Sunday, December 13, 2009

WTF Taekwondo’s Inclusion of 2013 Mediterranean Games

Press Conference Held in Greece to Mark Taekwondo’s Inclusion of 2013 Mediterranean Games





To mark taekwondo’s inclusion in the program of the 2013 Mediterranean Games, WTF President Chungwon Choue held a press conference at the Greek Olympic Committee building in Athens, Greece on Dec. 4, 2009.
Taekwondo was included on the official program of the 2013 Mediterranean Games on Oct. 25, 2009.
Due to the increasing popularity of taekwondo in the Mediterranean region, the Mediterranean Taekwondo Union was formed under the WTF, with Mr. Driss El-Hilali of Morocco as president and Secretary General Mr. Michalis Fysentzidis of Greece, who also attended the press conference, together with Gen. Ahmed Fouly, a WTF vice president. The MTU held the 1st Mediterranean Taekwondo Cup in Rabat, Morocco May 8-10 this year.
Dr. Choue thanked Mr. El-Hilali and Mr. Fysentzidis for all their work to make taekwondo an official sport for the Mediterranean Games in 2013. Dr. Choue also pointed out that taekwondo also recently have been made an official sport for the Universiade starting 2017.
The Greek Taekwondo Federation has vast experience of competition organization such as the 2004 Olympic Games. Dr. Choue stated that he believes that taekwondo at the 2013 Mediterranean Games will be one of the most successful sports at the Games.
WTF President Choue believes taekwondo was chosen as an official sport for the 2013 Mediterranean Games due to the fact that taekwondo has been evolving constantly with the ambition to become the most exciting and transparent sport.
For instance at the 2009 WTF World Taekwondo Championships held in Copenhagen, Denmark, WTF introduced electronic body protectors and also adopted an instant video replay system, which has ensured that coaches and athletes can have a fair opportunity to request for review of the referee’s decisions.
Dr. Choue also thanked Mr. Nikos Thomaidis, president of the Greek Taekwondo Federation, for his dedication to the development and spreading of taekwondo in Greece.

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