(ATR) The World Taekwondo Federation is amending its bylaws to allow refugee athletes the opportunity to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The WTF administered an electronic vote among its council members on Dec. 24 that if passed will allow refugee taekwondo athletes the ability to enter continental qualification tournaments they normally would not be allowed to enter based on geography.
"I would like to urge all Continental Unions and Member National Associations to be united in supporting this initiative," said WTF president Chungwon Chuoe in a letter to council members.
"This will give hope and dreams to all refugee athletes around the world," said Chuoe.
The amendment will allow athletes such as Raheleh Asemani, a taekwondo athlete from Iran who is now located in Belgium, to enter the European Continental Qualification Tournament under the WTF flag.
Two athletes from each of the four weight classes at the European tournament will qualify for Rio 2016. The tournament will be staged in Istanbul, Turkey in January.
President of the European Taekwondo Union Athanasios Pragalos says the ETU "warmly welcomes refugee athletes".
"This decision perfectly matches with the current movement of the WTF to empower refugees and displaced persons and give them hope during difficult times," said Pragalos.
The effort will utilize the IOC’s initiative to provide $2 million of funding to National Olympic Committees to support refugees displaced by wars in Syria and surrounding countries.
The WTF has created the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) to teach refugees the discipline of taekwondo and to keep them physically active.
The THF will begin full-scale operations in 2016 and has already established two pilot projects in Syrian refugee camps in Jordan. A third program will be launched in Nepal in January.
Djokovic and Williams Named ITF World Champs
Tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were named as the 2015World Champions by the International Tennis Federation on Dec. 22.
Djokovic took home a career-best 11 titles in 2015, while Williams wonfive tournaments and came two matches away from achieving the 2015 GrandSlam.
Although she didn't complete the Grand Slam, she did holdall four of the titles at the same time for the second time in hercareer, a feat she dubs as the 'Serena Slam'.
"I am proud to haveachieved my second Serena Slam, in what has been an amazing year forme," said Williams. "Thank you for this recognition and for the undyingsupport of the tennis community."
Each of the world championsfinished the year at the top spot in the world rankings, the fourth timeDjokovic has accomplished the feat and the fifth time Williams has.
"Myseason was the best of my career with many highlights," said Djokovic."It inspires me even more to keep on going, and I hope to continue toplay at this level in 2016."
The champions will receive their awards at the 2016 ITF World Champions Dinner on May 31 in Paris.
Written by KevinNutley
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