World Taekwondo Federation
Encyclopedia
The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is the International Federation (IF) member of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) for the competition events of the martial art of taekwondo
. International Federations (IFs) are international non-governmental organisations recognised by the IOC as administering one or more sports at world level.
The WTF was established in South Korea
on May 28, 1973, at its inaugural meeting held at the Kukkiwon
with participation of 35 representatives from the world. The WTF, which only governs the function of Taekwondo competitions and related support services, should not be confused with the World Taekwondo Headquarters, also known as Kukkiwon
, which is a center of learning and research of taekwondo located in Yuksam Dong, a different part of Seoul. Former WTF president Kim Un-Yong successfully lobbied to include taekwondo sparring competition as a demonstration sport in the 1988
and 1992 Summer Olympics
, and official Full Medal Olympic sport beginning in 2000.
According to the WTF, "Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills. It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit and life through training our body and mind. Today, it has become a global sport that has gained an international reputation, and stands among the official games in the Olympics."
The WTF has often been seen as a world sports federation since its founding in 1973 and later membership in the GASIF and the selection of the International Federation, or IF of Taekwondo under the IOC. The WTF was presided over by former I.O.C Vice President Un Yong Kim, from its inception in 1973 until 2004. Kim was also the president of the Korea Taekwondo Association, Kukkiwon
, the Korea Sports Association and President of the GASIF, the main pillar of the Olympic movement. The Current President of the WTF is Chin Wang Chu.
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC) for the competition events of the martial art of taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
. International Federations (IFs) are international non-governmental organisations recognised by the IOC as administering one or more sports at world level.
The WTF was established in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
on May 28, 1973, at its inaugural meeting held at the Kukkiwon
Kukkiwon
Kukkiwon , also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, and home of the World Taekwondo Academy, is the official taekwondo governing organisation established by the South Korean government...
with participation of 35 representatives from the world. The WTF, which only governs the function of Taekwondo competitions and related support services, should not be confused with the World Taekwondo Headquarters, also known as Kukkiwon
Kukkiwon
Kukkiwon , also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, and home of the World Taekwondo Academy, is the official taekwondo governing organisation established by the South Korean government...
, which is a center of learning and research of taekwondo located in Yuksam Dong, a different part of Seoul. Former WTF president Kim Un-Yong successfully lobbied to include taekwondo sparring competition as a demonstration sport in the 1988
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
and 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, and official Full Medal Olympic sport beginning in 2000.
According to the WTF, "Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills. It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit and life through training our body and mind. Today, it has become a global sport that has gained an international reputation, and stands among the official games in the Olympics."
Organization structure
The organizational structure of the WTF has diversified at various times over its more than 30 year history to incorporate the various changes, affiliations and associations over these years of growth. As of 2011 the organization is headed up by a General Assembly made up from members of the 200 member National Associations from the five world regions it represents. This in turn consists of a WTF Council composed of an Executive Committee and various sub committees. The Executive Committee comprises a president, secretariat, and an Advisory Council. The sub committees are made up of various departments within the organization, including a technical committee and representative committees of games, women's, legislative, financial, medical, athletic and PR areas.The WTF has often been seen as a world sports federation since its founding in 1973 and later membership in the GASIF and the selection of the International Federation, or IF of Taekwondo under the IOC. The WTF was presided over by former I.O.C Vice President Un Yong Kim, from its inception in 1973 until 2004. Kim was also the president of the Korea Taekwondo Association, Kukkiwon
Kukkiwon
Kukkiwon , also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, and home of the World Taekwondo Academy, is the official taekwondo governing organisation established by the South Korean government...
, the Korea Sports Association and President of the GASIF, the main pillar of the Olympic movement. The Current President of the WTF is Chin Wang Chu.
See also
- World Taekwondo ChampionshipsWorld Taekwondo ChampionshipsThe World Taekwondo Championship is held every two years by the World Taekwondo Federation.-Competitions:-All-time medal table:All-time medal count as 2011 World Taekwondo Championships.-External links:*...
- International Taekwon-Do Federation
- Korean martial artsKorean martial artsKorean martial arts are the martial arts that originated from Korea. Some well known Korean martial arts are hapkido, kuk sool won, and taekwondo. There has also been a revival of Korean sword arts as well as knife fighting and archery...
- TaekwondoTaekwondoTaekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
- Taekwondo at the Summer OlympicsTaekwondo at the Summer OlympicsTaekwondo made its first appearance at the Summer Olympic Games as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. The opening ceremony featured a mass demonstration of taekwondo with hundreds of adults and children performing moves in unison. Taekwondo was again a...
- Moo Duk Kwan TaekwondoMoo Duk Kwan TaekwondoMoo Duk Kwan Taekwondo is a modern Korean martial art formed in April 1965 by Kim Young Taek, Hong Chong Soo, and Lee Kang Ik. For disambiguation see Moo Duk Kwan .-Meaning:The name Moo Duk Kwan means "School of Martial Virtue"...