than ever. Brotherhood and sisterhood of people can repair the deep injuries of humanity today with the great support of sport. Because sport has got this super power."

A day earlier, on May 6, WTF President Choue organized a reception for the referees at the Hotel Altin Yunus in Cemes, near Izmir, prior to the welcoming party for the participants in the Izmir event at the same hotel.

In his speech for the referees, WTF President Choue reiterated the importance of fair judging and refereeing at taekwondo competitions for the very future of taekwondo as an Olympic sport.

“I would like to congratulate you on your appointments to officiate at this championship. Your presence here is a clear indication of our faith in your abilities. I hope you will do your best to justify your selections.”

He continued to say, “As WTF referees, you have the responsibility to uphold the integrity of our sport through fair and transparent refereeing.” “This is a code that both you and myself should abide by in our mutual task of bringing the spirit of fair play to our sport.”

WTF President Choue said that “To ensure fairer judging and refereeing, the WTF has stepped up referee education and training. Strong disciplinary action has also been taken on the spot when undesirable incidents related to judgment and refereeing occurred during the competition.”

As a result, he said, only two minor protests were lodged at the WTF’s world and five continental taekwondo qualification tournaments for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

“Fair judging and refereeing is the key to the future of taekwondo as an Olympic sport,” he said. “I hope that you will officiate at the highest level. For the sake of our athletes and for the sake of taekwondo’s future, it is our responsibilities to ensure that only the best athletes and teams become worthy champions.”

Korea confirmed its supremacy in the Olympic sport of taekwondo in the first three days of the Izmir competitions, as it clinched eight gold medals out of 12 up for grabs for the first three days.

Iran’s Yarani Amir won the gold medal in the men’s -51kg class on the second day of the competitions. The first day’s final matches were put off one day on May 8.

In the women’s -44kg class, the United States’ Coppersmith Selina earned her country the gold medal on the second day of the competition on May 8. The silver went to Croatia’s Simunic Stela, while the bronze was shared by Canada’s Chong Victoria and Thailand’s Detkaeo Thitichaya.

On the same day, Chinese Taipei’s Chia Yu Hu won the gold medal in the women’s -42kg division, as she brushed aside a stiff challenge from Korea’s Seung Hee Jeon. The bronze went to Turkey’s Basci Didem and Germany’s Karaahmet Suemeyra.

On the third day of the five-day Izmir event, on May 9, Vietnam’s Hoang Ha Giang grabbed the gold medal in the women’s -52kg as she beat Sweden’s Agren Jennifer. The bronze went to Korea’s Yu Jin Kim and Russia’s Gammatsaev Kamila.