I am delighted to send my best wishes to the participants, guests and hosts of the World Taekwondo Championships.  I thank the Russian Federation for hosting this event. 
I also commend the World Taekwondo Federation for its partnership with the United Nations and for advancing UN causes, notably through the World Taekwondo Peace Corps.

This week, we celebrate a beautiful sport with a unique philosophy.  Global and accessible for all, taekwondo has become an inspiration and a source of empowerment for men and women across the globe, strengthening their bodies, enhancing their spirit and enriching their lives.  The values of taekwondo apply far beyond a competition mat, cultivating integrity, self-discipline and social commitment.

The United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace and other members of the UN system work closely with athletes, sports leagues and enterprises and national and international sporting institutions, including the International Olympic Committee, to harness the great power of sport to promote fair play, encourage youth development, promote and nurture mutual understanding.  As the world soon embarks on a new development agenda and new efforts to meet the climate change challenge, we will continue to look to sportsmen and sportswomen to be advocates for building a safer, more prosperous and more sustainable world for all.

One of the pillars of taekwondo philosophy is unity, which is illustrated beautifully by this event.  We see here, together, representatives of the World Taekwondo Federation and the International Taekwondo Federation, and we watch athletes from the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea demonstrate their skill on the same arena, breaking barriers and making another step towards a dialogue and reconciliation.

I applaud the efforts of taekwondo governing bodies to advance our common goal – teaching the society, through sport, to live better, healthier and in peace.  Please accept my best wishes for an enjoyable event.