ABU DHABI, UAE (January 31, 2015) - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board today announced that taekwondo will have the honor of making its historic debut in the Paralympic Games at Tokyo 2020.

The decision was confirmed at a meeting of the IPC Governing Board in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The 22 sports on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games sports program are: athletics, archery, badminton, boccia, canoe, cycling, equestrian, football 5-a-side, goalball, judo, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.

Speaking following the announcement, WTF President Chungwon Choue said:

“We are delighted and humbled that the IPC Governing Board has selected para-taekwondo for inclusion on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games sports program for the very first time. We have always been 100% committed to making our sport a sport for all and inclusion in the Paralympic Games will help us to engage with more people than ever. Today is not just the realisation of a dream for us, but the realisation of a dream for para-taekwondo athletes around the world.

“We have achieved a lot but we know this is only the beginning for para-taekwondo. We are very grateful to the IPC for giving us and our athletes this opportunity and over the next five years we will work tirelessly to show them that they were right to put their faith in our sport. We look forward to working closely with the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee to provide the ultimate sporting spectacle for Paralympic fans in 2020.”