TAEKWONDO HAS been given a massive boost in its bid for success on the world stage and increased popularity at home, becoming the latest sport to benefit from UK Sport’s World Class Performance Programme.
Taekwondo - a martial art, derived from unarmed self-defence by hand and foot - will benefit to the tune of some £360,000 over a three-year period which will see customised support programmes developed for the British players – like current world champion Sarah Stevenson - considered to have realistic chances of success at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.
Those on the programme will also benefit from personal awards designed to assist with their living and travel costs together with their additional sporting needs, enabling them to prepare for major competition in the best way possible.
"Although a comparative newcomer to the Olympic stage, Taekwondo has an exciting future and a talented pool of athletes within the UK," said Richard Callicott, UK Sport’s Chief Executive.
"UK Sport’s job is to support sporting excellence and our Lottery award to Taekwondo demonstrates our belief that it can deliver just that on the world’s biggest sporting stages."
THE AWARD WAS made to the British Taekwondo Council (BTC), which is the Sports Councils’ recognised governing body for the sport in Britain, and will be administered by the British Taekwondo Control Board (BTCB), responsible for World Taekwondo Federation and Olympic matters within the BTC.
"This award marks the arrival of Taekwondo into mainstream sport within the UK," said Kevin Hornsey, Chairman of the BTCB. "I am delighted for the athletes who will benefit directly and for the sport of Taekwondo as a whole. It is now up to us to deliver what we have always believed we can - Olympic medals."
Hornsey’s enthusiasm was echoed by Gary Hall, Chairman of the performance area of WTF (Olympic) Taekwondo – Sport Taekwondo UK.
"This is indeed a landmark day for all practitioners of our exciting sport," he said. "This will allow our most talented athletes to compete on a level playing field with our international counterparts and will provide the avenue for anyone that has real talent to be the best in the world.
"This initial and most important phase of Lottery funding will open other opportunities to potential and grass roots development programmes, but our elite players need to deliver to their true potential to ensure that the Great Britain Taekwondo team secures a place among the best in the world - a goal we must all work towards."
The award to the sport has only been possible due to passionate commitment from a number of people and institutions and thanks must be given to all involved, not just the BTC and BTCB, but also the British Olympic Association, Loughborough University and Sport Taekwondo UK.