World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue, right, and ISF President Laurent Petrynka, left, agreed to the MoU ©World Taekwondo

World Taekwondo and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further promote and develop the Olympic sport.

The agreement is set to lead to a greater influence of taekwondo in schools and at national and international school sport events.

It was signed during the World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Manchester, with the sport’s President Chungwon Choue and secretary general Jeongkang Seo hosting ISF President Laurent Petrynka and Jose Martin Sanchez Tenorio, the ISF continental President for the Americas.

"We are very glad to be signing this MoU with the International School Sport Federation," Choue said.

"Taekwondo is practiced in many schools around the world as it is a sport which not only keeps children physically active but also teaches them important values such as discipline, respect and understanding.

Next year's ISF World School Taekwondo Championships will unite both federations ©World Taekwondo
Next year's ISF World School Taekwondo Championships will unite both federations ©World Taekwondo

"Our MoU with the ISF will allow us to share knowledge and maximise opportunities for young people to practice taekwondo."

The ISF World School Taekwondo Championships are an upcoming event on both of the federation’s calendars.

It is due to take place between June 27 and July 3 next year in Mazatlán in Mexico, with hundreds of school athletes expected to participate.

"In recent years the sport of taekwondo has taken tremendous steps in school sport, with it becoming a staple of ISF multi-sport events such as the 2021 U15 Gymnasiade in Serbia, and the 2022 U18 Gymnasiade in France," Petrynka said.

"In 2023, we are proud to be hosting two more taekwondo events, with the ISF World School Taekwondo Championship in Mexico next June, and the next edition of the ISF U15 Gymnasiade later on in August 2023."