[By NBC-1TV K, Y Yi]  MUJU, Korea (May 12, 2024) - The World Taekwondo Extraordinary Council Meeting was held today on the occasion of the WT Coach-Referee joint training camp for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and featured a full agenda including the election of the host cities of the 2024 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final and 2025 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenges.

The Council confirmed Taiyuan, China as the host of this year’s Grand Prix Final, which will also host the annual Gala Awards. The Council awarded the 2025 Grand Prix Challenges to Charlotte, USA; Bangkok, Thailand; and Muju, Korea after three intense rounds of bidding.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said:

“We are very happy to host the Extraordinary Council meeting in Muju at the Coach-Referee joint training camp for Paris 2024. It was a busy agenda with many important approvals, reports and decisions. We offer our sincere congratulations to Taiyuan for the Grand Prix Final, and Charlotte, Bangkok, and Muju on being awarded the Grand Prix Challenges.  I have no doubt they will host fantastic events.

“Today marks 88 days until the first Taekwondo competitions at the Olympic Games in Paris on 7 August. We are very excited for what will be an unforgettable Games. We have 133 qualified athletes including five refugees in the IOC Refugee Olympic Team who will compete at the Games. In total, we will have 59 National Olympic Committees participating including seven from all five continental unions who will be participating in Olympic Taekwondo for the first time.”

During the meeting, the Council approved amendments to the MNA Ranking Bylaws, GMS Bylaws and Competition Rules and the enactment of the Virtual Taekwondo rules and regulations.

The Council were updated on WT’s risk assessment project, including the expansion of safeguarding to each Continental Union. The Council approved the appointment of a WT Integrity Officer who will also head the WT Global Integrity Unit.

Reports were provided on the qualification results and preparations for Paris 2024 by the sport manager of the Paris Organising Committee, proposals of the Taekwondo programme for LA28, and World Taekwondo’s Sustainability initiatives including two projects on gender equality and mental health.

The Organising Committees of the Chuncheon 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships, Singapore 2024 World Taekwondo Virtual Championships, Hong Kong 2024 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships and Wuxi 2025 World Taekwondo Championships delivered progress reports on their respective events.

The WT Coach-Referee Joint Training Camp for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will continue for the next two days and conclude in Muju Taekwondowon, Korea on 14 May. A total of 33 coaches and 26 international referees are attending the meeting.

The next Council meeting will take place in Chuncheon on the occasion of the World Taekwondo Junior Championships.