TAEKWONDO QUALIFICATION
FOR THE SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES

The 2000 Olympic Games will be held in Sydney, Australia, September 13 - October 1, 2000. Taekwondo Competition is scheduled for September 28 - 30, 2000. In the 2000 Olympic Games, the sport of Taekwondo has been allotted a total of 100 athletes (52 men and 48 women) by the International Olympic Committee. Because of the limited slots available and in order to allow greater global participation in the Olympic Games, the World Taekwondo Federation has limited the Olympic competition to four weight divisions. Due to the limited number of competitors, each country has the opportunity to qualify only two men and two women, except the host country. Therefore, the maximum number of athletes that any country can have represent them of athletes that any country can have represent them is four. In order for a country to qualify their respective weight divisions for Olympic competition, their athletes need to place in the top three at the World Olympic Qualifying Event in Croatia, July 8-11, 1999, or in the top two at the Fall 1999 Regional Olympic Qualifying Event which will be held in Miami, Florida.
How to select 100 contestants:
a.) Contestants ranking 1st to 3rd (1st, 2nd and two 3rd: total 4) in each weight category at the Taekwondo Qualification Tournament for Sydney Olympic Games in Porec, Croatia on July 8-11, 1999: (Click here to see the Results )
                                                                               4 male weight categories x 4 (1st to 3rd)    = 16
                                                                               4 female weight categories x 4 (1st to 3rd) = 16
                                                                                                                                          Total a)  = 32

b.) Regional Taekwondo Qualification Tournaments :
1.) African region: Johannesburg, South Africa / September 9-10, 1999 
2.) Asian region: Manila, Philippines / September 25-26, 1999 ( Click here to see the Results )
3.) Pan American region: Miami, Florida, U.S.A. / October 2-3, 1999
4.) European region: Stockholm, Sweden / October 16-17, 1999

c.) Respective 4 weight classes for male and female (8 contestants) to the host
country of the Olympic Games (Australia)                                                                    Total c) = 008 

d.) Wild cards in 4 male weight classes by the IOC/WTF                                          Total d) = 004 
                                                                                                                         Total a), b), c), d) = 100

World Championships and National Teams Selection Process

To participate in a World Taekwondo Championships, the participant must first qualify to make their national team. There are eight weight divisions for men and women competitors in the World Taekwondo Championships. The National Team Selection Criteria are usually as follows:

A.) The competitor must qualify in their provincial, regional or State Championships by placing in the top three in their weight division.

B.) The competitor must then qualify in their National Championships on their own country by placing in the top three or qualify for one of two Wild Card positions, in some countries these Nationals winners will compete on Team Trials  Championships. The competitor who wins 1st place at the Team Trials Championships will represent their country at the  World Taekwondo Championships. Others Countries will choose their National team from all the 1st place in each weight division from their National Championships. Those will represent them on the World Taekwondo Championships.

Wild Card Qualifying Events: These are some of the events that a competitor has to participate if he want to be carding: World Championships, Olympic Games, World Games, World Cup, Pan American Games, Pan American Taekwondo Championships, Goodwill Games, Senior Nationals. Also you must be a Kukkiwon Certified Black Belt.

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