in their respective universities in the near future.

As recently as in early June 2006, it was reported that a province in China would make taekwondo a compulsory subject at elementary school, which would greatly help enhance the popularity of taekwondo in the world’s most populated country.

“It is a very encouraging sign for the future of taekwondo and we are closely cooperating with those countries in establishing a taekwondo major,” said WTF President Chungwon Choue.

In Korea, there are currently 20 four-year universities and 16 two-year colleges with taekwondo majors.

According to the press release of Concordia University on May 18, 2006, the new Taekwondo major will be considered as one of the Exercise and Sports Sciences, where students will be taught taekwondo science and theory, taekwondo dojang, or school, management and taekwondo business. The selection of the first batch of freshmen will start from Aug. 26, 2006.

“I am heartened that Concordia University is demonstrating great vision for the future by investing in this new emphasis in taekwondo. I believe that the exciting collaboration between the World Taekwondo Federation and Concordia University in supporting this new emphasis would greatly enhance the lives of your students,” said WTF President Choue.

Students are required to accomplish the following compulsory courses, among others, sports science, biology, taekwondo, sport management and marketing, dojang management, according to the school.

Theoretical and practical courses will be given by Prof. Chang-jin Kang, an Irvine citizen who owns a taekwondo school. With a 9th Kukkiwon Dan and 48 years of experience in taekwondo practice and lecturing, Prof. Kang played a key role in establishing the taekwondo major at the university.

According to Prof. Kang, students who graduate from the course could be granted a 3rd or 4th Dan by the examination committee. He will also be in charge of international referee courses, exchange programs with taekwondo-majored Korean students, seminars and other activities related to this sport.

Concordia University Irvine is the first American university outside Korea where taekwondo will be lectured as a major.

France won the overall team title, followed by Morocco. Among the French players was Pascal Gentil, the bronze medalist of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

On May 5, WTF President Choue was invited to the royal palace by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of the Principality of Monaco. Prince Albert II serves as a member of the International Olympic Committee and president of the Monaco Olympic Committee.

“It is my firm belief that the Prince Albert II Cup will greatly help contribute to the dissemination and development of taekwondo in Monaco,” said Dr. Choue in his congratulatory speech during the opening ceremony.

Dr. Choue was supposed to attend the 3rd World Cup Francophone Taekwondo in Niger in November 2005.

He said,“In our endeavor to ensure fairness in judgment and refereeing at taekwondo competition, WTF will conduct more field tests and research for the successful development of electronic protectors.

He also expressed his appreciation to H.S.H. Prince Albert II for his efforts in making the biennial event a success. Prince Albert II is known for his love for sports.

Among the participants in the event, which dates back to the mid-1980s, were Mr. Jean Bernasconi, president of the Monaco Taekwondo Federation; Mr. Roger Piarulli, president of the French Taekwondo Federation and the World French-Speaking Countries Union of Taekwondo; and Dr. Paul Viscogliosi, honorary president of the World French-Speaking Countries Union of Taekwondo.

Also present were Mr. El Hadj Ide Issaka, president of the Niger Taekwondo Federation; Mr. Assane Ndoye, president of the Senegal Taekwondo Federation; Mr. Driss El Hilali, president the Morocco Taekwondo Federation; Ms. Christiane Laforest, president of the Quebek Taekwondo Federation; and Mr. Truong Ngoc De, secretary general of the Vietnam Taekwondo Association.

From the two regional unions of Asia and Europe in 1973, we now have three more regional partners in Africa, Asia and Oceania.

From its roots as a Korean martial art of self-defense, we have now evolved into a sport in the program of the Olympic Games. Such is our popularity and renaissance that taekwondo and the WTF are now primed to contribute in the further development of the sport and the global propagation of the Olympic Movement through the sport.

Our enhanced position in the international sports fraternity is credited to the abiding passion and endeavors of our taekwondo grandmasters, who took it upon themselves to expand their horizons and disseminate taekwondo worldwide. Their courage to embrace the unknown is admirable; their devotion to taekwondo inspirational.

I thank our founding grandmasters for their sacrifices for taekwondo, as well as for the future generations of practitioners of the sport. Henceforth, it is our responsibilities to ensure the global expansion and acceptance of the sport of taekwondo.

In addition, I wish to thank our friends from the International Olympic Committee, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, the General Association of International Sports Federations and other international sports federations for their astute guidance and kind support for our sport.

During the darkest hours of our reformation, we could count on them to stand by us and lead us by example, just as a beacon would shine the way home for many a lost ship.

The contributions of our global media partners and sponsors should not be overlooked, for their support and understanding through the years have been crucial, especially in the development of our solidarity programs.

I believe that the people who impact and are impacted by taekwondo are the mainstay of the sport. For this reason, I firmly believe that the passion of and sacrifices made by our athletes, coaches, international referees and officials for the sport have resulted in the worldwide enhancements to the technical standards of taekwondo.

