Held under the theme "Sport at the Service of Humanity", the first edition of the conference is a three-day gathering of global leaders and influencers from the world of faith, sport, business and other relevant organisations.

Together they will discuss the interconnectedness of Faith and Sport and explore the scope and limits of the combination.

During the opening of the event at the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall, the WTF demonstration team performed their trademark high-flying routine which was viewed by Bach, United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon and Pope Francis among others.

Kang Hyeon Wook, a member of the WTF demonstration team, spoke about the activities of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) prior to the performance.

The THF was founded this year, running programmes in Syrian refugee camps in Jordan and Turkey and also assisting displaced persons in Nepal.

"The THF sends taekwondo instructors to the places worldwide such as Jordan where refugees are located and Nepal after the earthquake," Kang said.

"Through taekwondo people do not get only physical benefits, but they also learn good manners, self-control and perseverance.

"All those values are the core of sport and life.

"However, the most valuable aspect of taekwondo is giving the smile to the people, especially on the children’s face."

At the working session of the conference, scheduled for today, WTF President Chungwon Choue is set to propose the creation of a "Sport Peace Corps" to fellow sport leaders.  

The envisioned "Sport Peace Corps" would see a broad spectrum of Olympic sports taken to developing nations and refugee camps.

The concept behind the vision is a blend of the THF and the existing Taekwondo Peace Corps, which was established in 2008 and has since dispatched around 1,300 instructors to developing nations worldwide.

Following the conclusion of the conference at Synod Hall  tomorrow, Choue and the WTF demonstration team are due to visit Rome’s Crocerossa refugee camp on Saturday (October 8).

The WTF demonstration team is then set to carry out a further range of performances across Italy until Tuesday (October 11), including one at Amatrice - the central town devastated by an earthquake in August, killing nearly 300 people. 

Bach arrived in Italy's capital earlier this week ahead of a meeting with Giovanni Malagò, President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), regarding Rome's bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Rome is widely expected to pull out after failing to get the backing of city Mayor Virginia Raggi.

No announcement will be made on the future of the bid until Tuesday, insidethegames was told yesterday.