[By NBC-1TV K, Y Yi] World Taekwondo is welcoming candidatures from its global athlete community to serve on the World Taekwondo Athletes’ Committee from 2019-2023, as the federation works to ensure the athlete voice is heard.

All athletes intending to run for a position on the Committee are required to submit their candidacy by 5 March. World Taekwondo will then publish a list of valid candidatures on 9 April ahead of the elections during the World Taekwondo Championships on 14-18 May. Four members will be elected by their fellow athletes with up to two additional members being appointed by the World Taekwondo President.

In order to ensure globally balanced representation, no more than one athlete per country may be elected and male and female athletes must be represented. Currently, the Committee is chaired by two chairpersons elected in 2017: Mr. Pascal Gentil and Ms. Nadin Dawani. In 2021, the newly elected four members will automatically become candidates for the Committee’s next chairpersons, who shall sit as ex-officio members of the WT Council.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said:

“The Athletes’ Committee is vital in ensuring that our athletes’ voice is heard at every stage of our decision-making processes. Athletes are at the heart of our sport and we must ensure that we are representing their interests and providing the best possible environment for them to compete. We have athletes from more than 200 countries around the world and we encourage any athlete interested in serving on the Athletes’ Committee to submit their candidature.”

To be eligible, candidates must be at least 21 years old and, either an active athlete or has actively participated in international level within the previous four years. The candidates must never have received any sanction in relation of any violation of the Olympic Charter, World Anti-Doping Code or WT Competition Rules and Interpretation and WT Ethics Code. They must also be able to communicate fluently in English

Candidates are required to submit their candidature form and a vison statement to the WT Sport & Event Management department (ac.election@worldtaekwondo.org) by 17:00 Swiss time on 5 March. The full World Taekwondo Athletes’ Committee Election guidelines can be found here.