World Taekwondo Olympic Solidarity Training Camp Opens in Sydney to Support Youth Development in Oceania

SYDNEY, Australia (Mar. 18, 2026) – The World Taekwondo Olympic Solidarity Training Camp for Youth officially opened today in Sydney, Australia, marking the start of a nine-day programme designed to support the development of young Taekwondoin across Oceania.

Jointly organised by World Taekwondo (WT), the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity programme and the Oceania Taekwondo Union (OTU), the camp brings together a total of 23 athletes and coaches from Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea. Their participation reflects the growing momentum of Taekwondo in the region and the shared commitment of Oceania’s Member National Associations to work together in developing future talent.

Following the inaugural Oceania Olympic Solidarity Camp held in the Solomon Islands in 2024, the Sydney camp marks the second edition of the continental training initiative. It is also the first Olympic Solidarity camp in Oceania to be held under the leadership of the newly elected OTU President, Mr Maher Magableh, adding further significance to this year’s programme.

Running until 26 March 2026, the camp is aimed at supporting junior athletes in their long-term development while also strengthening the wider performance environment around them. Throughout the programme, participants will take part in technical and tactical training sessions, physical conditioning, and educational activities designed to enhance both athlete performance and coaching capacity.

Beyond the training itself, the camp also serves as an important platform for knowledge-sharing and closer cooperation among MNAs in Oceania. By bringing athletes and coaches together in one environment, the programme helps reinforce regional solidarity while contributing to WT’s broader efforts to build sustainable development pathways in emerging Taekwondo nations.

This year’s camp has also received valuable support from KPNP, which has provided protective equipment for athletes, including arm and shin guards, as well as training items such as t-shirts and kicking targets. The contribution will help ensure that participants benefit from a better-equipped training environment throughout the camp.

The impact of the Olympic Solidarity programme has already been seen through previous training camps, which have contributed to improved athlete performance and greater international exposure. Building on that foundation, the Sydney camp is expected to provide another important step forward for young athletes in Oceania as they continue their journey towards future elite-level competition. WT also hopes that the experience and development gained through this initiative will help lay the groundwork for the region’s progress through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle and onwards to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

World Taekwondo expressed its sincere appreciation to the IOC, OTU and all partners involved for their continued support in delivering initiatives that not only strengthen performance standards, but also promote cooperation, opportunity and the Olympic values across the Oceania region.

MAS: Media About Sport.
TKD: Taekwondo.
MASTKD: Worldwide Leader on Taekwondo Information.

About The Author

MASTKD

MASTKD: Media About Sports Taekwondo. Worldwide Leader on Taekwondo Information. «SINCE 2003»

See author's posts