IOC awards Olympic Cup to Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation

(c) IOC

IOC President praises THF's impact

The IOC President, Thomas Bach, presented the Olympic Cup to the THF President, Chungwon Choue, at a ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 15 November 2023. The Olympic Cup is an annual award that recognises institutions or associations that have rendered outstanding services to the Olympic cause.

In his speech, President Bach praised the THF for its contribution to the Olympic Movement's vision of building a better world through sport. He said: "The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation is a shining example of how sport can make a difference in the lives of people who have been forced to flee their homes and communities. Through taekwondo, you are giving them hope, dignity and joy. You are also promoting the values of Olympism, such as respect, friendship and solidarity."

THF empowers refugees through taekwondo

The THF was established in 2016 by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) as a non-profit organisation that aims to teach taekwondo and deliver humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced persons around the world. The THF operates projects in countries such as Jordan, Turkey, Rwanda, Djibouti and Nepal, where it provides taekwondo training, education and equipment to thousands of refugees, especially children and women.

The THF also supports the development of refugee athletes who aspire to compete at the Olympic Games. One of them is Wael Fawaz Al-Farraj, a Syrian refugee who lives in Jordan and trains at the THF's Azraq Taekwondo Academy. He was part of the IOC Refugee Athlete Scholarship programme and qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where he competed in the men's -58kg category.

THF President expresses gratitude to IOC

The THF President, Chungwon Choue, expressed his gratitude to the IOC for the recognition and support. He said: "It is a great honour and privilege to receive the Olympic Cup on behalf of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation. I would like to thank President Bach and the IOC for their continuous encouragement and generosity. Without them, we would not have been able to achieve what we have done so far."

He added: "The THF is not only about teaching taekwondo skills, but also about empowering refugees to overcome their challenges and pursue their dreams. We believe that sport can be a powerful tool for peace and social inclusion. We will continue to work with the IOC and other partners to spread the benefits of taekwondo and Olympism to more people in need."