OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION SYSTEM FOR BEIJING 2008

NOCs are required to confirm the entry of their athletes by no later than 15 February 2008.

NF/NOC entry in qualification events The maximum number of entries from an NF/NOC in qualification events may not exceed the number of available qualification places for the respective NF/NOC.

QUALIFICATION SYSTEM IN DETAIL

1. World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament

The first 3 placed athletes in the Olympic weight categories will qualify their NOC a place in the respective event.

ƒÜ 3 men (1st – 3rd) x four (4) weight categories:  12 men

Ć 3 women (1st Р3rd) x four (4) weight categories: 12 women

Total:        24 athletes

2. Continental Taekwondo Qualification Tournaments

48 men’s places and 48 women’s places will be allocated through Continental Taekwondo Unions. The respective Unions shall conduct continental qualification tournaments to allocate the number of qualification places specified in the table below.

ALLOCATION OF QUOTA BY CONTINENT

REGION	MEN	WOMEN	TOTAL
ASIA	3 per Wt. Category, i.e.,3x4=12	3 per Wt. Category, i.e.,3x4=12	24
Europe	3 per Wt. Category, i.e.,3x4=12	3 per Wt. Category, i.e.,3x4=12	24
Pan America	3 per Wt. Category, i.e.,3x4=12	3 per Wt. Category, i.e.,3x4=12	24
Africa	2 per Wt. Category, i.e.,2x4=8	2 per Wt. Category, i.e.,2x4=8	16
Oceania	1 per Wt. Category, i.e.,1x4=4	1 per Wt. Category, i.e.,1x4=4	08
		Total: 96 Athletes

3. Host Nation

The host nation shall not participate in any qualification tournament, as it shall be directly qualified in 2 weight categories for men and 2 weight categories for women.

Ć 1 man x 2 weight categories: 2 men

Ć 1 woman x 2 weight categories: 2 women

The host nation is required to inform the WTF and all member national associations of the weight categories that it wishes to participate in, no later than one month before the start of the World Qualification Tournament.

Total: 4 athletes

4. Tripartite Commission (IOC-ANOC-WTF) Invitation places

Four (4) Tripartite Commission Invitation places will be made available for nations that

have applied for weight categories other than those selected by the Host Nation.

The deadline for NOCs to submit their requests for Tripartite Invitation places is 15

November 2007. The allocation of Invitation places will be confirmed, in writing, to the

NOCs by July 2008.

Total: 4 athletes

QUALIFICATION TIMELINE

September 28-30, 2007:World Taekwondo Qualification

                                 Tournament to be conducted, Manchester,

                                              United Kingdom

15 November 2007       :Deadline for the submission of requests

                                  for Tripartite Commission Invitation

                                  places by all NOCs

November 2007 –

January 2008                :Continental Taekwondo

                                  Qualification Tournaments to be

                                  conducted

Ć November 1-2, 2007 :African Taekwondo Qualification

                                    Tournament, Tripoli, Libya

ƒÜ November 28 –

December 1,2007      :Asian Taekwondo Qualification

                               Tournament, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

ƒÜ December 8-9, 2007  :Pan-American Taekwondo Qualification

                                      Tournament, Cali, Colombia

ƒÜ December 1,2007      :Oceania Taekwondo Qualification

                                      Tournament, Noumea, New Caledonia

ƒÜ January 26-27,2008   :European Taekwondo Qualification

                                       Tournament, Istanbul, Turkey

Early February 2008          :WTF to confirm qualification places

                                       for NFs/NOCs

February 15, 2008            :Deadline for NOCs to inform the   WTF

                                       of their intention to use the acquired    

                                       quota places

March 2008 WTF              :to confirm the reallocation of unused

                                      quota places

July 2008                        :The Tripartite Commission will

                                      confirm, in writing, the allocation of

                                      Invitation places to the NOCs

23 July 2008                    :Deadline for Beijing 2008 Organising

                                      Committee to receive entry forms

                                      submitted by NOCs

DATES / PROCESS OF CONFIRMATION OF PLACES

The WTF shall confirm to NFs/NOCs the qualification places they have achieved within two weeks after the final qualification tournament, sometime in early February 2008.

By 15 February 2008, the respective NOCs must confirm to the WTF the use of qualification places achieved at the 2007 World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament and the Continental Taekwondo Qualification Tournaments. By 31 March 2008, the WTF hopes to confirm the reallocation of any unused places.

