Taekwondo to remain official Olympic event: Kim Un-Yong

Kim Un-Yong, president of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and chairman of the Korea Olympic Committee (KOC) announced Tuesday that taekwondo has been added as a regular event at the Olympic Games.

In a press conference at Lotte Hotel, in downtown Seoul, Kim said, ¡°Taekwondo was named as a regular athletic event starting with the Athens Olympic Games at an executive meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The meeting was held in Lausanne from Dec. 11 to 13, and the decision was officially confirmed through a fax message sent by IOC Chairman Juan Antonio Samaranch.¡±

Kim added, ¡°Whether to retain the four taekwondo weight divisions (both male and female) and the quota (participation in four weight divisions by each nation) applied at the Sydney Olympic Games is to be decided in discussions of the IOC executive committee next February.¡±

Although none of the Olympic events are officially permanent events, the fact that taekwondo, which was a demonstration sport at the Sydney Olympics, was adopted as a regular event suggests that it will become an institution at the Olympics.

The Athens Olympic Organizing Committee has already made preparations to hold taekwondo competitions at the 2004 Games, having appointed officials in charge of taekwondo even before the IOC made its decision.

Kim Hwa-Sung mars@donga.com