Forum showcases sports’ role in social change

Students attend the second Olympism and Peace Forum at the National University of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, Monday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — World Taekwondo held the second Olympism and Peace Forum at the National University of Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Monday, coinciding with the 2026 World Taekwondo Junior Championships.

A total of 462 undergraduate and graduate students from the National University of Uzbekistan and the Uzbekistan State University of Physical Education and Sport took part in the forum, which carried the theme “Sport, Sustainability, and Economy.” The attendees represented a range of fields, including sport management, law and economics.

Speakers included Dr. Husniddin Hojamkulov of Renaissance University of Education, World Taekwondo Deputy Secretary General Jerry Ling and Adidas Foundation Program Manager Marisa Schlenker. They discussed the role of sports in promoting peace, supporting economic innovation and aligning international events with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won during the second Olympism and Peace Forum at the National University of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, Monday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won delivered the keynote address, highlighting sports’ potential to strengthen humanitarian work and inclusive education. Choue referenced his 2017 visit to Uzbekistan and meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which led to the creation of a taekwondo faculty at the National University.

Choue said the forum seeks to encourage young people to view sports as a driver of equality, inclusion and environmental awareness.

A students asks questions during the second Olympism and Peace Forum at the National University of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, Monday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

The forum also featured the launch of the World Taekwondo Online Sustainability Course, a new self-paced learning platform aimed at helping stakeholders apply sustainability principles within the sporting sector.

World Taekwondo announced that the next Olympism and Peace Forum will be held in Lima, Peru, during the 2028 World Taekwondo Junior Championships.