Taekwondo Innovation to be Featured in Rio

(ATR) On the eve of the Olympic taekwondo meet, World Taekwondo Federation president Chungwon Choue called the 3,000-year-old martial art "tech kwon do."

In London four years ago, points on the body were scored by computer, but judges continued to call points to the head.

In Rio, at Carioca Arena 3, the 128 athletes’ headgear is outfitted with electronic sensors, so the process will be automated. Additionally, officials will use a dedicated radio frequency rather than wifi.

"There will be no malfunction, I’m 100%," Choue said at the Main Press Centre. "This will be the most fair and transparent taekwondo competition in the Olympic Games."

The four-day meet includes Steven Lopez of the U.S., a two-time gold medalist entering his fifth Olympics. Lopez said he is looking forward to the additional technology.

"It’s a whole new dimension to the sport," Lopez said.

On a lower-tech note, athletes from 20 countries will break from tradition and wear colored pants to match colors on their national flags.

Athletes from 63 countries will participate, with seven — Aruba, Belarus, Cape Verde, D.R. Congo, Moldova, Mongolia and Tonga — making their Olympic taekwondo debuts. Choe said he expects more than 20 countries will win medals.

The 30 international referees will be evenly split among males and females.

Written by Bob Mackinin Rio de Janeiro

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