Many can benefit from taekwondo
The National, Tuesday 16th April 2013
DURING its executive board meeting last February, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided taekwondo would remain an Olympic sport after Rio 2016.
Taekwondo does not need a lot of space and does not need expensive equipment and can be practised anywhere.
The UN-IOC delegates recommended “to commend the achievements of the World Taekwondo Peace Corps with the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) in its successful outreach to young people and its aim of building a better world”.
The first world taekwondo championship was held at Kukkiwon in South Korea in 1973.
By then, it was being practised in 108 countries and 200 instructors were teaching in schools around the world.
The growth of taekwondo was remarkable.
It became a demonstration sport in 1988 Seoul Olympics and was recognised by the IOC as an official event in 1994.
It debuted as a medal sport in the 2000 Sydney Games.
The first PNG national taekwondo championship was held last year to select a team for the 2015 Pacific Games.
The championship saw exponents from around the country competing.
Taekwondo PNG (TPNG) has produced many potential young exponents.
For example, before joining politics, Bululo MP Sam Basil represented PNG in the 1995 Pacific Games and won a bronze medal.
He was appointed the patron of TPNG.
The association has sent its representatives to major competitions and Theresa Tona represented PNG in the 2012 London Olympics.
Tona won the gold in the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia, and she is ranked 12th in the world under the WTF 49kg division.
This proves that Papua New Guineans can win gold medals in international tournaments with a bit of extra training and commitment.
Taekwondo focuses on the individual as an intellectual human being with a desire to improve the quality of one’s life.
This includes self-discipline, patience, confidence, compassion, humility, inner calm and consistent motivation through a positive mental attitude.
I believe everyone can benefit from the life-enhancing aspects of taekwondo regardless of age, sex or physical capabilities.
Lee Whiejin
Korean Ambassador