World Para Taekwondo Newsletter
July 2020 | Issue #1
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Dear Taekwondo Family,
I send you my warmest greetings and I hope that you stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Taekwondo
has been working diligently during the pandemic to improve our organisation to be equipped to deal with the new reality of our world.
The WT Para Taekwondo Committee and the WT offices have worked tirelessly over the past months to help the Taekwondo community overcome the challenges. We have introduced new initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles and self-learning in a safe environment. In order to update and further promote Para Taekwondo to our Taekwondo family, we will publish a monthly newsletter for Para Taekwondo.
I trust that this monthly newsletter will contribute to the betterment of Para Taekwondo worldwide.
With best regards,
Chungwon Choue
President
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WT Para Taekwondo Committee Chairman
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Chakir Chelbat
Sweden
Chairman
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From the beginning of its current term in 2019,
World Taekwondo
's Para Taekwondo Committee (PTC) has worked to improve, develop, and grow Para taekwondo. The focus right now is on a successful debut at the
Paralympic Games
in Tokyo and on the development of the sport beyond the Games.
The PTC believes that the number one factor for growing Para Taekwondo is education. After all, how can a sport expect to grow if members aren't aware of opportunities?
To this end,
World Para Taekwondo
will be releasing a monthly newsletter outlining information, opportunities, and other 'need-to-know' information. These will be released on the first Friday of each month. This is issue #1.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting many nations around the world,
World Taekwondo
has been moving to adapt. Para Taekwondo coaching courses, for example, are being adapted so that online options will be ready in the coming months.
Rules for belt promotion in Para Taekwondo, as well as rules for how promotion test examiners are trained, have also been enacted. These changes will help standardise the practitioner's progression and ultimately improve the standard and safety of Para taekwondo athletes.
Expect to see online options for Para Taekwondo club certification and promotion test examiners in the coming months as well.
The PTC is also looking to expand Para Taekwondo to athletes with other impairment types and has sent out a survey to Member National Associations (MNAs) to better understand what impairment types are represented in your memberships.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to World Para Taekwondo.
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WT Para Taekwondo Committee
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Usman Dildar
Vice Chair¨
Great Britain
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Amine Khelladi
Member
Algeria
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Marck Harb
Member
Lebanon
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Sookyung Park
Korea
Member
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Para Taekwondo Participant Survey
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You should have received a survey from
World Para Taekwondo
on 26 June regarding impairment type participation.
World Taekwondo
wants to better understand the needs of its MNAs and the results of this survey will help determine what new impairment types might be added to the international stage.
We ask that all MNAs carefully gather their data and complete and submit the survey by 14 August.
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2021 Asian Youth Para Games
Welcomes Para Taekwondo
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It is with great pleasure that we can announce that Para Taekwondo will be joining the programme for the 2021
Asian Youth Para Games
in Bahrain.
This is a great stepping stone event for teams and athletes aiming to qualify for the
2022 Asia Para Games
in Hangzhou, China - where Para Taekwondo will also make its debut. It will also provide another wonderful opportunity for countries to start building their programmes toward the
2024 Paralympic Games
in Paris, France.
Set for 1-10 December 2021, the
2021 Asian Youth Para Games
expect more than 800 athletes to compete in 9 sports: Athletics, Badminton, Boccia, Goalball, Para taekwondo, Powerlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Wheelchair Basketball.
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World Taekwondo
is the world's governing body for Taekwondo recognised by the
IOC
and
IPC
. It also serves as the umbrella organisation for 210 MNAs.
To date, 85+1 MNAs have been active in Para Taekwondo on the international stage. Let's make that number grow!
Remembering that MNAs have a responsibility to "provide para athletes with a pathway to international competition and the Paralympic Games" (Art. 16.11),
World Taekwondo
would like to assist MNAs to develop the organisational structure needed to make this happen.
That's why we've developed this 'Getting Started' section as a "how-to" guide for MNAs looking to develop their Para Taekwondo programming. This month we'll look at how to set-up a Para Taekwondo project. Future issues will cover athlete recruitment, education, and long-term strategic planning.
All information from this section will be added to the
World Taekwondo
website later this summer.
Why Add Para Taekwondo?
Para Taekwondo is one of the Para sports movement's fastest-growing sports. Since being added to the Paralympic programme, the sport has attracted record athletes from a record amount of nations at nearly every tournament.
Why is it so popular?
Taekwondo is a sport that can be practiced regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or ability. There is a low barrier to entry as no expensive equipment is required and there is no need for a special facility - just check out how our athletes have adapted their training under quarantine by checking out
World Para Taekwondo
's #KickingItAtHome campaign on Facebook.
Para Taekwondo changes the lives of our athletes and will help build a positive image of your MNA both at home and abroad.
So, what do you need to do to get started?
1 - Getting Started
The very first thing you need to do after deciding to offer Para Taekwondo programming is to form a Para Taekwondo Committee and appoint a Para Taekwondo contact person. This could be a committee member or someone from the MNA administration.
After appointing a contact person, be sure to pass the person's contact information to your WT Continental Union and to
World Taekwondo
. This means that your committee will receive any information that the MNA receives.
What should you look for on your PTC?
- Experienced Kyorugi coach
- Experienced Poomsae coach
- Experienced Para Athlete classifier, or someone who understands anatomy and physiology
- Experienced Kyorugi coach
- Experienced Poomsae & Kyorugi referee
The PTC should then develop an operational plan. Things that should be considered include:
- What is the aim of Para Taekwondo in our organisation?
- What expertise do we need to reach that aim?
- What education is necessary to get the required expertise?
- What is our strategy to find athletes?
- What are the potential sources of funding?
- What are the possible partners (organisations or persons) for Para Taekwondo?
- Who does what? (Divide the work, one person cannot do everything)
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Para Taekwondo Around the World
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This section is designed to keep the Para Taekwondo community informed about upcoming events in the world of Para Taekwondo. Continental associations are welcome to promote their events here.
Normally, the Para Taekwondo season would be hitting high gear with continental championships and the excitement of the sport's Paralympic debut.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult on athletes and sports worldwide. From the rescheduling of the
2020 Paralympic Games
, to the closure of gyms and clubs, to the inability to have in-person trainings and meetings - we are all finding ways to adapt.
With some areas of the world cautiously beginning to reopen after quarantine, be sure to keep an eye on the following upcoming events:
Date: 12-14 July
1st Asian Open Online Poomsae & Para Poomsae Championships
(In Development)
Date: To Be Determined
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