Founding Day of the World Taekwondo Federation – President’s Message
Dear Colleagues:
On this day, the 28th of May, it is my distinct pleasure and honor to congratulate the global taekwondo family on the 33rd anniversary of the founding of the World Taekwondo Federation.
Since our founding thirty three years ago, we have witnessed the global expansion of members affiliated to the WTF; from the original 19 member nations in 1973, we now have 181 member national associations. From the two regional unions of Asia and Europe in 1973, we now have three more regional partners in Africa, Asia and Oceania.
From its roots as a Korean martial art of self-defense, we have now evolved into a sport in the Programme of the Olympic Games. Such is our popularity and renaissance that taekwondo and the WTF are now primed to contribute in the further development of the sport and the global propagation of the Olympic Movement through the sport.
Our enhanced position in the international sports fraternity is credited to the abiding passion and endeavors of our taekwondo grandmasters, who took it upon themselves to expand their horizons and disseminate taekwondo worldwide. Their courage to embrace the unknown is admirable; their devotion to taekwondo inspirational.
I thank our founding grandmasters for their sacrifices for taekwondo, as well as for the future generations of practitioners of the sport. Henceforth, it is our responsibilities to ensure the global expansion and acceptance of the sport of taekwondo.
In addition, I wish to thank our friends from the International Olympic Committee, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, the General Association of International Sports Federations and other international sports federations for their astute guidance and kind support for our sport.
During the darkest hours of our reformation, we could count on them to stand by us and lead us by example, just as a beacon would shine the way home for many a lost ship.
The contributions of our global media partners and sponsors should not be overlooked, for their support and understanding through the years have been crucial, especially in the development of our solidarity programs.
I believe that the people who impact and are impacted by taekwondo are the mainstay of the sport. For this reason, I firmly believe that the passion of and sacrifices made by our athletes, coaches, international referees and officials for the sport have resulted in the worldwide enhancements to the technical standards of taekwondo.
Just as importantly, I believe that the relationship is mutual; that the philosophies of taekwondo have enriched their lives, and those of countless more. It is my hope that taekwondo and the WTF will continue to receive your kind support in the years to come.
Last, but not least, I wish to thank our executive council members, member national associations and secretariats for accepting and fulfilling their responsibilities over the past thirty three years. The task to develop and propagate taekwondo is never easy, and many a times their efforts have gone unnoticed.
Nonetheless, the popularity of taekwondo and the international standing of the WTF are only possible through the devoted members that make up the foundation of the sport and organization. It is for this reason, above all, that I thank each and every one of you.
It has been my distinct honor serving taekwondo and the World Taekwondo Federation.
Sincerely yours,
Chungwon Choue
President
4TH FL., JOYANG BUILDING, 113, SAMSEONG-DONG, GANGNAM-GU, SEOUL, KOREA 135-090
Tel: (82-2) 566-2505/529-1097 (Dir)
Fax: (82-2) 529-1098
E-mail: wtf@unitel.co.kr
Website: http://www.wtf.org/