[By NBC-1TV K, Y Yi] (November 25, 2020) - World Taekwondo is preparing to host its first ever Gender Equity & Women Leadership Forum in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee on 27-28 November as part of the federation’s ongoing commitment to using the power of taekwondo to promote understanding and inclusivity. 

The forum is being held in partnership also with the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) and Saudi Taekwondo Federation. 

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue will deliver an opening speech as well as IOC President Thomas Bach and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al Faisal Al Saud.

World Taekwondo President Choue said: “The COVID-19 pandemic may be the greatest challenge that humanity has faced in modern times, but the global Sport community has a responsibility to overcome such adversity and continue to inspire the world. World Taekwondo is proud to organize the 1st World Taekwondo Gender Equity and Women Leadership Forum in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee. We welcome you to join us, as we discuss about how Sport, and Taekwondo in particular, can be used to positively contribute to gender equity and women leadership in society”.

HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, President of SAOC said: “During the COVID-19 Pandemic, our role as members of the sports movement has become even more important to help the world reconnect, recover and thrive. Sports has a lot to offer to the international community in such unprecedented times, and we are honored to join World Taekwondo in organizing the 1st World Taekwondo Gender Equity and Women Leadership Forum to discuss how sports and Taekwondo in particular can contribute to gender equity and women leadership in society”.

Following the opening speeches there will be a series of presentations over the two-day forum. Dr Hadwah Moawad, member of the World Taekwondo For All Committee, will present on Gender Equity vs Equity in sports; Maria Rosario Borello Castillo, member of the World Taekwondo Council, will address the federation’s Gender Equity Roadmap; and Adwa Alarifi, Board member of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, will discuss Saudi female leadership. Both Irina Gladkikh, Associate Director of IOC and Sandra Lengwiler, Gender Equality Manager, are great Icons in the field & will be talking about the IOC gender equality movement.

A number of athletes will also take part in the forum with Para Taekwondo Champion Lisa Gjessing presenting on women in Para Taekwondo; Olympian and World Taekwondo Council member Sarah Stevenson presenting on the federation’s Women Empowerment Programmes; Olympian and member of the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission, Myriam Baverel addressing her taekwondo journey; and Saudi Fencing Olympian Lubna Alomari will be explaining about Saudi Female participation in Sports, Saudi vision 2030 and sharing her own Olympic journey.