LIMA, Peru (25 August 2025) - The Opening Ceremony of the WT Olympic Solidarity Camp was held on August 25 in Lima, Peru, officially launching a week-long programme that will run until September 2, 2025.

The camp is jointly organised by World Taekwondo (WT), the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity programme, the Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU), and the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation, which serves as the Local Organising Committee. A total of 36 junior athletes and coaches from eight nations including Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Suriname, Guyana, and Ecuador are participating.

The Peru camp is designed to support junior-level athletes as a stepping stone towards the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, while also contributing to WT’s long-term vision of preparing athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Participants will undergo advanced technical and tactical training combined with specialised physical conditioning. In parallel, local referees and national coaches will attend sessions on teaching methodologies to further strengthen expertise across the Pan-American Taekwondo community.

The impact of the Olympic Solidarity programme is already evident. From last year’s camp in the Dominican Republic, six athletes went on to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. These included two from the Dominican Republic, two from Cuba, one from Uruguay, and one from Costa Rica. This achievement demonstrates the direct role of the camps in preparing athletes for the highest levels of competition.

Building on such success, the Peru camp supported by PATU and the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation is expected to inspire the region’s next generation of champions.

WT President Dr Chungwon Choue previously highlighted during the Senegal edition that Olympic Solidarity Camps not only develop sporting skills but also promote Olympic values and cultural exchange.