ATR Federations Update: Taekwondo Worlds, IAAF Prize Money

Changping Stadium, host site of the 2007 Taekwondo World Championships.2009 WTF Worlds to Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Denmark will host the 2009 Taekwondo World Championships. The city was selected by the World Taekwondo Federation General Assembly in Beijing on Thursday.

"We have lately been very successful in attracting major sport events to Denmark," says Executive Director of Sports Foundation Denmark, Lars Lundov.

“With the Taekwondo World Championships we can now present an impressive list of events including the IOC Session and Congress in 2009, World Championships in Wrestling, UCI Bike City events and several international sailing events among many others.”

The Taekwondo World Championships in Copenhagen are currently scheduled for October 2009 and will take place just days after the conclusion of the IOC Session also scheduled for the Danish capital.

Hijabs Banned by WTF

The WTF says women cannot wear hijabs in federation-sanctioned competitions. The ruling came after two Muslim girls were banned from a competition last month in Quebec, Canada, for wearing the head scarves. Under WTF rules, wearing anything under protective head-gear in banned. In a letter to the Canadian taekwondo federation the WTF said that it does not recognize any religion and would not make any accommodation for hijabs.

2007 WTF Championships in Beijing

Competition at the 2007 Taekwondo World Championships begins Friday in Beijing. A total of 1700 athletes from 124 countries will participate in the championships. All events will take place at the Changping Stadium. The world championships continue through Tuesday.

Softball Task Force Aims for Guatemala

International Softball Federation President Don Porter tells Around the Rings that the launch the official campaign to bring softball back into the Olympics will come atthe IOC Session in Guatemala this July. Porter says the ISF Strategic Task Force held its second meeting in April to work on the campaign.

“The Task Force has made a number of significant recommendations that are now being put in to the ‘action mode’ which will be geared for Guatemala and thereafter,” says Porter.

Softball is off the program of the Olympics after Beijing. The sport has the chance to rejoin in 2009 when the IOC considers the program for the 2016 Games.

Reform Commission Readies Final Report

The International Boxing Association Reform Committee held its second meeting Lausanne this week. The 10-member board discussed several issues relating to the reformation of AIBA and the sport of boxing. Recommendations made during the meetings will be presented to the AIBA Executive Committee at its next meeting in Lausanne from June 14-15, 2007.

IAAF World Championship Prize Money

The IAAF announced that over $7 million in prize money will be available for the federation’s world championships, scheduled for August 25-September 2 in Osaka, Japan. In addition, a $100,000 bonus will be given to any athlete that breaks a world record.

New World Records in Archery

Three new world records were set at the Varese World Cup in Italy. Gladys Willems of Belgium set the Compound Women world record for a FITA Round, as well as a record for distance of 60 meters. Jamie Van Natta of the United States set a record by scoring 351 points with 36 arrows at 70 meters.

FIBA World Basketball Now Online

'FIBA World Basketball', FIBA's half hour weekly television show, will now air episodes online at the federation’s website, www.fiba.com. The show features various highlights from FIBA events, as well as regional features.

Marcel Pfeuti, First FIBA Referee

Marcel Pfeuti, the first referee for an international FIBA competition, died this week at age 93. Pfeuti was an official at the first European Championship in 1935 as well as the first Olympic basketball tournament, held at the 1936 Games.

Compiled by Bryant Armstrong. Please send all submissions to Bryant@aroundtherings.com.

Your best source of world sport news is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only.