The World Taekwondo Asia Development Foundation has launched its Kyrgyzstan Cares Program project ©World Taekwondo

An Opening Ceremony has been held in Bishkek to mark the start of the World Taekwondo Asia Development Foundation (WTADF) Kyrgyzstan Cares Program project.

The project is being held under the theme of Dream Through Taekwondo, and is run by the Kyrgyz Taekwondo Association with funding by the ADF of $30,000 (£24,000/€27,000).

As part of the programme taekwondo instructors based at a SOS Children’s Village in Bishkek, and the Ak-Suu Boarding School in Teplokluchenka, offer around 150 orphaned children two hours of taekwondo education and training three times a week.

The Opening Ceremony at the Sport Complex Sun City in Bishkek was attended by guests including World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue, President of the Kyrgyz Republic National Olympic Committee Sadyr Mamytov and President of the Taekwondo Association of the Kyrgyz Republic Aleksei Pak.

It included taekwondo demonstrations from students based at the Bishkek centre and a 40-strong team from the Kyrgyz Taekwondo Association.

As part of the Ceremony there was also a traditional Kyrgyz drum performance and a fan dance, while a video on the World Taekwondo (WT) Cares Programme was shown.

Trainees from the Kyrgyz Cares Program performed for World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue as part of his visit to the project in Bishkek ©World Taekwondo
Trainees from the Kyrgyz Cares Program performed for World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue as part of his visit to the project in Bishkek ©World Taekwondo

"I am pleased to visit Kyrgyzstan for the Opening Ceremony of the WT-ADF Kyrgyzstan Cares Program and my visit is more meaningful as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of WT and at the same time the 30th anniversary of the Kyrgyz Taekwondo Association," said World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue.

"The WT Cares Program is one of the flagship contributions of WT to the world, through which we give hope and dreams to those in need of help, especially underprivileged children.

"That is the reason why taekwondo and WT are more respected among international sports federations.

"Through taekwondo education and training, I strongly believe that the children benefitting from this programme will grow up as good global citizens.

"I look forward to you winning medals at international taekwondo championships around the world."

As part of his visit to Kyrgyzstan, Choue also met with Kyrgyz Republic Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov to discuss the sport’s development in the country, and visited the WT Cares Program centre in Teplokluchenka.

During his visit to the WT Cares Program centre in Teplokluchenka, Choue met orphan children at the centre, with some of the students showcasing the taekwondo skills they had learned.