REALLOCATION OF UNUSED QUOTA POSITIONS

IF an NOC qualified through the World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament relinquishes a qualification slot, the place will be allocated to the NOC of the next highest placed athlete in the respective weight category.

If an NOC qualified through a Continental Taekwondo Qualification Tournament relinquishes a qualification slot, the place will be allocated to the NOC of the next highest placed athlete at this regional qualification tournament in the respective weight category.

If the host nation does not use the available qualification places, or the Tripartite Commission is not able to allocate the Invitation places, these places will be reallocated based on the results of the World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament.

World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) EVENTS

MEN	WOMEN
Under 58Kg (Not exceeding 58Kg)	Under 49Kg (Not exceeding 49Kg)
Under 68Kg (Over 58Kg & Not exceeding 68Kg)	Under 57Kg (Over 49Kg & Not Exceeding 57Kg)
Under 80Kg (Over 68Kg & Not exceeding 80Kg)	Under 67Kg (Over 57Kg & Not Exceeding 67Kg)
Over 80Kg	Over 67Kg

ATHLETE / NOC QUOTA

Athlete quota: 62 men & 62 women

4 places for Tripartite Commission Invitation athletes (attributed to the weight categories other than those selected by the host nation)

Total of 128 athletes (ideally 16 athletes per weight category)

Maximum per NOC: 2 men and 2 women, with a maximum of 1 athlete per weight category

QUALIFICATION SYSTEM

Attribution of qualification

Qualification is attributed to the respective NOC.

Minimum prerequisite for qualification

An athlete must possess an official Kukkiwon Dan certification.

An athlete must be recommended by its pertinent member national association in order to enter for the qualification tournaments.

Article 13 :Other Matters

Other Matters

Those matters not prescribed in the Procedure will be dealt with in accordance with the WTF Rules, WTF Competition Rules, Rules on Organization and Operation of International Taekwondo Championships, and a resolution of the WTF Council, when necessary.

Article 12 :Entry Procedures

Entry Procedure

National Associations that have qualified for the Olympic Games shall take necessary measures to liaise with the pertinent NOCs so that the entry of the qualified weight category (or categories) will be submitted to the OCOGs on time.

As for Late Replace Process, if an NOC requires an athlete replacement, the WTF will deliberate on such requests in consultation with the Sport Entries Team of OCOG, after taking into account of the established schedule and inevitability of substitution.

Article 11 :Fill-up Quota Procedure

Fill-up Quota Procedure

11.1 If a National Association that has qualified for the Olympic Games through the World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament relinquishes a  qualification slot, the WTF shall, at its own discretion, reallocate the relinquished slot on the basis of the IOC-ANOC-WTF Tripartite Commission Invitation System.

11.2 If a National Association that has qualified for the Olympic Games through a Continental Taekwondo Qualification Tournament relinquishes a qualification slot, the relinquished slot shall be allotted to the National Association next in line in the competition standings.

11.3   In the event of unavailability to allot the relinquished slot as prescribed in Article 11.2 of the Procedure, the WTF shall exercise its authority to allot the slot.

Article - 10

Doping Test

10.1 All provisions in the Anti-Doping Codes developed by the IOC,

       the WADA and        the WTF shall apply to the taekwondo

       competitions at the Olympic Games. Doping tests will be

       conducted at the world and continental taekwondo      qualification tournaments.

10.2 At the World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament,

       mandatory doping tests will be conducted on the top four

       ranked contestants of each weight category. Any contestant

       proven to have violated the Anti- Doping Codes shall be

       removed from the final standings and be deprived of

       qualification for the Olympic Games.

The next highest ranked contestant in the respective qualification tournaments will take over as the substitute contestant. If the substitute contestant is found to have violated the Anti-Doping Codes, the WTF Rules or the WTF Competition Rules, the next highest ranked contestant will be the new substitute contestant; and so forth.

10.3 For continental taekwondo qualification tournaments,

       mandatory doping tests will be conducted on:

(i)                        All quarterfinalists of each weight category at the Asian, European and Pan American qualification tournaments.

(ii)                     All semifinalists of each weight category at the African and Oceania  qualification tournaments.

