Taekwondo

cctv.com 07-28-2004 09:41

Taekwondo is a defensive martial art that combines philosophy, mental discipline, physical exercise, and physical ability. It promotes a wide range of principles:

1.Self-defence (i.e. the apprentice鈥檚 ability to defend oneself against any form of violence;

2.Good physical condition;

3.Self-confidence, respect, and justice;

4.Good health, regardless of age, gender or physique;

5.Olympic-level competition Taekwondo today is considered one of the finest self-defence martial arts, and is practised at championship level in more than 150 countries.

In Taekwondo, the competitor tries to score the most points. If a competitor incurs three penalties then his or her opponent wins the match.

ATHENS 2004 Taekwondo

The Olympic Taekwondo competition will be held from 26 to 29 August (Days 13-16) at the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex, Sports Pavilion, which has a seating capacity for approximately 8,000 spectators.

Every day there will be men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 Taekwondo matches in each of the weight categories, starting with the lightest categories and ending with the heaviest.

There will be a total of 124 competitors, from five continents, taking part at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Greece, as host country, will be represented by two men and two women athletes.

History

The origins of Taekwondo, which go back two thousand years, lie in Korea. During its history, this sport has been known by various names, like Taekyon or Subak. Its official name nowadays, Taekwondo, was announced in 1955; a year later, the first championships were held. The Korean Taekwondo Federation was founded in 1965, and the World Taekwondo Federation was founded in 1973. During the same year the first World Championship took place.

1980 was an important year for the sport, since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) acknowledged Taekwondo as an Olympic sport. It was included as a display event in two successive Olympic Games: in Seoul (1988) and Barcelona (1992). Taekwondo was included on the Olympic Games competition schedule for the first time at the Sydney Games in 2000.

Taekwondo first appeared in Greece in 1968, with Stamatis Kassis as its first Instructor. From 1979 to 1987 it remained under the auspices of SEGAS, the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics. In 1987, the Greek Taekwondo Federation (ELOT) was established, and today, in collaboration with three regional and twelve local affiliate bodies, ELOT is responsible for the advancement of the sport. ELOT has some four hundred registered Taekwondo clubs and over 35,000 members. Every year ELOT stages preliminary, inter-club, regional and national championships, as well as a large number of single-day events for all ages and both gender groups. It has also successfully staged three Balkan, four European and two World Championships.

Source:The official website of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games

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