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| The World Taekwondo's demonstration team performs during the 'World Taekwondo Peace Festival' at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in Seoul, Nov. 22. Courtesy of World Taekwondo |
By Yoon Ja-young
A special event to instill pride in the world's 100 million taekwondo practitioners as guardians of peace was held in central Seoul, Nov. 22.
The "World Taekwondo Peace Festival," co-hosted by World Taekwondo (WT), the sport's global governing body, GCS International and the U.N. Association of Korea, was held at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum, Monday evening, to commemorate 2021, the "special year" for taekwondo. The Tokyo Olympics held this summer, after a one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marked the 20th anniversary since the introduction of taekwondo as an official Olympic sport while the year also marks the 40th anniversary of the U.N. International Day of Peace, which was first suggested by the late Choue Young-seek, the founder of Kyung Hee University and father of WT President Choue Chung-won. Taekwondo is recognized as a sport that has contributed significantly to the U.N. International Day of Peace, offering hopes and dreams to those who need them by opening doors for the vulnerable including refugees.
The two-hour peace festival kicked off with a 20-minute taekwondo performance by the WT demonstration team, which amazed people in the United States and beyond with their performances on NBC's "America's Got Talent" this year. Just as they did at the show, the athletes held a banner "Peace is More Precious than Triumph" at the end of the performance, which brought huge applause.
"Throughout the past 21 years, taekwondo has not only brought excitement to fans around the world; taekwondo has also created a pathway for refugees, displaced persons and the underprivileged to fulfil their sporting dreams. In Tokyo, we had four taekwondo refugee athletes competing for the very first time in the Olympic and Paralympic Games," the WT president said in his opening remarks.
"Taekwondo is a sport that gives hope to those who dream of being champions. In total, we have 42 countries that have medaled in taekwondo at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, making it one of the fairest sports in terms of medal distribution."
Also present at the event were ambassadors and delegates from 16 of the 42 countries, including Azerbaijan Ambassador to Korea Ramzi Teymurov, Mexican Ambassador Bruno Figueroa Fischer, Peruvian Ambassador Daul Jesus Enrique Matute Mejia, Croatian Ambassador Damir Kusen, Guatemalan Ambassador Marco Tulio Chicas Sosa and Kenyan Ambassador Mwende Mwinzi.
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| World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won makes an opening speech at the 'World Taekwondo Peace Festival.' Courtesy of World Taekwondo |
In a congratulatory speech, former U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recalled the establishment of the U.N. International Day of Peace. He said he remembers the late Choue Young-seek, whom he met while serving at Korea's foreign ministry, as a man of vision and insight. It was the late Choue who first proposed the introduction of the peace day at the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) meeting in 1981, which Costa Rica submitted to the U.N. General Assembly on the IAUP's behalf.
Ban said he believes that sports can help further peace, human rights and the development goals of the U.N.
"Sports is a language that everyone can speak, and one that can enhance unity and harmony among peoples, communities and nations," Ban said.
Lee Ho-jin, acting president of the U.N. Association of Korea, said in congratulatory remarks that the day of peace should be more meaningful and more widely celebrated by Koreans who live in a fragile peace on the Korean Peninsula.
"The International Day of Peace is a time for reflection ― a day that can be dedicated to non-violence, ceasefires, the common well-being or whatever we can do for sustained peace among nations. Global peace starts from what we hold in our hearts and minds and will prevail by renewing our commitment to peace around us," he said.
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| Former U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gives a congratulatory speech at the 'World Taekwondo Peace Festival.' Courtesy of World Taekwondo |
In a congratulatory video message, IOC President Thomas Bach thanked the WT for organizing the event that celebrates sports, peace and solidarity.
"Peace, this was also central to the thinking of the founder of the International Olympic Committee, Pierre de Coubertin. When he revived the Olympic Games 127 years ago, he saw them as a way to promote peace among nations and people. This peace mission continues to be the heart of the Olympic Games," he said.
The event included a peace concert, featuring songs by mezzo-soprano Paik Nam-ok, a traditional music performance by Yoo Kyung-hwa, and performances by Korean Soul as well as Jazz Quartet comprising professors of the Postmodern Music Department of Kyung Hee University. Pop-fusion band Leenalchi heated up the atmosphere, followed by the Korean Adopted Children Choir.
