The World Taekwondo Federation’s (WTF) efforts to make taekwondo universally accessible regardless of race, age, gender or disability are moving rapidly forward, assisting the campaign for para-taekwondo to be included in the 2016 Paralympic Games.
As preparations step up for the 2009 WTF World Taekwondo Championships in two weeks’ time, details of the 2nd World Para-Taekwondo Championships, to be held in 2010, will be announced.
In a wide-ranging and innovative reform program driven by WTF President Chungwon Choue, the WTF began developing the discipline for those with a physical disadvantage in 2007. Just two years later, in June 2009, 36 athletes from 16 countries competed in the 1st WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.
President Choue said: “If we give disabled athletes the opportunity, they can develop confidence to overcome their challenges. When I visited Guatemala in 2005, I was touched and inspired by a group of disabled athletes as they trained and gave a demonstration. As I watched them do poomsae (sequences of taekwondo moves) and kyukpa (breaking), I realized these athletes could compete.
“I felt that would greatly help their welfare and health, and also increase the number of
practitioners of taekwondo around the world. They also asked me to help them realize their
dreams of competing in the Paralympic Games. This is why we’re targeting the 2016
Paralympics for taekwondo’s inclusion.”
WTF also continues to develop poomsae in its own right as a version accessible to all ages and
fitness levels. The 4th WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, to be staged in Cairo,
Egypt, from 30 November to 2 December, will further add to taekwondo’s status as a global
Olympic sport.
President Choue, who is also striving to have poomsae accepted by the International Paralympic
Committee, said: “Poomsae is a unique discipline of taekwondo. It is not kyorugi (combat), but it
encompasses its features of strength, speed and accuracy. It has the potential to be a valuable tool
for promoting social harmony. From young children to the elderly, poomsae will help create a
strong bond of unity and strength.”
The World Taekwondo Championships will take place from 14-18 October in Copenhagen, Denmark.
For more information on this press release please contact: wtf-lausanne@bluewin.chYour complete source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only.
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