Based on a decision of the Ivorian court, the World Taekwondo and the African Union of Taekwondo decided to resume the electoral process. A decision that some players in the sports movement struggle to understand and explain.
By deciding to align itself with the court decision of the court of first instance, World Taekwondo is part of the wisdom of the DO (the art of living; the way of spirituality) and to give another chance to the Ivorian federation. of Taekwondo to definitely come out in this series of conflicts. Indeed, the world body of Taekwondo had begun to be exasperated by the intrusion of the Ivorian justice and the CNO-CIV in the affairs of Ivorian taekwondo.
A look back at the 2017 crisis in Ivorian Taekwondo
We remember that in 2017, the former president of the CNO-CIV had taken a decision to set up an ad ‘hoc committee at the Ivorian Taekwondo Federation. A committee chaired by Kouakou Lucien, vice-president of the CNO-CIV at the time. At the time, World Taekwondo was seized. In response, World Taekwondo had responded by sending Dr. Ide Issiaka, President of the African Taekwondo Union to convey World Taekwondo’s findings in this matter to the then Minister of Sports, Amichia François, to the President of the CNO-CIV , General Lassana Palenfo.
In these conclusions, World Taekwondo dismissed the CNO-CIV. Despite the good office missions organized by the late Ambassador Diané Mamadi, the CNO-CIV had refused to implement the World Taekwondo decision. The organization of passing grades, of competition in Bouaké, in Yopougon follows. These actions resulted in fights between Taekwondo Ins. The world body of Korean Martial Art did not accept the NOC-CIV’s refusal to apply these decisions. However, she decided to support the Federation led by Me Bamba Cheick Daniel.
World Taekwondo still bothered by a court decision
In 2021, after an election supervised and validated by World Taekwondo and African Taekwondo Union in October 2021, these two umbrella organizations feel annoyed that we are talking about the cancellation of the elective general assembly by the Ivorian justice.
Faced with this situation, a fringe of the World Taekwondo was for the sanctioning of the Ivorian Federation of Taekwondo. If this will of its leaders were applied, Côte d’Ivoire would have put a cross on the Paris Olympics in 2024. Clearly, the Ivorian Taekwondo Federation could no longer participate in the competitions of the world body.
Fortunately, another fringe of World Taekwondo was there to save Ivorian Taekwondo. Thus, in this process ofIvorian taekwondo rescue “, World Taekwondo has decided to align itself with the decision of the Ivorian justice while complying with the texts of the Federation. Just as in football, it is Fifa which decides on the standardization of federations, World Taekwondo has decided to set up a “transition” body led by the former steering committee of the Federation.
Justice may have considered that the statutes of the Federation have not been applied, but it cannot replace it, because of the autonomy of sports federations to set up a provisional administration.
Knowing how to seize this new chance
The World Taekwondo thus does a flower to the Ivorian justice by agreeing to apply its decision. However, it will be up to the African Union of Taekwondo to follow these new elections transparently. The African Taekwondo Union should, where appropriate, associate the NOC-CIV or the services of the Ministry of Sports. As a result, World Taekwondo has respected Ivorian taekwondo. This is well mentioned in his letter, indicating that the Ivory Coast is one of the jewels of world taekwondo. World Taekwondo respected what the President of the Republic did for Ivorian taekwondo.
It is now up to the entire taekwondo family to seize this opportunity, this windfall so that the elections are organized as soon as possible under the best conditions. In case of non-compliance with the decisions of World Taekwondo, the federation will be put under sanction. This opportunity offered by World Taekwondo must not be destroyed. Already, we must salute the posture of President Jean Marc Yacé. He agreed to go to this election. The other candidates or other players in taekwondo are expected in such a process. The steering committee held its first meeting on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the Ivoiro-Korean sports center. This meeting is synonymous with the start of the activities of the “transition” management committee.
Angel Kouadio
Resumption of the electoral process in Taekwondo: Understanding the decision of World Taekwondo