ITALY-. A lot has happened in humanity since the last World Taekwondo Grand Prix Moscow in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic paralysed international events in 2020 and much of 2021.The Tokyo Olympics were almost cancelled. The top global competition where Taekwondo participated for the seventh time in a row was held under strict health security measures and without spectators. It was a difficult time.
In 2022, the landscape has changed in Taekwondo. The game continues with Europe dominating the world scene category by category and gender by gender. Asia, the natural powerhouse of Taekwondo, does not even come close to Europe in the percentage of athletes who are involved in the Olympic Ranking this 2022, as they field (39) athletes. On the contrary, America (35) and Africa (32) approach the once global powerhouse in similar numbers of athletes ranked among the world’s top 32.
- Asia as a continent is striking. The decline of Korea, Iran and China at the Tokyo Olympics is striking.
- An eye-catcher for this Grand Prix will be to see the world’s best in action under the new rules.
- If anything is nostalgic for this event, it is the absence of the first European and Olympic Taekwondo power (Russian Team) for reasons already known to all.
Europe the King of Taekwondo
With a large number of events and inspired athletes, the Europeans have the most competitors on the overall entry list for the Rome Grand Prix with 140 in action. The old continent enjoys the most entries for Rome, both in male (64) and female athletes (75).
Athlete numbers by continent for the Grand Prix Rome 2022.
Europe: 140
Asia: 39 competitors
America: 35 competitors
Africa: 32 competitors
Refugees: 02
Oceania: 0.
Number of athletes by gender (Male)
Europe: 65
Asia: 22
Africa: 20
Americas: 17
Oceania: 0
-58 Kg.
Europe: 15
Asia: 05
America: 06
Africa: 05
Oceania: 0
-68 kg.
Europe: 18
Asia:05
America: 04
Africa: 05
Oceania: 0
-80 kg.
Europe: 17
Asia: 06
America: 02
Africa: 04
Oceania: 0
+80 Kg.
Europe: 15
Asia:06
America: 05
Africa:06
Oceania: 0
Number of athletes by gender Female
Europe: 75
Asia: 17
America: 18
Africa: 12
Oceania: 0.
–49 Kg.
Europe: 19
Asia: 02
America: 05
Africa: 04
Oceania: 0
57 kg
Europe: 18
Asia:06
America: 03
Africa:03
Oceania: 0
-67 kg.
Europe: 19
Asia: 03
America: 06
Africa: 02
Oceania: 0
+67 kg
Europe: 19
Asia: 06
America: 04
Africa: 03
Oceania: 0
Athletes overall for each continent present at the Rome Grand Prix.
Europe: 140
Asia: 39 competitors
America: 35 competitors
Africa: 32 competitors
Refugees: 02
Oceania: 0.
Carlos Hernández
