hankyoreh

By Lee Kil-woo, sports correspondent

A plan is currently being discussed to allow North Korean taekwondo athletes to compete in the Olympics.

“We are currently in close deliberations with related organizations to clear the way so that North Korean athletes can compete in taekwondo at the Olympics,” said Choue Chung-won, president of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), at a press conference held at the Press Center in central Seoul on Sept. 25.

At present, only athletes who are part of the WTF, the international organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are allowed to compete in the Olympics. As a result, athletes who are associated with the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), which has a special relationship with North Korea, have been blocked from taking part.

“The WTF and the ITF are currently in discussions about the possibility of allowing athletes from one organization to compete in tournaments organized by the other,” Choue said. “Various bureaucratic procedures remain to be completed, but a final decision will be made as early as the first half of 2014.”

Choue explained that he had already met with Chang Ung, ITF president and North Korea IOC member, on several occasions. At these meetings, Choue said, the two agreed to allow athletes to participate in the other organization’s competitions provided that they followed the rules and procedures of that organization and discussed the specific ways that this could be accomplished.

“We are currently talking about meeting again as early as next month at the World Combat Games in St. Petersburg, Russia,” said Choue. “The first thing to do is to sign a memorandum of understanding [MOU].”

Once they sign the MOU, the two organizations plan to satisfy procedural requirements, which include receiving the approval of their respective executive committees and general assemblies. After that, they hope to deliberate with the IOC to bring the issue to a conclusion during the first half of 2014.

As soon as an agreement is reached, the ITF will make it possible for North Korean taekwondo athletes to compete in the World Taekwondo Championship in 2015. These athletes would then be able to take part in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The ITF was established in 1966 in Seoul under the leadership of Choi Hong-hi, a general in the army, seven years before the WTF. However, after Choi fled to Canada because of a dispute with the Park Chung-hee regime, his organization developed close ties with North Korea.

“While it is unlikely that the two organizations could merge, it is possible for athletic exchange to take place between them,” Choue said.

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