Confused Taekwondo issue Will the deep gap between players and associations be filled? Oct 13 at 15:55

In front of the Tokyo Olympics, players and the association, led by Noboru Kanehara, are confronting each other over the strengthening system and policies of the Taekwondo headquarters “All Japan Taekwondo Association”.
In September, an unusual situation occurred when the athlete boycotted a training camp sponsored by the association.
International competition groups have also started to investigate.
The association reflects the voices of the players and shows the attitude of walking away, but the voices of the players are not satisfied. I approached the background of the unfilled groove.
(Sports News Department reporter Rentaro Saruwatari)

Submitting an exceptional opinion

In June, Taekwondo players submitted their opinions to the association.
I asked for
▽ Making voluntary training camps once a month voluntary ▽ It was an improvement in the strengthening policy, such as allowing the coach of the affiliated company to be instructed when making adjustments before and after the official competition where the players participate.

Why was such a written opinion issued?
According to the people concerned, the relationship between the association over the strengthening policy and the jerky relationship on the player's side had begun about a year ago.

Players
“Is the participation fee (for training camps and tournaments) higher than necessary? The self-pay will not be reduced” or “Athletes paid the travel expenses of their coaches at international tournaments” and complained It was.
“In the world championship, there is no pre-game meeting, and even going to a training camp does not lead to technical improvement with a coach who has no Taekwondo knowledge or experience,” says a player.

Former Olympic team president Miho Takahashi, who serves as the association's athlete chairman, compiled the players' requests and asked for improvements at the board of directors. However, the situation did not change and the players decided to submit their opinion.

In response, the association prepared a draft answer. However, due to the personnel movements within the association, it took time to complete the procedure, and we were unable to provide a response by the end of June, which was due by the players.

Thoughts of players who did not communicate

It wasn't until September that the association moved against the players.
It was reported that many athletes were not willing to participate in the training camp that was scheduled for September, such as the Japanese national team candidate.
The association released a text titled “Notice on Training Camp” on the homepage on the 12th. We suggest that the players have a place for discussion.

The homepage was updated again on the 18th. We submitted a reply to the athletes involved in the preparation of the opinion by the previous day and announced that they would discuss with the athlete on October 1.
In response to these responses, some players expressed their expectation that they could finally discuss.
Still, only 2 out of approximately 20 people participated in the training camp that began 22 days later than planned. The distrust of the players was deep, and attention was paid to what happened to the discussion.

The first discussion ...

And this month 1st. The first discussion between the association and the players took place.
At this seat, Noboru Kanehara, chairman of the association, said, “There was a lack of communication with the players. I wanted to take Shinshi. This was the result and our interest was low. I apologized.

However, after that, there was a remark that the players doubted at the discussion table.
Regarding this conflict, an international sports organization, World Taekwondo, was investigating the association's operational status.
In response to this survey, it was explained that Mr. Kanehara and other associations responded that they were not dissatisfied with the players.
Some of the players who attended repelled it as “differing from facts”.
Many of the players left on the way, resulting in increased distrust of the association.

The Japanese representative candidate Hidenori Ebata who left the meeting halfway did not hide his disappointment from the association's response.

“I was surprised when I read the response to the association ’s World Taekwondo. Most of it was a lie. We wanted to deepen communication with the association and build a relationship of trust. I feel honest. "

Yoko Okamoto, the Sydney Olympic bronze medalist, also mentioned the need to renew the organization after the meeting.

“I felt it was dangerous to leave it to this organization. I am embarrassed by the association's attitude and someone must take responsibility. I think the dissolution of the board is one of the means.”

Deepening groove

The board of directors of the association was held on the 8th, as the gap between the association and the players deepened further. At this seat, Director Takahashi and Yoko Okamoto, who have been active from the player's standpoint, propose that all directors, including the president, resign and face the new system.
However, the Board of Directors did not treat it as an agenda as “not an agenda”.
On the other hand, the Board of Directors decided to replace the three people who play a central role in the strengthening staff because the relationship of trust with the players is not good.
By changing the strengthening system, we have received some requests from players.

In response to this response, the players expressed their opinions such as “I am going to do the curtain”. I feel that the relationship between the association and the players has come to a point where it cannot be repaired.

Will the conflict be resolved?

How will this issue develop in the future?
“Regular members” such as representatives of prefecture associations that belong to the All-Japan Taekwondo Association are moving to convene a “General Member Meeting” in order to request that all directors, including President Kanehara, be re-selected.
This general meeting has strong authority to elect and dismiss directors.
If a majority of all regular members attend and a majority of the attendees agree, all directors will be removed.

Chairman Kanehara of the association intends to continue the operation of the association under the current director system.

“It is our responsibility to unite the directors and the strengthening staff to give the players a great environment as soon as possible for the Tokyo Olympics.”

Expert "Renew system"

Regarding this issue, Professor Hidenori Tomozoe of Waseda University, who specializes in sports ethics and governance, points out that the two sides need to discuss each other and if the problem is not solved, a new system is needed.

“There is no trusting relationship between the two. Once the players and the association have discussed everything in a public manner, and the association has not been able to give a reasonable explanation, the official procedure is followed and the president's renewal or director Should resign and renew the system. ''

last chance

This confrontation where the clue of the solution is not visible.
It can be said that the association and the players have come up with a big “tsukake” that has not built a trusting relationship.
Considering the time remaining for the Olympics held in the home country where expectations for players are rising, now is the last chance to build a relationship from “zero” and start again.