World Taekwondo Launches Somalia–Ethiopia Joint Olympic Solidarity Training Camp in Addis Ababa
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – World Taekwondo (WT), in cooperation with Olympic Solidarity, has officially launched the Somalia 2025 WT Olympic Solidarity Training Camp (Youth) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marking an important step in regional cooperation and youth athlete development in East Africa.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – World Taekwondo (WT), in cooperation with Olympic Solidarity, has officially launched the Somalia 2025 WT Olympic Solidarity Training Camp (Youth) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marking an important step in regional cooperation and youth athlete development in East Africa.
The training camp is taking place from December 22 to 28, 2025 at the Ethiopian Sport Academy, a national high-performance training centre that plays a key role in the development of elite athletes across multiple Olympic sports in Ethiopia. The Academy provides integrated facilities for technical training, physical conditioning, and coach education, supporting both athlete and workforce development at the national level.
An official opening ceremony was held on Monday, December 22 at 11:00 a.m., attended by representatives from World Taekwondo, the Somali Taekwondo Federation, and the Ethiopian Taekwondo Federation. Notable attendees included the Vice President of the Ethiopian Sport Academy and the President of the Ethiopian Taekwondo Federation, reflecting strong institutional support for the joint initiative. The ceremony highlighted the shared commitment of Somalia and Ethiopia to strengthening youth athlete pathways through cooperation under the framework of Olympic Solidarity.
A total of 23 participants from the two countries are taking part in the camp, comprising 19 junior athletes and 4 coaches. The junior athlete group includes 11 male and 8 female athletes, while the coaching staff consists of 3 male and 1 female coach. Participants are training together in a joint environment designed to promote high-performance development, knowledge exchange, and long-term sustainability. The structured programme combines technical training, physical conditioning, and simulated competition sessions.
The joint training format provides athletes with valuable international exposure while fostering mutual learning and cultural exchange between the two teams. In parallel, the programme places strong emphasis on coach education and performance methodology, contributing to local capacity-building and sustainable development.
The camp is specifically designed to support preparation towards the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, while also aligning with longer-term athlete development objectives linked to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
World Taekwondo expressed its sincere appreciation to the Ethiopian Taekwondo Federation, serving as the local organising body, and the Ethiopian Sport Academy for their cooperation and support in hosting the camp. WT highlighted that joint training initiatives such as this play a vital role in strengthening regional networks and creating sustainable development pathways for emerging Taekwondo nations.
The Somalia 2025 WT Olympic Solidarity Training Camp (Youth) reflects World Taekwondo’s continued commitment to inclusive development, international solidarity, and youth-focused Olympic preparation, using collaborative training environments as a platform for shared growth and sporting excellence.
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