SEOUL, Korea (June 20, 2019) – World Taekwondo today, on World Refugee Day, reinforced its commitment to using the power of sport to provide hope to those who need it most in refugee camps around the world.
Under the leadership of President Chungwon Choue, World Taekwondo has made a significant contribution to supporting refugees, most notably through the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF).
The THF was established in 2016 with the objective of empowering refugees through taekwondo. The sport can be practiced with little to no equipment and so can be deployed anywhere. Not only does the THF keep young refugees healthy and active but through taekwondo it also teaches self-discipline, understanding and respect – qualities which will shape these young people into becoming good global citizens.
The THF currently has projects in several countries in the world, with the flagship Humanitarian Taekwondo Centre in Azraq Refugee Camp, Jordan. Among the students who train their there twice a week, up to now 6 boys and 2 girls have obtained their black belt. And the number of students is constantly growing.
World Taekwondo and the THF have also encouraged other Olympic International Federations (IFs) to join them to create Olympic Sports Peace Corps which will provide young refugees with training and education in sports beyond taekwondo. World Taekwondo and the THF have so far signed Memorandums of Understanding with four IFs – judo, wrestling, table tennis and badminton. And also, a signing ceremony with a fifth international federation will be held this week.
World Taekwondo’s commitment to supporting refugees was also evident at this year’s World Taekwondo Championships at which there was a refugee team for the first time. Furthermore, World Taekwondo offers athlete scholarships to eligible refugee athletes.
