BANGKOK, Thailand (March 7, 2017) – An extraordinary WTF Council meeting was held at the InterContinental Hotel Bangkok in Thailand, today to decide on five host cities for the WTF’s major events.

The Council decided to grant Taipei City, Chinese Taipei, the right to host both the 2018 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships on November 15-18 and the 2018 World Taekwondo Grand-Prix Series 2 on September 20-22.

The Egyptian resort city of Sharm El Sheikh was selected as the host for the 2017 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships on August 23-27.

The Russian capital of Moscow won the right to host the 2017 World Taekwondo Grand-Prix Series 1 on August 4-6, and the 2017 World Taekwondo Grand-Prix Series 2 went to Moroccan city of Marrakech on September 22-24.

The Council approved a new logo design of the WTF and decided to unveil the new logo on the occasion of the 2017 WTF World Taekwondo Championships that will be held in Muju, Korea.

The Council members also unanimously approved French Guiana as the WTF’s new member, which requires the final approval of the General Assembly. After the addition of French Guiana, now, the WTF has 208 members national associations (MNA).

Ten Progress reports, including the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) & the World Taekwondo Cares Program, the 2020 Olympic event modification, and the WTF’s 4-year Strategic Plan 2021, were presented to Council members.

WTF President Chungwon Choue said in his welcome speech at the Council meeting, “ The World Junior Championships in Burnaby, Canada last November were our biggest World Junior Championships ever, and the quality of our young athletes was superb. So our sport has a very full talent pipeline.”

“ Also in Burnaby, we inaugurated the THF Challenge. Entitled ‘Break Boards, Change Lives,’ we have had great success with this and will continue this fund-raising activity at all major events. It is a great way to activate grassroots taekwondo,” he said. “ The big event this year will be, of course, the Muju World Taekwondo Championships. We expect to welcome more than 200 member national associations, and IOC President Thomas Bach will join us for the closing ceremony – another great endorsement of taekwondo.”

At the beginning of the Council meeting, WTF President Choue awarded a plaque of appreciation to Dr. Nat Indrapana, the International Olympic Committee member of Thailand, in recognition of his dedication to and support for taekwondo. Dr. Indrapana served as a vice president of the WTF from 1999 to 2009.

Mr. Pimol Srivikorn, president of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand, for his support for taekwondo and the WTF as a WTF Council member since 2012 also received an appreciation plaque.

Choue also congratulated Mr. Michael Fysentzidis, secretary general of the European Taekwondo Union, on being elected president of the International Olympic Academy. Mr. Fysentzidis attended the Council meeting as an observer.

The next WTF Council meeting will be held on June 22, 2017 in Muju, Korea on the occasion of the 2017 WTF World Taekwondo Championships.