Pan American Taekwondo Union Signs Historic MOU with Americas Paralympic Committee

The Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU) and the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) signed an historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) this week committing the two organisations to work together for the development of para-taekwondo across the Pan American region with the aim of the sport one day being included in the Parapan American Games.

The MoU was signed by PATU President Master Jiho Choi and APC President Mr. Jose Luis Campo during an official ceremony on 30 August 2015 on the occasion of the Argentina Taekwondo Open in Buenos Aires. As part of the MoU the APC and PATU will encourage greater cooperation between their member national associations and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) for the promotion of para-taekwondo in each country. PATU will follow the APC recommendations and standards for inclusion in the Parapan American Games.

Under the leadership of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), PATU has increased participation in para-taekwondo significantly in the Pan-American region in recent years. The WTF has hosted the Pan America Para-Taekwondo Championships on three occasions and has seen a steady increase in participation as more athletes have been attracted to the global sport. There are currently over 100 WTF licenced athletes in the Pan-American region and this is expected to rise considerably with taekwondo now officially part of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games sports programme and set to be a demonstration sport at the INAS Global Games to be held in Quito, Ecuador, this month.

WTF President Chungwon Choue said:

"This MoU between PATU and the APC is a sign of how far para-taekwondo has grown over the past few years. We are working with all our continental unions to encourage them to develop para-taekwondo within their regions in order to increase participation worldwide. We fully support the MoU signed between PATU and the APC and we hope that the increased cooperation between the two organisations will allow us to begin to realise the huge potential that exists for para-taekwondo in the Pan American region. It would be a great honour for para-taekwondo to one day be part of the Parapan American Games."

PATU President Master Jiho Choi said:

"We are delighted to have signed this agreement with the APC. Our two organisations share a common interest in the development and promotion of para-taekwondo as a sport for athletes of all impairments in the Pan American region. We are committed to learning from the APC and under their guidance we hope in the future to become a member of the APC and bring para-taekwondo to the Parapan American Games. We will continue to work hard with all our MNA Presidents to develop para-taekwondo in the region."

APC President Mr. Jose Luis Campo added:

"Para-taekwondo has developed considerably in recent years and this was demonstrated by the IPC’s decision to include the sport in the Paralympic Games sports programme. Para-taekwondo provides people of all impairments with the opportunity to engage in sport and we will work with our NPCs to encourage them to spread greater awareness of the sport in their countries. Under our new partnership, we will also work with PATU to assist in the promotion of the Pan American Para-Taekwondo Championships. We welcome para-taekwondo’s interest in taking part in the Parapan American Games."

For more information, contact:

Justin Shea

+44 7917 825412

sg@wtf.org

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