DCTKD • Martial Arts Links

Taekwondo as a Global Sport (The Korea Times)
Only Ceaseless Reform Assures Its Place in Olympics
"It is necessary for the WTF, government and the public to join forces to rejuvenate taekwondo as a sport in which sportsmanship as well as fitness in body and mind become one." (Originally Published: 7/10/2005; Last DCTKD update: 7/10/2005)

Taekwondo included in program for 2012 Olympic Games (WTF web site)
"’The retaining of Taekwondo is not only a vote of confidence on our reform efforts thus far, but is also a mandate for us to strive for further betterment of Taekwondo and the WTF,’ said Chungwon Choue, president of the World Taekwondo Federation. ‘Taekwondo will usher in a renaissance as we aim to expand the number of member national associations from the present 179 to 202 across five continents, while increasing the number of worldwide Taekwondo practitioners to 100 million or more.’"--Thanks to the TKD-Net Mailing List for providing this link. (Originally Published: 7/8/2005; Last DCTKD update: 7/8/2005)

Taekwondo Voted to Remain as Olympic Event (The Korea Times)
By Kim Hyun-cheol
"Taekwondo...was confirmed as an official competitive event for the 2012 London Summer Olympics." To address criticisms, the WTF quickly "established a reform program late last year, and introduced some revised rules such as a two-minute three-round system, a sudden death rule in an extra round, and an increase of judges from three to four in this years World Championships." (Originally Published: 7/8/2005; Last DCTKD update: 7/8/2005)

Baseball, softball dropped from Olympics (The Korea Herald)
"The International Olympic Committee voted to retain...taekwondo as an Olympic sport during a secret ballot...Taekwondo...had been threatened with being replaced due to growing criticism over judging mistakes and low television viewing rates." To address these issues, "South Korea’s taekwondo officials...promised to provide electronic scoring systems, revise match rules and introduce other reform measures." (Originally Published: 7/8/2005; Last DCTKD update: 7/8/2005)

Cutting some Olympic fat: Taekwondo, baseball could be out (MercuryNews.com)
by Philip Hersh
"Baseball, taekwondo, softball and modern pentathlon are the most nervous about their Olympic status, although all are likely to be spared ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if it remained status quo,’ said IOC member Kevan Gosper of Australia, ‘but any sport not able to deliver its best athletes would be under the greatest scrutiny.’ That points directly at baseball." (Originally Published: 7/5/2005; Last DCTKD update: 7/6/2005)

Taekwondo’s Destiny to Be Decided July 8 (Donga.com)
"Taekwondo drew a positive evaluation from the IOC by submitting a blueprint to improve the above three problems in a report from its reform committee, and is putting its hope not on an individual’s ability, but on its omni directional sports diplomacy that it displayed ‘post Kim Un-yong.’" (Originally Published: 7/5/2005; Last DCTKD update: 7/5/2005)

Devotees campaign to save taekwondo from Olympic axe (MonstersandCritics.com)
By Ruth Youngblood
"To counter criticism that taekwondo is not exciting, more points will be given to athletes who can deliver effective blows through difficult techniques. Other reforms include a shorter match time and a smaller competition mat to promote faster, more furious contact." (Originally Published: 7/3/2005; Last DCTKD update: 7/6/2005)

Taekwondo Should Be Reborn as Culture Icon (The Korea Times)
Oh Kyung-ho Looks to Broadening Taekwondo’s Global Appeal
by Kim Hyun-cheol
"Oh Kyung-ho, chairman of Chungcheong University, is one of those who argue on some fundamental changes in taekwondo. Despite his confidence over the future of the nation’s traditional martial art, he suggests there should be a big transition in taekwondo from merely a competitive sport to a significant source for cultural promotion and spiritual discipline." (Originally Published: 7/3/2005; Last DCTKD update: 7/5/2005)

Taekwondo fights for life at IOC vote (Reuters.co.uk)
by Jon Herskovitz
"Working against Taekwondo are the lack of media attention it received in the Athens Games in 2004 compared to other sports and its low television ratings...charges of judging bias and the sport has also been tainted by its link to Kim Un-yong...‘This is a dynamic sport, and along with judo, represents in the Olympics the sports of Asia -- the most populous region in the world,’ WTF President Choue said...[and] the numbers for taekwondo are impressive with about 60 million participants around the globe. ‘I am confident we will remain an Olympic sport’"--Thanks to the TKD-Net Mailing List for providing this link. (Originally Published: 6/29/2005; Last DCTKD update: 6/29/2005)

Taekwondo Faces Olympic Reckoning (JoongAng Daily News)
by Sung Baik-you and Kang Hye-ran
Sports.com identified seven sports in danger of being voted out and taekwondo was not one of them. However, the IOC report did specify that "television ratings were low for taekwondo events in the Athens Games, and that comparatively little was written about the sport...[and] also mentioned the persistent accusations of judging bias in favor of Korean athletes...Sports Illustrated says the bribery scandals involving Kim Un-yong...have also tainted the reputation of the sport and the federation."--Thanks to the TKD-Net Mailing List for providing this link. (Originally Published: 6/27/2005; Last DCTKD update: 6/27/2005)

WTF Has Guarded Optimism on Olympic Taekwondo (The Korea Times)
by Shim Jae-yun
"Choue Chung-won, president of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), has expressed guarded optimism over whether the Korean martial art will retain its status as an Olympic sport for the 2012 Olympic Games and beyond. ‘We are doing our best and will patiently wait for the outcome with a humble mind.’"--Thanks to the TKD-Net Mailing List for providing this link. (Originally Published: 6/22/2005; Last DCTKD update: 6/22/2005)

IOC isn’t cutting sports just yet (SportsIllustrated.com)
Associated Press—"The 265-page review by the International Olympic Committee’s program commission lists facts and figures across a range of 33 criteria but offers no recommendations for adding or dropping any sport." This article includes summaries of the 28 Olympic sports and the five hopefuls. (Originally Published: 6/13/2005; Last DCTKD update: 6/18/2005)

Shrinking the Olympics? That’s Bunko (FresnoBee.com)
by John Branch
"Re-examining the Olympic program is a great idea. The problem is the IOC is taking the easy way, attacking the 28 [sport] figure, not the 301 [events] or the 10,500 [athletes]. It is allowing some questionable events to remain unchallenged while entire sports are in danger." (Originally Published: 6/8/2005; Last DCTKD update: 6/18/2005)

Is This an Olympic Sport? (SportsIllustrated.com)
The IOC is voting on whether to eliminate some events and add others -- a contentious first step toward freshening up the Games
by E.M. Swift
"Hosting the Olympics has become so gargantuan a task that cities and countries can go deep into hock to hold them; IOC president Jacques Rogge has long been concerned that the size and cost have made it impossible for smaller, poorer nations ever to host the Games." (Originally Published: 6/6/2005; Last DCTKD update: 6/22/2005)

Taekwondo Reform Picks Up Momentum (The Korea Times)
By Cho Jin-seo
"‘We aim to apply the new scoring system using electronic sensors to the taekwondo competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,’ WTF President Choue Chung-won told The Korea Times." (Originally Published: 6/6/2005; Last DCTKD update: 6/18/2005)

IOC Vice President Dismisses Privilege for Taekwondo (The Korea Times)
by Kim Hyun-cheol
"It is not completely certain that taekwondo will always be an official Olympic sport, according to Gunilla Lindberg, the secretary general of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), also an IOC vice president." (Originally Published: 5/31/2005; Last DCTKD update: 6/18/2005)

Taekwondo

2005 IOC Vote