USA Taekwondo Reaffirmed as National Governing Body by USOPC

Charlotte, NC – July 3rd, 2024 – The board of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has officially reaffirmed USA Taekwondo (USATKD) as the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of taekwondo in the United States following an ‘in good standing’ recommendation from the USOPC’s Certification Review Group. This decision comes after a comprehensive review process that included stringent new requirements for NGBs following recent changes to the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, all of which USATKD met with full compliance.

The rigorous evaluation was part of the USOPC's ongoing efforts to ensure that all NGBs maintain the highest standards. USA Taekwondo was thoroughly assessed across multiple criteria, including governance, compliance, athlete support, and operational effectiveness. The outcome of this review was overwhelmingly positive, with USATKD receiving green lights in every category and no areas of concern identified, placing them amongst the most highly rated of National Governing Bodies in the Olympic movement.

Steve McNally, CEO of USA Taekwondo, expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm following the announcement.

“We are honored to be reaffirmed by the USOPC as the National Governing Body for taekwondo in the United States with such comprehensively positive results,” said McNally. “This thorough review process highlights the dedication and hard work of our entire team and our commitment to upholding the highest standards. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the USOPC for their meticulous attention to detail and their confidence in our ability to govern taekwondo. This recognition confirms beyond doubt that USA Taekwondo is indeed the right organization to lead our sport in this country and allows us to move forward into LA 2028 with confidence and renewed authority.”

USATKD Board Chair Carol Lewis added: “As we head into the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with four qualified athletes I am proud and excited that USATKD has been reaffirmed through 2028. This recertification is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in USATKD. Looking ahead, our commitment to excellence in every facet remains steadfast. This recertification will guide our organization through to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where we strive to qualify eight athletes, setting a record in our sport. We thank the USOPC for their continued support and affirmation. Citius, Altius, Fortius.”

The USOPC's endorsement reinforces USA Taekwondo’s role in promoting the sport, supporting athletes at all levels, and ensuring the integrity and success of taekwondo programs nationwide and internationally. USATKD will continue to work diligently to foster the growth of taekwondo, provide exceptional service to its members, and uphold the values of integrity, excellence, and respect that are the foundation of the sport.

Background Information on the new Certification Renewal Process

The USOPC believes in a culture of strong governance, ethics, and compliance among the NGBs that, as member organizations of the USOPC, make up the Olympic and Paralympic movement. Recent amendments to the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, which became effective in late 2020, require the USOPC to certify NGBs. The USOPC determined that as of January 1, 2021, all member organizations would be certified, and their certifications would be reviewed for renewal on a rolling basis every four years.

Governed by the USOPC’s NGB Certification Policy, the NGB certification review process is supported by a cross-functional body of professionals at the USOPC, the Certification Review Group (CRG), who interact with NGBs in their day-to-day work. These professionals evaluate an NGB’s operations across multiple functional areas to provide a holistic review of an NGB’s performance and culture. In addition to enumerated standards for NGB performance described in the Act, the Bylaws, and the USOPC’s NGB Compliance Standards, the CRG considers departmental observations about an NGB’s operations that may not be identified in a formal audit scenario but are relevant to consider when evaluating an NGB’s overall performance.

Certification Standards, Exceptions, and Review Components

As described in Section 8.4.1 of the USOPC Bylaws, NGBs must satisfy certification requirements in five core areas: Governance and Compliance, Financial Standards and Reporting Practices, Athlete Safety, Sport Performance, and Operational Performance.

Certification Renewal Recommendation Report for USA Taekwondo

For further information, please contact:

Donna Allen

Marketing & Communications Manager

USA Taekwondo 

media@usatkd.org

About USA Taekwondo:

USA Taekwondo is the National Governing Body for the sport of taekwondo in the United States, recognized by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. USA Taekwondo is committed to promoting the sport of taekwondo, supporting athletes and coaches, and ensuring a safe and positive environment for all participants.

About the USOPC: 

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee for the United States. It is responsible for supporting, entering, and overseeing U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American, and Parapan American Games.

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For more information about USA Taekwondo and its programs, visit www.usatkd.org.