Taekwondo Expands Humanitarian Efforts to Turkey -- Federations Focus

(ATR) The World Taekwondo Federation is adding another camp to its Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation in Kilis, Turkey.

WTF president Chungwon Choue visited Kilis ahead of the European Qualification Tournament in Istanbul that determines which athletes in the region will advance to the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Choue was joined by European Taekwondo Union president Sakis Pragalos and Turkish Taekwondo Federation president Metin Sahin at the Oncupinar Accommodation Center near the Turkish border with Syria.

The TTF has organized the taekwondo program at the refugee camp for the past two years. The program teaches 60 youths how to stay active and have respect, self-discipline and understanding.

"Taekwondo is a sport which can be practiced by people of all ages, genders and nationalities," said WTF president Choue. "It unites people in a way that only sport can and teaches them to live healthier and more peaceful lives."

Young refugees between the ages of 10 and 14 demonstrated their taekwondo skills to the federation leaders and received new taekwondo shoes and uniforms.

The THF began in December at two refugee camps in Jordan with plans to launch another camp in Nepal at the end of January. The WTF is considering expanding the project to other countries in the region like Ghana, Ethiopia and Greece.

IAAF Appoints Interim Chief Executive

European Athletics vice president Jean Gracia is appointed as the IAAF’s temporary CEO.

His appointment to the role, which also comes with the general secretarytitle, follows IAAF chief Sebastian Coe’s overhaul of the athletics’governing body’s governance launched in September.

A shortlist of international candidates is being drawn up before apermanent appointment is announced, as planned, by the summer.

Former CEO Essar Gabriel left the IAAF last October. He signed a four-year contract in 2011 and decided not to renew his deal.

Coe said Gracia, a former general secretary of the French federation,"brings vast experience and will assist the continued smooth running ofthe association in the interim.

"He will act as the focal point for all our member federations andpartners, and support me with work involving the executive board andcouncil," Coe said in a statement.

Click here to read more about the new CEO.

ITU to Rebuild Schools in Nepal

The International Triathlon Union will use the $10,000 it raised in a 2015 fundraiser to rebuild two schools in Nepal that were devastated by an earthquake.

ITU president and IOC member Marisol Casado visited Nepal to see firsthand how the funds would be distributed to the country.

"It really is an honor to see that the funds raised by the triathlon family will be used to help Nepalese students, as well as young triathletes, who will now have new facilities to learn and practice", said Casado.

The ITU and the Nepal Triathlon Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Jan. 12 to rebuild the Ganesh Primary School and Binayak Saraswoti Secondary School in Bhaktapur. Once rebuilt, the two schools will be merged into one known as the Shree Ganesh – Binayak Saraswoti Lower Secondary School.

The ITU will also construct the Triathlon Talent School to help promote the sport to a new generation of young athletes in the country.

Edmonton to Host 2017 Curling Champs

The 2017 Ford Men's World Curling Championships will head to Edmonton, Alberta from Apr. 1-9. The event will be staged at Rexall Place.

The championship will represent the final chance for athletes to qualify for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Edmonton has a long history of hosting major international curling events, setting attendance records for the 2007 world championships and two exhibition curling matches in 2005 and 2009, all hosted at Rexall Place.

The tournament will feature 12 teams battling for the coveted world championship title as well as berths to the PyeongChang 2018 Games. The tournament also marks the 23rd time Canada has hosted the event.

"We are certain Curling Canada, Ford of Canada and the local organizing committee will put on yet another great event," said World Curling Federation president Kate Caithness. "The competition is set to be extremely exciting."

Written by KevinNutley and Mark Bisson

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