The World Taekwondo Federation held its Council meeting in Ankara, Turkey on Dec. 15, 2008 to approve amendments to its Rules and Regulations and the Competition Rules.

The WTF Council also approved the adoption of the WTF world athlete ranking system and the WTF Code of Ethics.

Pending final approval by the WTF General Assembly, the approved Competition Rules and others will take effect as early as in 2009. The WTF plans to send the approved amendments to the General Assembly for voting by email or post in late December 2008 or in early January 2009. The voting window will be one month and the WTF will tally the results and announce the decisions of the General Assembly.

Among the approved amendments to the WTF Rules and Regulations this time was the WTF’s designation of the World Taekwondo Academy in Korea as its international academic center for studies, education and research of taekwondo.

The Council also approved the change of the name of the WTF Education Committee to the WTF Education, Training and Development Committee, while giving an approval to the creation of the WTF Technical Committee for Poomsae.

Among the approved major amendments to the WTF Competition Rules at the Council meeting were the shortening of the competition area from the current 10 meters by 10 meters to 8 meters by 8 meters, the introduction of a differentiation of points, the abolition of a 7-point gap and a 12-point ceiling, the reversal of match results in case of a clear error in factual judgment, the introduction of an instant video replay system after a series of tests, and the awarding of an additional point to the opposing contestant for two kyonggo and a gamjeom.

The WTF Council also approved the bylaw of the WTF world athlete ranking system.

The Council members were briefed on the progress of the WTF’s ad-hoc Committee on Electronic Protectors and its talks with the International Taekwondo Federation.

The next Council meeting is scheduled to take place in June 2009 in Baku, Azerbaijan on the occasion of the WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships.[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]