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The World Taekwondo Federation celebrated the 1st "Taekwondo Day" on
Sept. 4, 2006, in a ceremony.
During the
opening ceremony of the 1st WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae
Championships at the Olympic Gymnasium in Olympic Park in Seoul,
an
event to mark the inauguration of Taekwondo Day was held.
The event drew ranking taekwondo officials, including
Mr. Jung-kil
Kim, president of the Korea Taekwondo Association, Mr. Woon-kyu Uhm,
president of the Kukkiwon and Mr.
Dai-soon Lee, president of the
Taekwondo Promotion Foundation. Also on hand was Ms. Bae-sook Cho,
chairwoman of the
National Assembly Culture & Tourism Committee.
During the event, WTF President Chungwon Choue declared the
inauguration
of Taekwondo Day and the symbol of Taekwondo Day was
unveiled for the public.
The WTF designated Sept. 4 as Taekwondo
Day during its General
Assembly in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on July 25, 2006.
The rationale for designating the
date of Sept. 4 as Taekwondo Day is
that on Sept. 4, 1994, the 103rd IOC Session held in France decided to
accept the
sport of taekwondo into the official program of the Summer
Olympic Games. Taekwondo was an Olympic sport at the 2000 Sydney
and
2004 Athens Olympic Games. It will be also a medal sport at the 2008
Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games.
During
the Taekwondo Day event, the congratulatory message from
Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee,
was
read.
"The World Taekwondo Federation has taken the decision to commemorate
the inclusion of taekwondo on
the Olympic programme at the 103rd IOC
Session on Sept. 4, 1994 in Paris," Dr. Rogge said in his message.
The IOC
president continued to say, "The IOC is pleased that this
event also linked to a major competition which will highlight
this
sport in your country and attract the attention of the general public,
particularly the younger generation, which
can be sensitised to values
such as respect and fair play."
WTF President Choue said in his opening speech, "The
fact that we have
a Taekwondo Day is testament to the endeavors and sacrifices of our
masters, athletes, referees and
officials." "The 1st Taekwondo Day is
not just a showpiece of our enhanced international standing; it is
also a day
when we recognize each other's efforts. For this, and more,
I wish to thank every one for your dedication and continued
support
for taekwondo and the WTF."
"We have the potential to contribute positively to the world. Let us
fulfill
that dream from today, starting with the 1st WTF World
Taekwondo Poomsae Championships," Dr. Choue said.
He continued
to say, "Poomsae is a unique discipline of taekwondo that
has no equals. It is not kyorugi, but it encompasses all of its
features
of strength, speed and accuracy." "Through poomsae, we hope
to show that taekwondo is also about technique and grace."
Dr.
Choue said, "Poomsae "has the potential to be a valuable tool to
social harmony. From young children to the elderly, poomsae
will help
create a strong bond of unity and strength."
"I also believe that poomsae will be beneficial to athletes
with
disabilities; for them to gain self-confidence and fulfill their
Olympic dreams," he said. "For these reasons,
I hope that someday,
poomsae will be accepted by the International Paralympic Committee."
In this vein, a special
taekwondo demonstration by the disabled was
performed during the opening ceremony of the three-day WTF World
Taekwondo
Poomsae Championships, which drew about 600 athletes and
officials from 59 countries.
At its General Assembly in
Ho Chi Minh City in late July, the WTF
approved the establishment of the Paralympic Committee, with the aim
of studying
ways to include taekwondo in the official program of the
Paralympic Olympic Games.
To mark the 1st Taekwondo Day,
the WTF issued commemorative postage
stamps. An enlarged WTF Taekwondo Day postage stamp was also on
display for the
public along with other commemorative taekwondo stamps
collected at home and abroad at the second floor of the Olympic
Gymnasium.
"The
designation of Taekwondo Day and the launch of the World
Taekwondo Poomsae Championships would combine to help expand the
base
of taekwondo population around the world," said WTF President Choue.
In the afternoon, WTF President Choue
is scheduled to host a reception
at the Olympic Parktel nearby the Olympic Park to mark the 1st
Taekwondo Day and to
welcome the participating athletes and officials
in the WTF Taekwondo Poomsae Championships.
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