Inas and WTF sign agreement

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Inas has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Taekwondo Federation – the international governing body for Taekwondo.
The agreement was signed at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland in a ceremony attended by Dr. Chungwon Choue, president of the World Taekwondo Federation and Nick Parr, Executive Director of Inas. The ceremony was witnessed by WTF Secretary General Jean-Marie Ayer, members of the WTF Council, several WTF Member National Association presidents and secretaries general, and members of various WTF Committees.

The agreement aims to develop new disciplines of Para-Taekwondo, focusing on Taekwondo Poomsae (a series of postures and movements of the technical forms of taekwondo skills).

President Chungwon Choue announced “I am proud to announce that the WTF signed an MOU with the International Sport Federation for Para-Athletes with Intellectual Disability to work together to include new competitors and disciplines into Para-Taekwondo.

“Para-taekwondo is fast becoming a popular sport globally and it is testament to how far the sport has spread since the inaugural World Championships in 2009 that the 59 medals handed out at the tournament were distributed amongst 20 different countries.”

In the MOU’s, both organisations agree:

  • To conduct audits among its members to find out the interest for and number of athletes practicing Para-Taekwondo.
  • To cooperate for the establishment of specific classification and competition rules for Para-Taekwondo.
  • The WTF agrees to promote Para-Taekwondo for athletes with intellectual disabilities among its 204 Member National Associations.
  • Para-Taekwondo for athletes with intellectual disabilities should be included as an World Intellectual Impairment Sport promoted event in the 5th WTF Para-Taekwondo Championships to be held in 2014.
  • The WTF will actively work to fulfill all requirements to become an World Intellectual Impairment Sport member and recognized sport and to be included on the program of the World Games and Global Games.
  • World Intellectual Impairment Sport and WTF agree to work for the inclusion of Para-Taekwondo in the Paralympic Games.

On the new partnerships with Inas, WTF Secretary General Jean-Marie Ayer added ““Organizations such as World Intellectual Impairment Sport provide extraordinary pathways towards sport for those who have intellectual and neurological differences.  I believe our next steps are working with both of these great new partners to develop grass-roots programs to nurture new disciplines within taekwondo.”