Any contestant proven to have violated the Anti-Doping Codes shall be removed from the final standings and be deprived of qualification for the Olympic Games. The next highest ranked contestant in the respective qualification tournament will take over as the substitute contestant, provided that this contestant has not violated the Anti- Doping Codes or any provisions prescribed in the WTF Rules or the WTF Competition Rules.

10.4 The substitute contestants of the world taekwondo qualification tournament may participate in the same weight categories at the continental taekwondo qualification tournaments in the event that results of the doping tests have not been made known. In the event that the doping tests prove positive, he or she will take over as the substitute contestant of the world taekwondo qualification tournament.

In the event that the substitute contestant has already qualified for the Olympic Games at the Continental Taekwondo Qualification Tournament, the next highest ranked contestant in the competition  standings of the continental tournament shall qualify for the Olympic Games, provided that this contestant has not violated the Anti-Doping Codes or any provisions prescribed in the WTF Rules or the WTF Competition Rules.

10.5        In the Olympic Games, if a gold medalist is disqualified after having violated the Anti-Doping Codes, the contestant shall be removed from the final standings. The silver medalist will move up the final standings and be awarded the gold medal. There will be no further changes to the final standings.

If any other medalist other than the gold medalist is disqualified, there

will not be any changes to the final standings.

Article - 9

Criteria for Quota Allocation for the Olympic Games

9.1 The WTF shall conduct world and continental taekwondo

      qualification tournaments to determine the distribution of

      athlete quota allotted to the WTF.

9.2 For all editions of the Olympic Games, a country, including the

      host nation, may enter a maximum of two (2) male and two

      (2) female contestants, with one contestant per weight

      category.

9.3 The number of invitations (wildcards) shall be agreed upon

      between the parties that comprise the Tripartite Commission;

      the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”), the Association

      of National Olympic Committees (“ANOC”) and the WTF.

9.4 The weight categories that a national taekwondo association

      has qualified for at the world and continental taekwondo

      qualification tournaments are attributed to the association

      rather than to the contestants who participated in the

      tournaments.

9.5 World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament

9.5.1 In the World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament, the

         top three ranking contestants from each weight

         category will qualify for the Olympic Games.

9.5.2 In the event that any of the qualified contestants is

         found to have committed a doping offence that

         constitutes a violation of any of the provisions of the

         Anti-Doping Code of the IOC, the World Anti-Doping

         Agency (“WADA”) and the WTF         Anti- Doping Rules

         (“Anti-Doping Codes”), the next highest ranked

         contestant(s) who did not qualify for the Olympic

         Games in the first place will qualify as the substitute

         contestant(s).

 Detailed explanation will be issued in Article 10 of the   

 Procedure.

9.5.3 National Associations will be issued certificates verifying

         the pertinent weight categories that they have qualified

         for at the Olympic Games. In addition, such certificates

         will be issued to countries that have substitute

         contestants (i.e. 4th and 5^th ranked contestants.

 Detailed explanation will be issued in Article 10 of the

 Procedure.

9.6 Continental Taekwondo Qualification Tournament

9.6.1 The WTF in cooperation with each of the five continental

         taekwondo unions of Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and

         Pan America shall conduct the Continental Taekwondo

         Qualification Tournament, and the quota for each

         continent will be allocated by the WTF.

9.6.2 The procedure to allot the continental quota for the

        Olympic Games is based on         criteria such as, but not

        limited to, the number of member countries belonging

        to each continental taekwondo union, precedents,

        development of taekwondo in the continent, etc.

The top ranked male and female contestants of each weight category from Oceania will qualify for the Olympic Games from the continental taekwondo qualification tournament in Oceania; thus, a total of four (4) men and four (4) women.

The top two ranked male and female contestants of each weight category from Africa will qualify for the Olympic Games from the continental taekwondo qualification tournament in Africa; thus, a total of eight (8) men and eight (8) women.

The top three ranked contestants of each weight category from Asia, Europe and Pan America will qualify for the Olympic Games from the respective continental taekwondo qualification tournaments; thus a total of 12 men and 12 women each from the continents of Asia, Europe and Pan America.

9.6.3 One substitute contestant in each weight category will

        be selected in case       contestants that have already

        qualified for the Olympic Games are disqualified for

        doping offences, as prescribed in Article 9.5.2 of the

        Procedure.

