[By NBC-1TV K, Y Yi] SEOUL, Korea (November 24, 2020) - The World Taekwondo Council met virtually today for the final time in 2020 as it looked forward with optimism to the start of another successful decade for the sport. 

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said:

“I look forward to 2021 with hope and optimism. I do not wish for us to look back. We should look at 2021 as the start of another successful decade for World Taekwondo. One of the silver linings from the pandemic is that it allowed us to reset and adapt creatively to the current challenges and lay the foundations for our future.

“2021 will be the 48th anniversary of World Taekwondo’s founding. In two years’ time in 2023, we will celebrate 50 years of our federation. I want World Taekwondo to be recognised as one of the most sustainable and respectable international federations by 2023.”

Next year, World Taekwondo will present its Sustainability Strategy for 2021 to 2030 to the General Assembly. This 10-year strategy will guide the federation’s actions and ensure it makes a positive contribution to promoting and upholding sustainable initiatives.

President Choue also reiterated World Taekwondo’s commitment to good governance and working with all Continental Unions and Member National Associations to ensure good governance is maintained at all levels of the sport.

During the Council meeting, IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell presented the process for establishing the event programme for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which will be decided by the IOC Executive Board in December. World Taekwondo's proposal for a Mixed Gender team event for Paris 2024 is currently being reviewed. 

In line with World Taekwondo’s promotion of gender equality, the Council were informed by Council member Sarah Stevenson about the WT Gender Equity and Women Leadership Forum. The Forum is organised together with the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee and will take place on 27-28 November. It is hoped the event may lead towards the first World Taekwondo Women’s Open Championships. 

The Council received an update on the first Online World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships which is ongoing and has seen more than 1,560 registrations from 98 countries, including refugees taking part from their camps. The Championships is open to families and people of all ages as part of World Taekwondo’s commitment to contributing to a healthy society. Maximising the opportunities presented by virtual competitions, World Taekwondo will also have online events such as the seasonal WT Poomsae Challenge, and the WT Super Talent Show in February.

World Taekwondo is also considering developing a WT Grand Prix Challenge. The idea is to organise the event before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in Taekwondowon, to provide more opportunities for athletes to compete.