Taekwondo at the Paralympics, Paris 2024

I'm volunteering at the Paris 2024 Paralympics in the venue, the Grand Palais - the Grand Palace. The Grand Palais hosted men’s and women’s taekwondo competitions on 29 August on the first day of the Paris 2024 Paralympics and the discipline will continue until Saturday 31 August. Taekwondo is a martial art in which competitors aim to strike their opponent with their foot.

Competitors wear a white dobok uniform with a tied belt and a padded vest called a hogu to protect their chest. They also wear a padded helmet. They do not wear shoes – only socks.

The aim is to kick the opponent on the padded vest with the foot. The kick is a light touch. Points are scored depending upon where the contact was made – electronic sensors count the number of contacts. One point is given for contact to the body or head; two points for a jumping touch to the body or head; and three points for jumping kick to the head. Excessive contact is not allowed and competitors can be penalized or disqualified if they injure an opponent to the extent that the person is unable to continue.

The competition takes place on an octagonal shape over 3 rounds of 2 minutes each. The winner is the best of 3 rounds.

The competition between the two individuals is over very quickly.

INTERESTING FACT: In addition to electronic sensors in the hogu protective vest, the contestants also have electronic sensor socks.

Interested in the Volunteer Centre at the Paralympic Games in Paris's Grand Palais? Here's the article on my substack site - "Inside the Volunteer Paralympic Centre in the Grand Palais, Paris."

MARTINA NICOLLS

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Martina Nicolls is an Australian author and international human rights-based consultant in education, healing and wellbeing, peace and stabilization, and foreign aid audits and evaluations. She lives in Paris.

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