World Taekwondo's World Championships are here

[DWx]

The 2017 World Taekwondo's World Championships in Muju, South Korea, has kicked off with a demonstration by the WTF demonstration team, and in a historic first, the ITF North Korean demonstration team.

The WTF demonstration begins at 55 seconds in, and the ITF demo at 1.30

This is a historic moment with dignitaries from the ITF in attendance. The ITF demo team also performed alongside the WTF team at the last world championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2015 but this is the first time the North Korean team has performed in South Korea.

The hope is that the WTF team will visit the ITF World Championships which will be held in September in Pyongyang, North Korea.

I think its even more important to foster these relationships given current tensions in the region and this is summed up well by Master Vitale (ITF)

"Taekwondo is after all, Korea's greatest gift to the world and has become the most popular martial art that has received Olympic sport status.

"While both the ITF and WTF are independent international registered organisations, the two Governments of Korea, support different federations.

"While the long history of animosity and the federations having a different focus, led to competition among, instead of cooperation between the rival groups, the last several years have seen an unprecedented spirit of cooperation.

"The political situation has at times hampered efforts to work together.

"But this news highlights how taekwondo can and does play an important role in 'building a more peaceful world'."

http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1050572/north-korean-led-demonstration-team-to-appear-at-wtf-world-championships-in-muju

Are there any matches or fighters you are looking forward to this championship?

Live coverage is available from World Taekwondo's YouTube pages:

[Alan Armstrong]

The 2017 World Taekwondo's World Championships in Muju, South Korea, has kicked off with a demonstration by the WTF demonstration team, and in a historic first, the ITF North Korean demonstration team.

The WTF demonstration begins at 55 seconds in, and the ITF demo at 1.30

This is a historic moment with dignitaries from the ITF in attendance. The ITF demo team also performed alongside the WTF team at the last world championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2015 but this is the first time the North Korean team has performed in South Korea.

The hope is that the WTF team will visit the ITF World Championships which will be held in September in Pyongyang, North Korea.

I think its even more important to foster these relationships given current tensions in the region and this is summed up well by Master Vitale (ITF)

"Taekwondo is after all, Korea's greatest gift to the world and has become the most popular martial art that has received Olympic sport status.

"While both the ITF and WTF are independent international registered organisations, the two Governments of Korea, support different federations.

"While the long history of animosity and the federations having a different focus, led to competition among, instead of cooperation between the rival groups, the last several years have seen an unprecedented spirit of cooperation.

"The political situation has at times hampered efforts to work together.

"But this news highlights how taekwondo can and does play an important role in 'building a more peaceful world'."

http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1050572/north-korean-led-demonstration-team-to-appear-at-wtf-world-championships-in-muju

Are there any matches or fighters you are looking forward to this championship?

Live coverage is available from World Taekwondo's YouTube pages:

Thanks for sharing the links DWx.

It is showing in my part of the world at about 2:AM so it is difficult to catch alot of it, so the links will come in very handy later on to see them properly.

[bushido_man96]

Thanks for sharing this, Danielle! I think I'll be spending some time viewing these links!