24 Oct 2026
Pan American Taekwon-Do ITF Council Congress Held in Barranquilla, Colombia
On October 23, 2026, the Congress of the Pan American Taekwon-Do ITF Council (PTC) took place in Barranquilla, Colombia, as part of the XVII Pan American Taekwon-Do Games. The Congress brought together representatives from 22 member countries to discuss important institutional matters, review ongoing activities, and address the future development of Taekwon-Do across the Americas.
The Congress was presided over by PTC President Grandmaster (GM) Osvaldo Ríos Olivero, ITF Vice President for the Americas GM Adolfo A. Villanueva, and PTC Secretary General Dr. Enrique Deacon. Also in attendance were Grandmasters Eduardo Palmisano and Ramón Mateo, while Senior Master (SM) Andrés Huerta served as translator.
Representatives from 22 member countries participated in the Congress, contributing to discussions, presenting their perspectives, and exercising their voting rights. The participating countries were Canada, the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Argentina.
During the Congress, several important topics were addressed, including institutional matters, a technical and organizational review of the ongoing XVII Pan American Games, and the implementation of new ITF regulations.
Particular attention was also given to the calendar of upcoming international events, including the 60th Anniversary ITF Summit in Vienna, Austria, in November 2026, the ITF World Championships in Bulgaria in 2027, and the ITF World Cup in Argentina in 2028.
Another important item on the agenda was the selection process for the host country of the next Pan American Games. Representatives from El Salvador, Uruguay, and the Dominican Republic presented their respective bids to host the upcoming edition of the continental event.
The Congress provided an important platform for dialogue and cooperation among the member countries of the PTC, reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening the organizational structure of the ITF and promoting the continued development of Taekwon-Do throughout the Americas.
