World Taekwondo Europe has honoured the deputy mayor of Leros for his promotion of the sport ©World Taekwondo Europe

The deputy mayor of Leros island in Greece, George Zoumpoulis, has been awarded the honorary fifth dan by World Taekwondo Europe (WTE) for his promotion of the sport.

Zoumpalis, who received his award from WTE President Sakis Pragalos when he visited their offices in Athens, is now committed to founding a World Taekwondo club in Leros.

Leros is a Greek island and municipality in the Dodecanese island complex in the southern Aegean Sea. 

The Deputy Mayor of Leros island in Greece, George Zoumpoulis, left, receives an award for his promotion of taekwondo from the World Taekwondo Europe President Sakis Pragalos ©World Taekwondo Europe
The Deputy Mayor of Leros island in Greece, George Zoumpoulis, left, receives an award for his promotion of taekwondo from the World Taekwondo Europe President Sakis Pragalos ©World Taekwondo Europe

It lies more than 300 kilometres from Athens' port of Piraeus, close to the Turkish sea borders.

World Taekwondo believe it is equally important to promote and develop the sport in urban and rural areas of each country.

It sees Leros island as an ideal example of how the sport can be embraced in small-scaled communities and have a major impact on the life of its inhabitants.