(Apr. 6, 2024) - The global Taekwondo family is today marking the UN’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), with World Taekwondo reaffirming its commitment to using sport to empower communities around the world.
Through the work of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF), World Taekwondo is recognised as a pioneer in helping refugees from around the world to improve their quality of life, develop skills and embrace opportunities to practise sport.
Five Taekwondo athletes were part of the Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024, making Taekwondo the third-most represented sport. At the Paralympic Games in Paris, Para Taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi became the Refugee Paralympic Team’s first-ever medallist with her bronze in the Women’s K44 -47kg event.
In November 2023 the THF was awarded the Olympic Cup by the IOC in recognition of its support of refugees worldwide, and later this year it will host the 3rd Hope and Dreams Sports Festival in collaboration with partner International Federations, embodying its mission to empower refugees through sport.
World Taekwondo President and THF Chairman Chungwon Choue reflected on the organisation’s commitment to using sport to promote peace.
“As we celebrate International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the global Taekwondo family must redouble our efforts to creating more inclusive and healthier communities worldwide through sport,” he said.
“The THF will continue to play an important role in providing opportunities for refugees to pursue their dreams and using Taekwondo as a tool for empowerment.
“We are proud of our achievements so far, and determined to maximise the role of sport as an enabler for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
The IDSDP has been celebrated annually on 6 April since 2014, having been declared by the UN General Assembly in 2013. This year’s theme is Levelling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion, aiming to challenge stereotypes, promote equal opportunities and enable inclusive sport for all, while highlighting the role of sport as a unifying force that fosters inclusion and more equitable societies.
