[Interview] World Taekwondo Federation(WTF) Jeong Won Jo, The President of WTF

▲ 2014. 1 . 13 . World Taekwondo Federation Technical Committee working group workshop

Workshop practice group of the Technical Committee of the WTF ( World Taekwondo Federation ) was held on the 13th , is located in North Jeolla Province, Muju , the Holy Land of the whole world in Taekwondo ” Taekwondo One” .

In the workshop of the day , including President Jeong Won Jo ,Kook Hyun CHUNG ( WTF Council Member), Chakir CHELBAT ( WTF Referee Committe Chairman),Bruce HARRIS ( CEO of U.S.A Taekwondo),Jean-Marie AYER ( WTF Secretary General), Jin Bang YANG( WTF Technical Committee Chairman),Gerry HALL( Performance Director of GB Taekwondo),Jaewook LEE ( Director of WTF Sport Department),Kisam KIM( Deputy Manager of WTF Sport Department),Olof HANSSON ( Deputy Manager of WTF Sport Department),Marco IENNA( Staff of WTF Spor Department),Philippe BOUEDO ( WTF Games Committee Chairman),after visiting the Taekwondowon, such as Foundation president participated , declined to opened on April 24 , was the discussion of the development scheme and change for Taekwondo spread .

Break time of the Work shop , It could go a short interview of 10 minutes with Jeong Won Jo, WTF president .

▲ he’s listening to practitioners

- I think that You worried about and had many problems Taekwondo if it remain in the Olympic sport last year , but I want to hear the feelings of that time .

* Press Note – February last year , was listed in exit events in Executive Committee IOC (International Olympic Committee ) , but until confirmed by the General Assembly of September that survived the end of the vote , was also the voice of concern . The International Olympic Committee meeting was in September 2013 , Taekwondo was adopted to determine the official event of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 .
When the results came out , I had the word lightly events many people the only remaining has remained , but to protect the Olympic sport of taekwondo fact , many people did the effort . I play an active part in all the world I think Tae Kwon Do people who have had trouble many , and Tae Kwon Do people in the country it was terrible worry most especially .

In addition, the World Taekwondo Federation to prevent inferior to international news Taekwondo related in the front line , and also collect some materials , we have to close the consultation and active cooperation . Just to be changed in order to continue to Taekwondo Olympic sport , and includes all such It should be also , it was the past two years .

As you know , I thought to have played a role in the most practical for the success of the London Olympics defend taekwondo , made ​​possible by it was a cooperation of the people of taekwondo . Taekwondo will of people all over the world are collected and seat that can swap stories with everyone happy all was that we were successful protect taekwondo . ”

▲ Jo Jeong Won WTF President is listening to Property Description from Taekwondowon observatory(He placed in the middle of them)

- Korea is divided nation the world’s only . There is a way to be able to have divided the WTF ( World Taekwondo Federation ), ITF (International Taekwondo Federation ) to Taekwondo be separated , but co-exist with each other ?
“It is to acknowledge the substance of each other . Can not be ignored either . WTF also is a sport an international organization in charge of exclusively Taekwondo is an Olympic sport , how to co-exist , martial arts Taekwondo ITF especially because it is a bar that you’re feeling together , the future , it is an international organization that was introduced to the world than WTF rather the . leaving the North-South problem , as an international Taekwondo a single mechanism , a joining of forces is required , the I think there will be any day in cooperation with each other in terms like , we introduce the roots of taekwondo and also was one , TaeKwonDo that one . ”

- You have selected Jin Bang Yang, World Taekwondo Federation technical committee chairman this time but why?
It was I would like to introduce to me If anyone better than the people but Yang chairman of both the camp only you hear about many far and wide in variety regarding Taekwondo when ( laughs) I see , the international sensation I think it is is not many . I think for that , as technology chairman , in consultation with the World Taekwondo people , and take the initiative to fully reform and change of taekwondo much over the next two years . ”

▲ president Jo which enters the chat (right) and chairman Yang of the WTF technical committee ( left )

- Taekwondo World Peace Foundation president service also has folded concurrently , please brief introduction to the activities of the foundation .
From . 2008 winter break has been introduced the Peace Corps of taekwondo world first in the 2008 year-end , targeting taekwondo developing countries that require education of Taekwondo to the selection to center the students of taekwondo department of South Korea , and this I was sent the peace Corps in many countries to .