 Detailed explanation will be issued in Article 10 of the

 Procedure.

9.6.4 If a National Association has not filled up the entire

        quota in the world   taekwondo qualification tournament,

        it may participate in the pertinent        continental

        taekwondo qualification tournament so long as:

(1) the weight categories in the continental tournament   are not those already qualified in the world tournament;

(2) the number of qualified contestants of the pertinent  National Association do not exceed the maximum quota of two (2) male and two (2) female contestants.

9.7 Final Ranking Classification System

9.7.1 In the event where there is no playoff match between the two losers of the semi-final matches during the qualification tournaments, the following final ranking classification system shall apply:

3rd Place: Contestant who lost to the 1st Place contestant in

                 the semi-final match

4th Place: Contestant who lost to the 2nd Place contestant in

                 the semi-final    match

5th Place: Contestant who lost to the 1st Place contestant in

                 the quarter-final match

6th Place: Contestant who lost to the 2nd Place contestant in

                 the quarter-final match

7th Place: Contestant who lost to the 1st Place contestant in

                 the Round of 16 match

8th Place: Contestant who lost to the 2nd Place contestant in

                 the Round of 16 match

Article - 8

Test Event

The three main objectives of Test Events are to test the competition venue, in particular the Field of Play (“FOP”) and all athlete facilities, train, coordinate and evaluate staff, contractor (if in place) and volunteer performance in an event environment and develop an effective integrated team structure and evaluate the performance of the technology systems and processes supporting all functional aspects of the venues and the overall Games environment. In principle, countries that have qualified for participation in the taekwondo competition at the Olympic Games are permitted to take part in the test event. Nonetheless, the WTF may select the participating countries, as the case may be.

Article - 7

Protest

7.1 In the event that there is an objection to a judgment, the

      coach or manager of the pertinent team may submit a protest

      application within 10 minutes after the match, along with a fee

      of USD 300, to the Competition Supervisory Board.

7.2 The Competition Supervisory Board shall deliver its findings

      within 15 minutes after acceptance of the application.

Taekwondo at OLYMPICS

STANDING PROCEDURES

TAEKWONDO COMPETITION

AT

OLYMPIC GAMES

IN FORCE AS OF MAY 5, 2008

TAEKWONDO HISTORY

Brief Introduction:

The Historical / successful development of Taekwondo can be divided in 4 ages, they are;

Ancient times,

Middle ages,

Modern ages &

Present day Taekwondo

Taekwondo is one of the proudest cultural heritages for the Koreans and it is also national martial art of Korea. Taekwondo has been developed into a modern Olympic sport as a result of painstaking researches and experiences by the Taekwondo practitioners and masters through their incessant upgrading of technical and spiritual refinement. At the same time, it has been firmly established as a real national martial art enabling the people to defend the nation.

In the early history of the Korean peninsula, there were three tribes dwelling there, each enjoying warrior's martial art contests during the ritual seasons. At that times people learned techniques from their experiences of fighting against the beasts whose defensive and offensive motions were also the subject of analysis. It is believed that this was exactly the true grounding of today's Taekwondo. Whose names have descended from "subak","Taekkyon", "takkyon" and so on.

Koren Peninsula

Later in the latter part of ancient times on the Korean peninsula, three kingdoms namely KOGURYEO (B.C 37), PAEKJE (18BC)& SILLA (B.C 57) were come into existence and always rivaling among them for the hegemony. All indulged in growing national strength with trained warriors. Therefore, the Korean history tells that there were military personalities among the well-known prominent national leaders of the three kingdoms, which proves the military tendency of ruling hierarchy.

Silla was a kingdom founded in B.C. 57 on the southeastern part of Korea peninsula where there were no immediate threats from outside, but along with the birth of Paekje Kingdom on its west flank and the start of invasions by Koguryo from the north, Shilla was impelled to arm itself with development of martial arts. "hwarangdo" is the typical example of Shilla's martial arts, which is an assimilation of Koguryo's "sunbae"

Koguryo founded in B. C. 37 on the northern part of Korea along the Yalu river, both making great efforts to raise their youngsters into strong warriors called "hwarang" and " sonbae" respectively, certainly with Taekwondo as one of the principal subjects of physical training. Baekje or Paekche (BC 18-AD 660) was a kingdom located in southwest Korea.