World Taekwondo President to QNA: Qatar Capable of Hosting 2036 Summer Olympics

Doha: Dr. Chungwon Choue, who serves as President of World Taekwondo and Chairman of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, confirmed the State of Qatar's strong capability to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games, following its success and distinction in hosting major sporting events. In an interview with Qatar News Agency , Dr. Choue said that the State of Qatar has great expertise in hosting major events, especially the Asian Games, which it hosted in 2006, and the FIFA World Cup 2022. He said that his first visit to Qatar came in 2006 to attend the Asian Games, and added that he was impressed by the excellent organization. The games were highly successful by all standards. He also said that Qatar delivered an outstanding and exceptional edition of the FIFA World Cup 2022, noting that it was widely praised. President of World Taekwondo said that anyone capable of hosting such events can also host the Olympics, one of the world's most significant sporting events. Dr. Choue pointed out that most of the tourn aments organized by the State of Qatar were exceptional and achieved tremendous success on all levels, expressing his hope that taekwondo will further develop in Qatar through the organization of major international competitions. He explained that hosting one of the World Taekwondo Championships or the World Taekwondo Grand-Prix would not be difficult for Qatar. He highlighted the significant development of the Qatar International Taekwondo Championship in terms of the number of participants, with the current edition featuring around 1,400 athletes from various countries, saying that this will help the Qatar Taekwondo Federation gain more experience in organizing official World Taekwondo championships. The Chairman of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation emphasized that important international tournaments organized in the same country contribute to the development and spread of the sport in that nation, increasing the number of participants. He expressed his happiness with the significant development of ta ekwondo in the Middle East and GCC countries. He added that there were many important tournaments in the region, including the Fujairah International Open Taekwondo Championship, which will hold its 11th edition next year and is one of the major open tournaments globally. He also said that Saudi Arabia also organized the first-ever World Taekwondo Women's Open Championships, stressing that all these tournaments will encourage the development of taekwondo in the Middle East. Regarding the idea of establishing the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, which he currently chairs, Dr. Choue explained that the plight of refugees, particularly children, had a profound impact on him, prompting him to launch an initiative to support this segment. The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation was founded in 2016 and now operates in 13 countries, working to train children and assist refugees. He explained that the initiative began in Syrian refugee camps in Jordan, later expanding to Turkiye and Djibouti to serve Yemeni refugee s. Today, the foundation's activities span many countries around the world. Dr. Choue also expressed his pride and happiness in working with HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani to enhance cooperation and make sports a tool for positive social impact, focusing on supporting vulnerable communities and empowering refugees. Regarding the new rules for the sport, Dr. Choue noted that World Taekwondo has seen continuous development and new regulations that benefit the sport, the result of over a decade of effort. He said that starting next year, the international refereeing system will change to make the matches more interactive and exciting for the audience, making it easier for spectators to follow the scoring. In conclusion, Dr. Choue highlighted that the various categories of taekwondo (combat, Poomsae, and Para Taekwondo for persons with disabilities) have attracted significant interest and contributed to the sport's development and increased participation. In the Wo rld University Games, taekwondo has become the third-largest sport after athletics and swimming, with athletes achieving the most medals in these tournaments. He also emphasized that organizing World Para Taekwondo Championships for persons with disabilities began in 2009, and this discipline is now part of the Paralympics, with Para Taekwondo athletes participated in the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Source: Qatar News Agency