In a special ceremony held in Cheongju, Mr Ban accepted the position to stand as President of the 2019 World Martial Art. The former United Nation Secretary General and current head of the IOC Ethics Commission needs no introduction.
The slogan of the 2019 event will be “Beyond the times, bridge the world”. The event is more than just a competition, it is a festival of martial art enthusiasts and athletes combining the various martial arts and culture. The President of the 2019 event will be Mr Chungwon Choue, President of World Taekwondo which also leads the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation empowering refugees.
The President of the Organising Committee and Governor of Cheong Ju, Mr Si-Jong Lee stated that he is “proud to host this event with the full support of the Korean Government and the Olympic Committee of Korea. Many GAISF and IOC recognised combat and martial art sports will participate”.
Mr Ban Ki-Moon made an emotional address outlining the unique beauty that each of the participating martial arts have. He also spoke with passion about the many social projects martial arts contribute to society.