Taekwondo at the Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
Taekwondo
made its first appearance at the Summer Olympic Games
as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
, South Korea
. The opening ceremony featured a mass demonstration of taekwondo with hundreds of adults and children performing moves in unison. Taekwondo was again a demonstration sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
, Spain
. There were no demonstration sports at the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, USA. Taekwondo became a full medal sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
, Australia
, and has been a sport in the Olympic games since then.
(AAU). One of the AAU's primary roles is to establish standards for various sports nation-wide. The World Taekwondo Federation
's technical standards were adopted by the AAU Taekwondo group.
In 1975, taekwondo became an affiliate of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). The GAISF promotes cooperation among various international sports federations and works closely with the Olympics movement. Five years later, in 1980, the WTF was granted recognition by the IOC. The following year, taekwondo was one of the primary events in the World Games
, an international competition specifically for non-Olympic events. In 1982, taekwondo was designated an official demonstration sport for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea
, and for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain
.
In 1986 and 1987, taekwondo was included in the following international sporting events: World Cup (1986), Asian Games
(1986), All-Africa Games
(1986), and the Pan American Games
(1987). In 1994, the IOC adopted taekwondo as an official Olympic sport for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia
.
competition will occur for the bronze medal contest, while the winner of the tournament will receive the gold medal, and the loser will receive the silver medal. Anyone who loses in the single elimination competition enters the repechage. "In the repechage, the losers of the semifinals during the elimination phase will be seeded directly to each of repechage finals, but on the opposite side of the bracket. Other losers will advance to the repechage unseeded, at the same side of the bracket in which they contested during the elimination phase." The two finalists of the repechage will receive bronze medals. . A National Olympic Committee may only send a maximum of two men and two women competitors, without regard whether it is the host nation.
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
made its first appearance at the Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. The opening ceremony featured a mass demonstration of taekwondo with hundreds of adults and children performing moves in unison. Taekwondo was again a demonstration sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. There were no demonstration sports at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, USA. Taekwondo became a full medal sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and has been a sport in the Olympic games since then.
Background
The quest to bring taekwondo to the Olympics began in 1974 when taekwondo was admitted into the Amateur Athletic UnionAmateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(AAU). One of the AAU's primary roles is to establish standards for various sports nation-wide. The World Taekwondo Federation
World Taekwondo Federation
The World Taekwondo Federation is the International Federation member of the International Olympic Committee for the competition events of the martial art of taekwondo...
's technical standards were adopted by the AAU Taekwondo group.
In 1975, taekwondo became an affiliate of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). The GAISF promotes cooperation among various international sports federations and works closely with the Olympics movement. Five years later, in 1980, the WTF was granted recognition by the IOC. The following year, taekwondo was one of the primary events in the World Games
World Games
The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports, or disciplines or events within a sport, that are not contested in the Olympic Games...
, an international competition specifically for non-Olympic events. In 1982, taekwondo was designated an official demonstration sport for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea
Taekwondo at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Taekwondo was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. It was the first time that the sport was included in the Olympic program; it would become an official sport twelve years later at the 2000 Games....
, and for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain
Taekwondo at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Taekwondo was a demonstration sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. It was the second time that the sport was included in the Olympic program; it would become an official sport eight years later at the 2000 Games....
.
In 1986 and 1987, taekwondo was included in the following international sporting events: World Cup (1986), Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
(1986), All-Africa Games
All-Africa Games
The All-Africa Games, sometimes called the African Games or the Pan African Games, are a regional multi-sport event held every four years, organized by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa...
(1986), and the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
(1987). In 1994, the IOC adopted taekwondo as an official Olympic sport for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia
Taekwondo at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Taekwondo was contested as an official sport at the Olympic Games for the first time at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. It had previously been a demonstration sport in 1988 and 1992. Medals were awarded in four weight classes each for men and women...
.
Olympic Competition Format
For Olympic competition, there will be a single elimination tournament for each of the weight categories. RepechageRepechage
Repechage is a practice amongst ladder competitions that allows participants that failed to meet qualifying standards by a small margin to continue to the next round.- Types of repechage :...
competition will occur for the bronze medal contest, while the winner of the tournament will receive the gold medal, and the loser will receive the silver medal. Anyone who loses in the single elimination competition enters the repechage. "In the repechage, the losers of the semifinals during the elimination phase will be seeded directly to each of repechage finals, but on the opposite side of the bracket. Other losers will advance to the repechage unseeded, at the same side of the bracket in which they contested during the elimination phase." The two finalists of the repechage will receive bronze medals. . A National Olympic Committee may only send a maximum of two men and two women competitors, without regard whether it is the host nation.
Events
Medals are awarded in four different weight classes for both men and women.| Event | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Flyweight | –58 kg | –49 kg |
| Lightweight | 58-68 kg | 49-57 kg |
| Middleweight | 68-80 kg | 57-67 kg |
| Heavyweight | +80 kg | +67 kg |
Medal table
| 1 |  South Korea |
9 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| 2 |  People's Republic of China |
4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 |  United States |
2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 |  Chinese Taipei |
2 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 |  Mexico |
2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 6 |  Iran |
2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 7 |  Greece |
1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 |  Cuba |
1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 |  Australia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 |  Turkey |
0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 11 |  Norway |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 |  France |
0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 13 |  Canada |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Thailand |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 15 |  Dominican Republic |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Germany |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Italy |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Russia |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Spain |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Vietnam |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 21 |  Croatia |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 Venezuela |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 23 |  Afghanistan |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Brazil |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Egypt |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 United Kingdom |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Japan |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Kazakhstan |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Nigeria |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |