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| World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won smiles during a video call ― from his office in Seoul ― with young athletes at the Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan, June 19. Courtesy of World Taekwondo |
By Jung Min-ho
World Taekwondo (WT) President Choue Chung-won celebrated World Refugee Day (June 20) with young refugee athletes, whom he called "an inspiration" to everyone who loves the sport.
During a video call on June 19, Choue said he would support Syrian refugees at the Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan and their dreams of competing in the Olympics one day, according to the global governing body of the sport.
"Even in these most difficult of circumstances they have continued to train and stay positive and it is my hope that they will be able to reach an Olympic Games one day," he said. "I was very inspired by their cheerfulness and passion for taekwondo.
"It is easy to see just how much joy and hope taekwondo brings them. World Refugee Day is important in raising awareness of the plight of refugees around the world. By providing them with access to support, we can have a positive impact on their lives."
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| A screen shows athletes performing during a video call between World Taekwondo officials and the athletes. Courtesy of World Taekwondo |
Wael Fawaz Al-Farraj, refugee and recipient of Olympic Solidarity scholarship, was one of 10 athletes who spoke with WT officials that day.
"My dream is to participate in the Olympic Games and I will train very much until I reach this goal," he said. "I want to have my name in front of the world. It will be a good thing for all the refugees if I can reach the Olympic Games and I will support all refugees.
"I want to thank Dr. Choue, Mr. Hazem Naimat (WT Council Member) and the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) for all your support and our coach for his training."
Wael was among the first refugees who found their dreams in the sport, said WT Council member Maher Magableh.
"Wael was walking around and saw us moving taekwondo mats and he helped us move them," Magableh said. "Afterwards he asked what it was for and we said it was for taekwondo and he asked what taekwondo is.
"The next day he registered and he was one of the first players in the camp and he's the first to get the black belt and now he's training to try for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games next year."
In an effort to reach more refugees, the THF recently launched a fundraising campaign to build a Humanitarian Taekwondo Center near the Mahama Camp Rwanda. The country hosts nearly 150,000 refugees, many of whom are teenagers or younger, according to WT.
The center will promote social inclusion and courtesy through taekwondo education. Those who wish to help can make donations here.
