A series of landmark decisions were approved by the Executive Council of the World Taekwondo Federation at its meeting in Seoul, Korea, on July 20, 2005.
As testament to its commitment to successfully implement the recommendations of the Reform Committee, the WTF approved the creation of its fifth Taekwondo union in the region of Oceania.
The Oceania Taekwondo Union ('O.T.U.') was formerly established on Saturday 16th of July 2005 in Sydney, Australia during the staging of the first Oceania Taekwondo Championships. It is headed by IOC Member Mr. Phillip Walter Coles from Australia, and will be a cornerstone in the WTF's efforts to expand its operations to 202 member national associations across five continents, as in the case of the IOC.
The establishment of the Oceania Taekwondo Union is consistent with the WTF's reform initiatives, particularly the establishment and formation of the fifth world member region. The OTU Executive Council are as follows:-
Executive Council Members
- President – Mr. Phil Coles (IOC)
- Senior Vice President – JY Kwak (Australia)
- Vice President – Stuart Lee (Australia)
- Vice President – Simon Ysrael (Guam)
- Secretary General – John Kotsifas (Australia)
- Treasurer/- Matt Ransom (New Zealand)
- Y. Y. Oh (Australia)
- Edward Kassman (Papua New Guinea)
- Baik Yoon Pil (Tonga)
- Noly Caluag (Guam)
- Chi Kwan Yun (Vanuatu)
- John Alick (Solomon Islands)
- Neelu Nand (Fiji)
- Chun Seok Suh (Australia)
Council Members
New Zealand is represented by T.U.N.Z. President Matt Ransom who was elected onto the executive council in the position of O.T.U. Treasurer. For further information regarding the Oceania Taekwondo Union visit the official World Taekwondo Federation website at www.wtf.org.
O.T.U. and W.T.F. officials at the Oceania Taekwondo Championships in Sydney during July. (left to right), O.T.U. Executive Member Matt Ransom, WTF Executive Member Sung Chon Hong, O.T.U. Technical Director Young Youl Oh, and O.T.U Senior Vice-President, Jae Young Kwak.
