John Kotsifas: “Fairness, transparency, and inclusion must guide the future of World Taekwondo”
The Australian lawyer and former WT Vice President outlines his vision as a candidate for the upcoming World Taekwondo Vice Presidency election. Kotsifas focuses on governance reform, representation for all nations, and adapting the sport to a changing global landscape.
The Australian lawyer and former WT Vice President outlines his vision as a candidate for the upcoming World Taekwondo Vice Presidency election. Kotsifas focuses on governance reform, representation for all nations, and adapting the sport to a changing global landscape.
World Taekwondo will hold elections for Vice President on October 23, during a General Assembly that is expected to shape the federation’s direction toward 2029. Among the candidates is John Kotsifas, former WT Vice President, lawyer, and long-time advocate for institutional reform. MASTKD spoke with him about his motivations, priorities, and vision for the sport’s future.
Kotsifas expressed that this nomination represents both an honor and a personal mission. Taekwondo has been central to his life for decades, and he views this candidacy as an opportunity to give back to the athletes, Member Nations, and communities he has served. As a lawyer and immigration judge, he was personally involved in securing refugee visas for taekwondo athletes, including Zakia Khudadadi—who went on to win bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics—as well as female athletes and coaches from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. These experiences, he explained, strengthened his belief in the power of sport to create opportunities and change lives.
“If you nominate as Vice President, you must have a clear vision about what you seek to achieve,” he said. “I’m very clear about what I stand for and the changes I will promote over the next four years.”
Representation and Voice for All Nations
For Kotsifas, the upcoming term is decisive. While he recognizes progress in several areas, he also sees Member Nations in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Pan America that feel their voices are not being fully heard. As World Taekwondo approaches a leadership transition in 2029, he believes the federation needs council members with bold, forward-looking visions, capable of ensuring that the sport is recognized globally as truly international.
His objective, he says, is to help shape a future where every Member Nation has a voice and every athlete has a genuine opportunity to succeed.
Governance Reform and Olympic Structure
Kotsifas argues that the federation’s immediate priorities should focus on fairness, transparency, and genuine inclusion. He emphasizes that every nation must have an equal voice, and decisions should be made openly and accountably.
He also underlines the need to modernize competition formats to make the sport more appealing to global audiences. “Many have criticized the current structure as lacklustre. Other martial arts are evolving rapidly — Taekwondo cannot afford to be left behind,” he said.
Another major issue for him is Olympic weight categories. The current structure of four male and four female divisions has remained unchanged for 25 years. He considers this outdated and, in some cases, unsafe due to wide weight gaps between categories. Expanding to six male and six female divisions would, in his view, create fairer competition and more opportunities for emerging nations.
“Our goal should be to secure expanded Olympic divisions by Los Angeles 2028,” he explained. “And by Brisbane 2032, aim for 8+8 categories to ensure broader global representation.”
One Member, One Vote
A central pillar of his platform is the principle of “One Member, One Vote,” which he defines as fairness, equality, and respect for every Member Nation, regardless of size or development level.
Currently, approximately 32% of MNAs are not entitled to vote, a situation that affects less developed regions disproportionately. According to Kotsifas, this is not due to a lack of will, but rather a lack of resources and opportunities. He pointed to figures such as 21 of 45 Pan American nations, 15 of 53 in Africa, 10 of 44 in Asia, and 13 of 19 in Oceania currently excluded from voting processes.
“The solution is not to silence these countries, but to support them,” he stated. “Investment in development programs must allow every nation to grow and participate fully.”
Technology and Scoring Systems
Kotsifas supports reforms in electronic scoring systems, but stresses the importance of standardization. Currently, the use of multiple PSS systems creates inconsistency and financial strain for athletes and national associations. He advocates for adopting a single, universal system to ensure fairness and consistency worldwide.
Development Funding and Structural Support
Grassroots development remains a significant concern for many Member Nations. Kotsifas shares this view, noting that the current allocation of USD 60,000 per continent per year is inadequate for genuine global development. On average, this represents approximately USD 1,200 per MNA annually.
He points out that, with IOC subsidies surpassing USD 13 million annually, more substantial and targeted investment is both possible and necessary, particularly in regions where Taekwondo lacks infrastructure. He also mentions the importance of securing major sponsorships and creating long-term funding strategies to sustain growth.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Kotsifas envisions a federation where every nation feels respected, athletes have real opportunities, and decisions are made transparently and inclusively.
“This is our sport, our community, and our future,” he said. “Together, we can build a World Taekwondo that is inclusive, accountable, and focused on the growth of athletes everywhere.”
On the subject of future leadership, he declined to speculate on specific names but expressed his belief that a European president is a likely scenario in 2028, citing Europe’s historical leadership in launching progressive initiatives that have later been adopted globally.
John Kotsifas’s candidacy comes at a moment of potential transformation for World Taekwondo. His platform focuses on governance reform, development equity, technological modernization, and a renewed commitment to giving every Member Nation a voice in shaping the sport’s future.
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