On November 16, 2023 (local time), the International Wushu Federation held its 16th Congress in Fort Worth, USA. A total of more than 100 representatives from 67 countries and regions attended the meeting, of which 91 delegates from 57 countries and regions attended the meeting on-site, with more than 10 delegates from 10 countries and regions attending the meeting on-line. The congress elected new president and members of the Executive Board for the term 2023-2027. The Director of the State General Administration of Sports and President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Gao Zhidan, was elected as new President of IWUF.
After the election, Gao Zhidan expressed his gratitude to all the delegates for their support and trust. He said that wushu originated in China, but belongs to the world. The rich cultural connotation and spirit of wushu complements the Olympic values and is highly compatible with the initiative of building a community of human destiny. The new IWUF Executive Committee will continue to strengthen the international promotion of wushu, and make greater contributions to the development of the Olympic Movement, the enhancement of exchanges and mutual understanding among civilizations, the construction of an open and inclusive world, and the building of a community of shared destiny for mankind.
The Congress listened to Secretary General Zhang Qiuping’s work report for 2019-2023, the financial report of the acting treasurer Ang Mong Seng, the Ethics Committee Work Report from Walter Missingham, and the Preparation for the 16th World Wushu Championships in 2023 Report from the representative of the USA Event Organizing Committee respectively, and appointed Zhang Qiuping as IWUF Secretary General, Ang Mong Seng as treasurer.
After the bid presentation session, the Congress approved that Brasilia, Brazil, Manila, Philippines, and Macao, China, were awarded the hosting right of the 17th WWC in 2025, the 18 th WWC in 2027, and the 19 th WWC in 2029, respectively.
The Congress unanimously adopted the resolutions to accept Djibouti, Haiti, Saudi Arabia, Honduras and Equatorial Guinea as full members of IWUF. Up to present, the total number of IWUF member federations has increased to 160.
