(ATR) Taekwondo is returning to its roots on the Korean Peninsula for the 2017 WTF World Taekwondo Championships.
Sequestered in Muju, more than three hours by car from Seoul, athletes are returning to the spiritual home of the sport for the first time since 2011. The competition is being held at the Taekwondowon, a complex built by the South Korean government as a home for all taekwondo in the country.
A refugee team is one of 184 delegations participating with a total of 971 athletes. It is the largest participation at a world championship for the sport. Competition runs from June 24-30 in eight weight classes in both men’s and women’s taekwondo.
IOC President Thomas Bach will arrive at the championships on June 28 as part of a trip to Asia. Eight other IOC members will also be in attendance in Muju during the week, including Aicha Garad Ali of Djibouti, Ivan Dibos of Peru, Camiel Eurlings from the Netherlands, Seung Min Ryu of South Korea, Tsunekazu Takeda from Japan, C.K. Wu from Chinese Taipei and Zaiqing Yu of China.
Click here to see photos from the 2017 WTF World Taekwondo Championships.
Written by Aaron Bauerin Muju.
Travel paid for by World Taekwondo
For general comments or questions,click here.
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