Assembly Approves New Championships, Adopts ‘Muju Declaration’
MUJU, Korea, (June 23, 2017) – One day ahead of the opening of the 2017 WTF
World Taekwondo Championships, the WTF General Assembly convened in Muju,
Korea, to review the last four years’ progress and to prepare for this afternoon’s
quadrennial leadership elections.
Among other business, the Assembly approved two new championship formats -
Beach Taekwondo and a super-elite Grand Slam series - as well as changes to
poomsae competition rules. It also adopted a "Muju Declaration."
One hundred fifty eight delegates from 102 countries took part in the Assembly at the
Muju National Sports Center. The Assembly opened with WTF global partner
Booyoung Corporation being honored. Booyoung then handed out training
scholarships to Djibouti, Bhutan, San Marino, the Marshal Islands and Tahiti.
A moment of silence was observed to pay respect to the recently deceased Uhm
Woon-kyu, one of taekwondo’s sportive pioneers. WTF President Chungwon Choue
noted that the upcoming World Championships, with 183 nations participating, as
well as a one-person refugee team, will be the largest in history. He also noted that
the IOC president and vice president would be visiting the championship.
Choue welcomed 37 new MNA presidents who have been elected (or re-elected)
since the last Assembly was held in Burnaby, Canada, in November 2016. They
were identified and applauded. He then detailed the key achievements made by the
federation since Burnaby.
These include the WTF being named "Federation of the Year" by Peace and Sport
last November; the success of the World Grand-Prix Final and Team Championships
in December; the rule change process carried out, post-Rio, to ensure that
taekwondo "dazzles and excites;" the invitation to the WTF to present to the UN
Headquarters in New York in March; the inauguration of Beach Taekwondo
competition in Rhodes, Greece, in May; and a visit by the WTF president to the
Vatican to meet the Pope in May.
With quadrennial WTF elections taking place later on the 23rd, Choue reviewed the
federation’s key achievements of the last four years. These included: The excellence
of the taekwondo competition in Rio 2016; the upgrading of taekwondo’s overall
sports presentation with sound, light and music; the creation of the elite Grand-Prix
Series; the great success of the 2015 World Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia;
the inclusion of para-taekwondo on the Paralympic program in Tokyo 2020; and the
creation of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation to "empower the powerless."
The minutes of the last Assembly in Burnaby were approved. French Guiana was
approved as a new member, bringing the WTF’s total MNA’s to 209 +1 (the latter
signifies refugees). Following that the auditor’s report and financial report were
approved.
Then, operation report was presented. WTF Director General Jin-bang Yang then
presented the operation report. He noted the increase in WTF top-level competitions
over four years, with a rising number of G1 and G2 tournaments, which have
increased opportunities for top-level athletes to compete against each other, while
the advent of the elite Grand-Prix series has raised the game’s media exposure. In
addition, changes have been made to the PSS and IVR systems, which have made
taekwondo both fair and transparent.
However, Yang said that the WTF still needs to focus more on TV, new media and
general audiences. To meet these challenges, he suggested a number of initiatives.
The major one is the Grand Slam Champions Series, set to begin in Wuxi, China, in
December 2017. This will be a "Champion of Champions" series with USD100,000
prize money per Olympic weight category. The series will also be specifically tailored
for TV exposure and for the general audience. Operational upgrades will also be
made to the Grand-Prix Series. Yang noted that the aim of the WTF’s new
competition rules, adopted at the start of 2017, is to make taekwondo look more
exciting and dynamic, and these rules will hopefully remain in place through to Tokyo
2020. Moves will also be made to ensure that WTF international referees are as
active as possible. The operation report was approved.
Continental Union presidents discussed their unions’ activities and future plans.
Their reports were approved.
Amendment proposals were proposed to WTF Statutes by WTF Deputy Director
Corbin Min. The first amendment regarded the selection of vice presidents. The
second was to extend the due date for the payment of MNAs’ annual fees, from the
end of the year to February. The third was an upgrade to MNA reporting
requirements to the WTF - notably to ensure that all information and communications
are up-to-date.
Another amendment to the statues was the proposal to add two new championship
formats, Beach Taekwondo and the super-elite Grand Slam. A final amendment was
made to revise the requirements for WTF Committees, to streamline them and to
focus on their core areas. Six new sub-committees have been added, but the
number of 14 committees remains as it was.
All these amendments were passed.
Yang than presented amendments to Poomsae Competition Rules. The main
changes are: To consolidate the senior division and to delete basic poomsae, while
adding new and more advanced poomsae; a shift in scoring methods; a clearer
standard of compulsory technique for freestyle poomsae, and upgraded scoring
criteria; the addition of new events to poomsae championships, including breaking;
and the addition of new championships – Beach and World Open events. The
amendments were approved.
Amendments to Event Operations Rules were presented. One clause has been
added, mandating the listing of international-level competitions on the WTF Calendar,
and making clear WTF obligations, from the appointment of technical delegates to
the management of anti-doping control. The amendment was approved.
Amendment proposals to Para Taekwondo Competition Rules were also presented.
The amendments were to change points for different kicks, adding an extra point for
spinning kicks. The amendment was approved.
A progress report on the MNA Survey was delivered. While the WTF received 185
responses, only 155 were complete, and within the 155, some data was
inconsistent. The WTF wishes to receive complete responses from all 208 MNAs, to
better serve members. The survey found that just over half of all MNAs offer
financial aid to athletes, and 64 percent offer incentives for international medal wins.
60 percent of MNAs had an annual budget of less than USD100,000 per year., and
44 percent received money from their governments.
WTF Secretary Hoss Rafaty delivered a progress report on the WTF’s rebrand. The
rebrand is part of an overall strategic redirection, broken down as: define the strategy;
transform the organization; and ensure performance. Key priorities are to add value
to the Olympic movement; develop the sport and its member base; and develop the
brand. The new WTF logo will be officially launched at the opening ceremony on
June 24.
Choue then stated his intention for the Assembly to adopt a Declaration.
The declaration was read out, as follows:
"We will hold the values of Olympism close to our heart and practice them diligently.
We believe and support that ‘Peace is more precious than triumph,’ and therefore
will create a just and peaceful world. We will do our utmost to take care of the weak
and people in need, especially refugees and orphans, from different parts of the
world."
ENDS
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