World Taekwondo has confirmed that the World Taekwondo Fair Play Award will return as a permanent annual recognition beginning in 2026, highlighting sportsmanship, integrity, and respect across Kyorugi, Poomsae, and Para Taekwondo.
World Taekwondo has announced the return of the World Taekwondo Fair Play Award as a permanent annual distinction starting from the 2026 World Taekwondo Gala Awards. The decision was revealed on May 19 in Seoul, Korea, coinciding with the observance of World Fair Play Day.
The award was originally introduced during the 2019 World Taekwondo Gala Awards and is intended to recognize individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship and ethical conduct throughout the global taekwondo community.
According to World Taekwondo, the award will honor conduct that reflects the federation’s long-standing values of respect, integrity, compassion, and friendship both on and off the field of play.
Eligibility extends across Kyorugi, Poomsae, and Para Taekwondo, with candidates potentially including athletes, coaches, teams, officials, organizations, or wider communities connected to the sport.
Examples highlighted by World Taekwondo include acts of respect toward opponents, composure following difficult officiating decisions, and demonstrations of fair play during competition.
The selection process will involve recommendations from the Competition Supervisory Board, with final evaluations carried out by the Nominations Committee following performances and conduct observed at World Taekwondo-promoted events.
The first official evaluation period for the reinstated award will begin at the World Taekwondo Junior Championships 2026, scheduled to take place in Tashkent in April 2026.
The cycle will conclude with the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series 2026 in Paris later that October.
By linking the award process directly to major international competitions, World Taekwondo appears to be positioning fair play recognition alongside athletic performance as a visible pillar of the sport’s global identity.
The announcement also aligns with the broader international recognition of World Fair Play Day, officially observed each year on May 19 since 2025.
World Taekwondo stated that the initiative reinforces the principles that have historically defined taekwondo worldwide, emphasizing ethical conduct and mutual respect across athletes, referees, coaches, and member associations.
As the international calendar continues to expand across Senior, Junior, and Para competitions, the federation’s decision signals a stronger institutional focus on preserving the cultural and educational values traditionally associated with taekwondo.
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With the Fair Play Award now returning as a yearly recognition, World Taekwondo is formally integrating sportsmanship and ethical conduct into the modern competitive structure of the sport alongside medals and rankings.
