Taekwondo Chief Says Olympic Innovations "Really a Revolution"

(ATR) World Taekwondo Federation president Chungwon Choue tells Around the Rings the electronic scoring system and video review systems making their debut at the Olympics are impressing IOC members and spectators.

Choue told ATR on day two of the sport’s four-day run at the Games that LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe and a stream of IOC members had expressed their satisfaction with the Protector and Scoring System; 13 visited on Wednesday alone, with Prince Faisal of Jordan and IOC president Jacques Rogge attended in the afternoon.

The PSS registers those kicks and punches of sufficient force to the protector vest worn by athletes, and a score is immediately flashed up on the monitors that are highly visible to spectators.

Taekwondo was forced to revamp its scoring system after controversy dogged judging of the martial art’s event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – results of one heavyweight women's fight were overturned.

So far so good. The system appears to have eliminated protests from athletes and coaches. Disputed points are decided by judges who examine video replays that are also shown four or five times to the crowd.

The WTF’s bid for transparency in scoring is working, Choue claimed.

"Everyone said we have done a great job in presenting the sport," he said. "It is really a revolution of our sport to the world."

ATR was at the ExCeL arena Thursday to check out the new scoring and video replay innovation and gauge the reaction of supporters, several thousand of whom were packed into the venue.

A boisterous crowd was at the taekwondo at ExCeL, the largest competition venue at London 2012. Its five arenas are staging six other sports – boxing, fencing, judo, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.

In the dark confines of the venue with just one mat in play, fans were encouraged to "Make Some Noise" by the sport's announcer. The arrival of GB’s Jade Jones got them cheering and stamping the boards to generate a cauldron of intimidation for her Serbian opponent in the 57kg preliminary round, which she won convincingly. Later in the day, she won Britain's first-ever taekwondo gold.

"Don’t even think about grabbing your breath. Great Britain, are you ready?" the sports presenter said as GB’s Martin Stamper got the venue rocking.

The build-up to the bouts of three, two-minute rounds allows for grand entrances sound-tracked by booming music and accompanied by the roar of supporters and some serious clapping action.

Stamper won a tough and dramatic bout against Erick Osornio Nunez, but not without a disputed headkick from the Mexican camp. They thought he’d scored a head shot, but after a long pause and several video replays scrutinized by the judges and watched by fans and a global TV audience, the appeal was dismissed.

The British fighter eventually won and received a standing ovation.

Across the Olympics, music has been used to varying effect. The DJs in the Olympic Stadium were asked to change their tune a bit after complaints that the musicwas interfering with the sports presentation last week.

But here, they’ve got it just right. This is a sport where high-decibel music is used to good effect to trigger raucous crowd support.

"It is a fun atmosphere, great for the kids," one mum with three young children in tow told ATR.

"It’s good they can see something new and learn about a new sport," she said, her oldest mentioning that she’d seen two BBC documentaries on Britain’s taekwondo medal hopes prior to their visit.

These are knowledgeable crowds. "It comes across well on TV too," the mum from north-west England said.

Two women canvassed for their views said they were enjoying the atmosphere and sporting action. "The choice of music in between bouts has been good," one said.

Choue will be delighted at the feedback and the fact his sport is reaching the younger generation.

The gold for 19-year-old world silver medalist Jade Jones – a gold medal winner at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore – will only enhance taekwondo’s efforts to broaden its appeal in the U.K. and further afield.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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