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| World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won, center, attends the organization's first online council meeting amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy of World Taekwondo |
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| International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach speaks in a video message to the council. Courtesy of World Taekwondo |
By Jung Min-ho
World Taekwondo (WT) President Choue Chung-won has offered condolences for everyone affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, calling for global solidarity to beat the crisis.
"This pandemic has really changed our lives," he said during WT's first online extraordinary council meeting Wednesday. "I sincerely pray that we continue to be healthy and safe. Our thoughts are with all those who have been, and continue to be, affected.
"I believe that every adversity brings opportunities. Videoconferencing has become the new norm for us and offers a sustainable and cost-effective way for us to remain connected long into the future. We have also been able to reach out to the grassroots more directly (by) engaging athletes to show their training sessions and organizing education courses online."
He also took time to thank "the selfless contributions" of medical workers around the world.
The meeting had initially been scheduled to be held at Olympic House in Lausanne, only to be replaced with a videoconference due to the pandemic.
In a message to the council, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach urged members to be prepared for the post-pandemic era.
"We will need all our solidarity, creativity, determination and flexibility to get ready for the post-corona world," Bach said.
"For that, we will all need to make sacrifices and compromises; this extraordinary council meeting is therefore a timely opportunity for you to set the course for the future of World Taekwondo to get ready for the day after this crisis is over.
"Thanks to your governance reforms, your impressive track record of modernizing your sport and your important humanitarian work, World Taekwondo can build on a strong foundation for this future."
During the meeting, host cities of WT's 2021-22 events were confirmed. Among them is Goyang, the Korean city that will host the 2022 World Poomsae Championships.
Council members also approved the reinstatement of India as a WT member after great progress made by the country.
The next council meeting is scheduled to take place in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, Oct. 12. But given the pandemic is still raging in many countries, WT also will come up with other plans.
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