On the Scene: Taekwondo Could Make Winter Olympic Debut

(ATR) Demonstration teams from taekwondo’s two governing bodies could compete in PyeongChang.

Chungwon Choue, president of Olympic taekwondo federation World Taekwondo said a "verbal agreement" was reached between his organization and the International Taekwondo Federation for the exhibition at next year’s Olympics.

He made the announcement at a press conference on the final day of the World Taekwondo Federation world championships in Muju, South Korea. Choue was joined by IOC President Thomas Bach.

The only details Choue could confirm is that both World Taekwondo and the ITF would each have 36-member demonstration teams. Talks must now begin with POCOG and the IOC to schedule the demonstration. A formal agreement between the two federations is expected Sept 18, when Choue and World Taekwondo officials travel to North Korea for three days of talks on increased cooperation with the ITF, which has strong ties to North Korea.

Bach underscored the special relationship between the IOC and taekwondo. He noted that refugee athlete teams compete at both the Olympics and World Taekwondo events. Bach had praise fortaekwondo as one of the first federations to support the IOC refugee team initiative. In addition to the refugee athletes, two Nepalese orphans were competitors at the world championships this year.

"This is very much what sport is about, Bach said. "World Taekwondo is setting a great example.

"These world championships are a great, great success for taekwondo and sport in general," Bach added. "We have to stand up for our values because they are under attack."

A commitment to humanitarian efforts is what differentiates taekwondo from other Olympic sports, Choue said. "Bach is always supportive of these activities and we will do our best."

Bach said the IOC members are appreciative of World Taekwondo’s efforts to modernize and expand the sport.

The IOC Executive Board confirmed in early June the program for the 2024 Olympics—which included taekwondo.

"You can draw your own conclusions about the appreciation of taekwondo from the Executive Board," Bach said.

Bach will travel to Seoul from Muju for a meeting Monday with newly elected president Jae In Moon. It’s the first meeting for the two men just six months from the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

Reported in Muju by Ed Hula III.