Azerbaijani president, first lady attend opening ceremony of World Taekwondo Championship UPDATE

An opening ceremony of the 26th edition of the World Taekwondo Championships was held on May 29 in Baku.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva watched the opening ceremony, the president's press service informs.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva arrived at the Christal Hall to see the opening ceremony of the World Taekwondo Championships.

First, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with the President of the World Taekwondo Federation Chungwon Choue.

Chungwon Choue presented the 8th dan honorary black belt and a certificate to First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

The head of state and First Lady had a conversation with the President of the World Taekwondo Federation.

Then, the opening ceremony of the 26th edition of the World Taekwondo Championships was held.

The opening ceremony saw the parade of participating teams.

The flag of the World Taekwondo Federation was brought onto the scene.

Then, the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan was brought onto the scene and the state anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was played.

The opening ceremony was addressed by the President of the World Taekwondo Federation Chungwon Choue, the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, President of the Azerbaijan Taekwondo Federation Kamaladdin Heydarov.

Minister of Youth and Sport Farid Gayibov announced the opening of the 26th World Taekwondo Championship.

The opening ceremony featured a film reflecting the lifetime and activity of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev’s and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva’s care for sports development in the country.

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Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the World Taekwondo Federation and the 100th anniversary of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, the World Championships will see 949 athletes from 145 countries compete across 16 weight categories (8 men and 8 women) at the Baku Crystal Hall.

The championship gathered nearly 2000 guests from over 150 countries.

Azerbaijan is the second country to host the World Taekwondo Championships among CIS countries after Russia and seventh among European countries after Germany, Denmark, Spain, Greece, Russia and the UK.

17:34 / 29.05.2023

An opening ceremony of the 26th edition of the World Taekwondo Championships is underway in Baku.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva are attending the opening ceremony, Azertag reports.

x x x

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the World Taekwondo Federation and the 100th anniversary of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, the World Championships will see 949 athletes from 145 countries compete across 16 weight categories (8 men and 8 women) at the Baku Crystal Hall.

The championship gathered nearly 2000 guests from over 150 countries.

Azerbaijan is the second country to host the World Taekwondo Championships among CIS countries after Russia and seventh among European countries after Germany, Denmark, Spain, Greece, Russia and the UK.