The 2019 World Taekwondo General Assembly centred on governance reform ©World Taekwondo

The 2019 World Taekwondo General Assembly focused on updating the delegates in Manchester's Vermillion on the reforms taking place to improve the governance of the federation.

Particular emphasis was put on the new World Taekwondo safeguarding policy, which is in development and will be finalised towards the end of the year. 

International Olympic Committee (IOC) consultants on athlete safeguarding and gender equality, Susan Greinig and Kirsty Burrows, informed the delegates on the importance of the policy.

A number of safeguarding measures are already taking place at this week's World Championships, with a safeguarding officer and reporting process in place and the provision of educational materials on the subject. 

Delegates were also updated on the federation's sustainability strategy, which is under development. 

The strategy will aim to achieve sustainable events in a clear and transparent governance framework.

World Taekwondo hopes its reforms will improve its score at the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) governance review later this year.

IOC consultants on athlete safeguarding and gender equality, Susan Greinig and Kirsty Burrows, informed the delegates on the importance of a safeguarding policy ©World Taekwondo
IOC consultants on athlete safeguarding and gender equality, Susan Greinig and Kirsty Burrows, informed the delegates on the importance of a safeguarding policy ©World Taekwondo

“We have been very open about our commitment to implementing the highest standards of good governance," said World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won.

"We have made good progress and that was shown in the big improvement in our scoring between the first and second ASOIF governance review, but we recognise we have more to do. 

"We want to go beyond just what is required and instead establish World Taekwondo as a leading International Federation. 

"As the global governing body, we have a responsibility to set the standards we expect our member national federations to follow but we also want to equip them with the tools to implement the same standards at national level."

An update was provided on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games by the Organising Committee.

The Olympic taekwondo competition will be held from July 25 to July 28, while the Paralympic taekwondo competition will be from September 3 to 5.

The next World Taekwondo General Assembly will take place at the 2020 World Junior Taekwondo Championships in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. 

Tomorrow the 2019 World Taekwondo Championships begin at Manchester Arena.