SEOUL, Korea (Apr. 3) – Esports is the new frontier whereby World Taekwondo is making its mark. With eight months to go, World Taekwondo today announced the countdown to its inaugural Virtual Championships.

 

The World Taekwondo Virtual Championships will be held in Singapore on November 16-17, 2024. This marks a swift return to the city-state for World Taekwondo, where Virtual Taekwondo marked its exciting debut at the Olympic Esports Week in June 2023. This was followed by the World Taekwondo Council’s decision to award the first-ever World Taekwondo Virtual Championships to Singapore in August 2023.

 

At the IOC Session in Mumbai, India, last November, the IOC President announced the creation of the Olympic Esports Games and the establishment of a new IOC Esports Commission, in which World Taekwondo is a representative.

 

The IOC is expected to make its announcement of the first-ever Olympic Esports Games in the coming months. The Singapore 2024 World Taekwondo Virtual Championships could potentially serve as a qualification pathway for aspiring athletes and teams to the Olympic Esports Games.

 

The World Taekwondo Virtual Championships is planned to include the following five categories: Mixed Junior (13-15 years old); Individual Male and Individual Female athletes (16-35 years old) who can also compete in the Mixed event; and Mixed Masters (36 years old and above). These events showcase the key attraction of Virtual Taekwondo as a barrier-free, innovative and fun sport.

 

Dr. Choue Chungwon, President of World Taekwondo:

“Last year, World Taekwondo commemorated its Golden Jubilee and this year marks 30 years since the 103^rd IOC Session’s decision to include Taekwondo in the Olympic Programme. We have come a long way. The World Taekwondo Virtual Championships is a glimpse into the future of Taekwondo. I hope that Virtual Taekwondo will be added to the programme of the Olympic Esports Games, which will further showcase the innovation, diversity and inclusiveness of our sport.”

 

Prof. Tan Cheng Han, President of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation:

“Singapore is extremely honoured to be awarded the hosting of this significant and important World Taekwondo Virtual Championships. The Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) is privileged to be entrusted with this event that we hope will facilitate Virtual Taekwondo becoming part of the Olympic movement. We warmly welcome the athletes and officials across the globe to experience Singapore, and together with our aspiring athletes, to present this first-edition of the World Taekwondo Virtual Championships to the world. We are also pleased that this world championship will be taking place as STF celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the Taekwondo movement in Singapore this year.”

 

Mr. Ng Chong Geng, founder of Refract Technologies, which developed the revolutionary Virtual Taekwondo system:

“Our sincere hope is that Virtual Taekwondo will help attract new enthusiasts to learn about the charm of Taekwondo and lower the bar of participation in the sport. We hope that Virtual Taekwondo will let many more youth have the experience of sparring and let the legends of the community to continue to participate in Taekwondo in a new way.”