It has obtained the results of the very successful development of the UN Sport , Peace Secretariat (UNOSDP · United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace) is , has a very much appreciated on the outcomes of our particular . For performance of Taekwondo Peace Corps , I heard a lot of talk that be nice anyone to praise , when there is more opportunities in seminars in the past that have been made in the raw Petersburg .

In addition , particularly in Africa , in the region Central and South America , Middle East , and Southwest Asia , for emerging economies that about to start a taekwondo often , when the rest of the summer and winter , and guidance of Taekwondo by the dispatch taekwondo peace service team in these countries and is working into the sink while also supports taekwondo supplies , and to develop together a Taekwondo also, education .

Currently, there are 205 member countries of the rooms in the World Taekwondo Federation . Of course , there is also a country with a margin economically , some countries do not. In addition , some countries have been introduced this year is taekwondo , countries that have not been introduced yet there are also many . There is no state such countries of 205 countries joined the federation simply the end, to establish itself as Olympic sport both in name and reality really foot is enlarged by Taekwondo is more effective in the area you think you can . ”

▲ President Jo always has busy schedule

- If you look at the history of the president , but also established a Taekwondo department of the University ‘s first Kyung Hee University , and have caused new video interpretation , electronic protective gear , such as the introduction of the differential point system , to the development of Taekwondo were . Such ideas will come from where they come out .
It was called a place World Taekwondo Federation President, I don’t Think as the simple place , and it place to serve for the development of Taekwondo , Taekwondo is must establish itself as a Olympic sport in objectivity.

Wrestling is not it ended up in danger of major Olympic brand exit in February last year ? Why is it though it is a sport I walked with the history of the Olympic wrestling what ? I think it’s because It did not change . Taekwondo martial arts should not be changed , but the Olympic sport Taekwondo and development continues to change to match the flow of the times need to game system from uniform .

* Note reporter – wrestling is performed as one of the pentathlon at the ancient Olympic Games , it is a historic event , which was adopted in official event since the first tournament of the modern Olympic Games . And reached the exit crisis in February last year , are excluded from important events in the Executive Committee meeting IOC (International Olympic Committee ) , but the miracle and has been adopted again in official event of the Olympic Games of 2020 in the General Assembly in September were .

Then , the most important thing in the game of Taekwondo What ? It is the fairness of the trial . I introduced video replay for it , the electronics registration system  .  some people of  Tae Kwon Do that watched such a change has or a voice that , is not it? Taekwondo no more than this .

However , there is no changing of the martial arts Taekwondo it . Olympic Sport Taekwondo changes . To it or even talking about many people ” and ” do not go been commercialized too also , but the other hand , I look term commercialization is wrong . Is popularization .

▲ He said that Taekwondo is needed to change and evolve as Sports

Will it be able to sport that has not been subject to interest from the masses , survive as Olympic sport really ? There is no . So , must change . For example, You must be a game that I want to buy tickets in their own money really . Are You in that it saw competition Taekwondo competition is fully booked sometime , went to buy a table to Jumonitodon of yourself

However , the part mentioned before after the success of the London Olympics has become a reality . The sport of Taekwondo In this sense , in order to be reborn in the sport loved by the masses , and you want to be changed at all times exactly . In addition , the process is required .

Was to be a four requests in the direction in such technical committee of this time , it was offered to show the blank . In addition to the white paper , you can Draw . It was a thank three nights and four days , and I want you to make an effort in the direction to be because it is popularized Taekwondo is loved by more and more people expert , because an expert is everyone just . ”

▲ Jeong Won Jo, WTF President has presided over a meeting of officials in the workshop of WTF.

There are any messages that want to tell 80 million world Taekwondo people -205 countries ?
Taekwondo another  is positioned as Olympic sport both in name and reality . Course, is loved by the masses , that the receiving sport remains as Olympic sport firmly in 205 countries . Olympic sport taekwondo would not have been loved more in order to be able to take root , a lot of people looking for health through Taekwondo , to learn the philosophy of Taekwondo our hidden in it , remain in the sportsman to be respected more , world Taekwondo Federation will change much it is a thing . thank you please join in even if you change me to watch . ”

Jo president expressly stated to be ” to have repeated change and evolution ” and in 2014 , seeking the transformation of sport Taekwondo . Future trends of his are working to spread of Taekwondo through a new attempt another octagonal stadium , black mat , lodging primary colors , such as electronic headgear is expected more and more .

On the other hand , starting with the 13th , workshop practice group of the Technical Committee of the WTF ( World Taekwondo Federation ) is continued from taekwondo yen up to 15 days .

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