Dr. Chungwon Choue, president of the World Taekwondo Federation, sent letters of condolences on Nov. 19, 2007 to the presidents of WTF member national associations of Bangladesh and Chile, and their National Olympic Committee presidents over the loss of lives resulting from recent natural disasters in the two countries.

In the letter to Lt. Gen. Ahmad U. Moeen, president of the Bangladesh Olympic Association, Choue extended his condolences to the people of Bangladesh for the “profound” loss of lives from the devastating cyclone which hit Bangladesh last week. Reports said that the cyclone took at least 2,000 lives and injured more than 1,000 othersw.

“The global taekwondo family stand by you in the hope of a quick recovery and we will be with you always in times of need,” Choue said in the letter. “We urge you not to give up those whose have survived, and strive to help them rebuild their shattered lives.”

WTF President Choue said that the WTF would donate $3,000 to the Bangladesh Olympic Association. “We hope that you will be able to use this contribution to rebuild the sports infrastructure in your country and bring hope to your people.”

He continued to say, “I wish you the very best in your recovery efforts, and hope that your country can pull through this difficult period soon.”

Dr. Choue also sent a letter of condolences to Syed Mohammad Ziaul Huq, president of the Bangladesh Taekwondo Federation. “If you need any help from the WTF, please feel free to let me know.”

WTF President Choue also sent a similar letter of condolences to Mr. Mario Mandel Vaisman, president of the Federacion Chilean de Taekwondo, and Mr. Neven Ivan Ilic Alvarez, president of the Comite Olimpico de Chile, over the loss of two lives and more than 100 injuries from a recent earthquake which shook Chile.

“On behalf of the global taekwondo family, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the victims of the natural disaster and their family members,” Choue said in the letter.