SEOUL, Korea (March 31, 2020) - World Taekwondo has welcomed the announcement of the new dates for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and provided its stakeholders with an update on the subsequent impact to its events calendar in 2020 and 2021.
The IOC, IPC, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan announced on 30 March that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will take place on 23 July – 8 August 2021 and the Paralympic Games will follow on 24 August – 5 September 2021. As a result of the postponement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to 2021, the World Taekwondo Championships originally scheduled to be held in Wuxi, China in May 2021 will also need to be postponed. The exact dates are not confirmed yet but World Taekwondo intends that the event to be held in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Speaking following the announcement, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said:
“World Taekwondo welcomes the announcement of new dates of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. World Taekwondo reiterates its full support for the decision to postpone the Games to next year in the interests of the health of all those involved. The announcement provides athletes with the certainty they need to plan their training and gives them inspiration during these difficult times.”
“World Taekwondo will continue to work closely with the IOC, IPC and Tokyo 2020 and has no doubt that they will deliver Olympic and Paralympic Games which will showcase solidarity and the best of humanity.”
World Taekwondo announced that there are no changes in regards to the Olympic and Paralympic quota places that have been secured through athletes’ rankings and the Continental Qualification Tournaments in Africa, Oceania and the Pan America. World Taekwondo is continuing to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic very closely, and in consultation with the World Health Organisation, IOC, IPC and relevant health authorities, intends to host the remaining Asia and Europe Qualification Tournaments this year.
All WT-promoted and WT-recognised events, including all G1 and G2 competitions, until the end of May have been postponed or cancelled in order to safeguard the health of athletes and all stakeholders. World Taekwondo will continue to monitor the situation for WT events scheduled after May.
The World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria on 14-18 October, and the accompanying General Assembly, and the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Finals and Gala Awards in Cancun, Mexico on 28-29 November are currently scheduled to go ahead as normal.
World Taekwondo urges everyone in the global taekwondo family to continue to follow the advice of their respective national health authorities and remain safe. World Taekwondo believes that working together we will emerge stronger from this difficult time.
WT President's Statement regarding the postponement of Tokyo 2020 and subequent impact on WT calendar
