The initiative presents practical measures implemented at competitions in Uzbekistan, China and the United Kingdom, with the aim of helping national federations and organising committees reduce environmental impact, strengthen inclusion and improve event delivery.

The initiative examines actions implemented at the Tashkent 2026 World Taekwondo Junior Championships, the Wuxi 2025 World Taekwondo Championships and the London Open Poomsae and Para Poomsae.

According to the governing body, the programme seeks to reduce the environmental impact of competitions while promoting inclusion, athlete welfare, youth development and more responsible operational practices.

Three events, three different approaches

The first case study reviews the Tashkent 2026 World Taekwondo Junior Championships, where organisers introduced walkable accommodation arrangements, waste separation, locally sourced food and energy-efficiency measures.

World Taekwondo also reported an indirect contribution from solar energy within the wider Olympic City complex. The event incorporated a significant youth component, with more than 1,167 athletes participating in a flashmob and 259 volunteers joining the Youth Sport Leaders programme.

The Wuxi 2025 World Taekwondo Championships case study focuses on education, technological development and youth engagement.

Alongside the competition, organisers held the Champion Youth Special Training Camp and the World Taekwondo Symposium Wuxi 2025. Both initiatives connected athletes and coaches with academics and sports officials through programmes related to performance, artificial intelligence and digital education.

In the United Kingdom, the London Open Poomsae and Para Poomsae provided an example of inclusive and resource-efficient event management.

Both disciplines shared the same competition setup, branding, volunteers, athlete services and operational systems. The model placed Para athletes on the same platform as Poomsae competitors while reducing the duplication of infrastructure, staffing and event presentation resources.

A model for future competitions

The new series expands World Taekwondo’s sustainability programme, which already includes case studies developed through the World Taekwondo Sustainability Awards, launched in 2023.

While those awards recognise a broader range of initiatives across the global Taekwondo community, the latest project focuses specifically on measures implemented during competitions and their potential application at other events.

World Taekwondo also confirmed that it is working with the Member National Associations hosting Grand Prix events on a new memorandum of understanding designed to encourage more consistent sustainability practices throughout the series.

The organisation said it continues to address emissions associated with its operations and air travel through planned reductions, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon credits. The effectiveness and measurable impact of those measures will depend on their implementation and subsequent reporting.

Practical guidance for national federations

World Taekwondo encouraged national federations and organising committees to use its Sustainable Competition Management Tool and the new case studies when planning their own tournaments.

Event organisers with relevant projects may also submit their experiences for possible inclusion in future editions of the series.

The initiative was unveiled on September 17, the anniversary of the opening day of Taekwondo’s first Olympic appearance as a demonstration sport at Seoul 1988.

Beyond its symbolic timing, the project represents an attempt to transform sustainability commitments into practical event-management guidelines that can be adapted across different countries, competition levels and operational environments.

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