Just as importantly, I believe that the relationship is mutual; that the philosophies of taekwondo have enriched their lives, and those of countless more. It is my hope that taekwondo and the WTF will continue to receive your kind support in the years to come.

Last, but not least, I wish to thank our executive council members, member national associations and secretariats for accepting and fulfilling their responsibilities over the past thirty three years. The task to develop and propagate taekwondo is never easy, and many a times their efforts have gone unnoticed.

Nonetheless, the popularity of taekwondo and the international standing of the WTF are only possible through the devoted members that make up the foundation of the sport and organization. It is for this reason, above all, that I thank each and every one of you.

It has been my distinct honor serving taekwondo and the World Taekwondo Federation.

The membership of the World Taekwondo Federation has increased to 181 as two nations have newly been accepted as provisional member national associations of WTF on May 19, 2006.

Pursuant to Article 4 of the Rules and Regulations of WTF, the two new members,

namely the Zambia Taekwondo Federation and the Sports Taekwondo Kiribati, will be provisional members until the official approval of their membership applications at the Executive Council Meeting and Extraordinary General Assembly of WTF to be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on July 24-25, 2006.

With the inclusion of the two provisional members, the number of member national associations within WTF stands at 181 across five regional unions. In this regard, the African Taekwondo Union has 40 member nations, while the Oceania Taekwondo Union has 11.

We, at WTF, congratulate and welcome the Zambia Taekwondo Federation and the Sports Taekwondo Kiribati into our global taekwondo family; together, for the betterment of taekwondo and WTF.

The fund-raising drive was aired live on the SBS special program “TV 24 with Hope” on Children’s Day of May 5, 2006, to support children with incurable diseases. Advocates of the fund-raising movement, including Moon, ran 100km for over a 24-hour period-without rest.

After the event, Prof. Moon met with SOSFO Chairman Park, who buoyed by the fund-raising event earlier on, commented that Moon "did a good job,” to which Moon replied, “I want to continue to help children with rare diseases.”

This is the momentum for the start of the fund-raising movement.

Moon said that he would do his utmost to create an environment whereby children could grow “without any discrimination” and children with rare diseases could receive free medical treatment. In addition, Moon felt that the Korean government could take initiatives on such ideals, but “the reality is the opposite.” As such, he felt that a fund-raising culture could help fill up the gap.

A growth in financial support is the most practical way of helping children who suffer from rare diseases, as costs for medical treatment could be more than 10 million won per month.

To further develop the fund-raising movement, Moon and SOSFO plans to launch new ideas, such as the “1 percent of salary donation,” where employees donate 1 percent of their monthly salaries to help the children; and to establish a mentor program for children with rare diseases, where business companies could participate in a “1 person for one child” support system.

Another strategy is to channel the focus on fund-raising through sports marketing, in which Moon plays a role. Moon intends to broadcast the fund-raising campaign and be an ambassador for public enterprises.

After two months of preparations, Moon plans to launch a non-profit foundation in the middle of August.

“For me as a non-marathon athlete, it is not an easy challenge to run 100km without rest. However, I could not stop running when I thought about those children struggling against incurable diseases,” said Moon.

“I am determined to continue helping children fighting against rare diseases and run a ‘marathon for hope’ through the fundraising movement.”

the mainstay was people who impact and are impacted by the sport.

In a recent interview, Mr. Likando Nangonde, vice president of the Zambia Taekwondo Federation, said his taekwondo governing body had decided to use the sport to integrate certain programs in the community to sensitize people about the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

"We feel we can play a role in the fight against HIV/AIDS by encouraging people to take up taekwondo not only for self-defense, but as a means of preoccupation so as to prevent people from indulging in vices that lead to promiscuous behavior," the official said.

He said his taekwondo body looked forward to working with the defense forces and promote sensitization, as the rate of HIV prevalence among them was high.

The official also called on the corporate world to invest in the development of the sport in Zambia.

"We call on the corporate world to take an active role and plough back into the community through sport," Mr. Nangonde said. " We need sponsorship in order to promote this sport despite us having all the high profile electronic equipment."

Zambia became a temporary member of the WTF in May 2006 and is to be a full member after approval at the WTF General Assembly in July this year in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on the occasion of the 6th WTF World Junior Taekwondo Championships. The federation is headed by Mr. Chenda K. Chilufya.

The Iranian team, which had already taken three golds, two silvers and one bronze, needed another medal to topple Korea in the 9th edition.

Hadi Afshar helped Iran steal the show as he advanced to the final showdown with a 3-1 victory over his Spanish rival.

Behzad Khodadad, Alireza Nasr-Azadani, and Mehdi Bibak won the three golds while Hamid Sar-Abadani and Mohammad Baqeri-Motamed snatched silver medals and Hamed Khameseh bagged bronze.

Fifty-six countries pitted taekwondo players at the prestigious university event.

Iran finished runner-up in the previous edition that was held in Greece in 2004.