Taekwondo statue unveiled in Lausanne

A taekwondo statue is unveiled at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wednesday (local time). Courtesy of World Taekwondo

By Kang Seung-woo

• Published Nov 16, 2023 1:48 PM KST
• Updated Nov 17, 2023 7:04 AM KST

In commemoration of World Taekwondo’s 50th anniversary, a taekwondo statue was unveiled at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Wednesday (local time).

The statue, which is located close to the Olympic Flame and the statue of the founder of the Olympic Movement, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, depicts two taekwondo athletes mid-contest, both attempting to land a trademark kick to the head.

The statue is mounted on an octagonal platform that displays the World Taekwondo and Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) logos, five continents and the phrase “Sport of Hopes and Dreams.”

Among those in attendance at the unveiling ceremony were International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won.

“It is such a great honor and pleasure to see taekwondo is taking its rightful place in the park of the Olympic Museum among the other inspiring artworks. This rightful place is more than deserved as taekwondo is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world,” Bach said.

The IOC chief also said that the statue represents the sport's important place within the Olympic program and the global community.

Choue said, “I have been dreaming of this moment for a long, long time. For many years, I wished for a statue to symbolize taekwondo's importance in the Olympic family. Today is the day.”

Along with the unveiling of the statute, the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation was also awarded the Olympic Cup by the IOC in recognition of its work in empowering refugees around the world through taekwondo.

The Olympic Cup was established in 1906 by Coubertin and is awarded annually by the IOC as the highest distinction for an organization with a proven record of promoting the ideals of the Olympic Movement.