AMMAN, Jordan (May 3, 2025) - The 3rd Hope and Dreams Sports Festival in Jordan concluded with another spectacular day of sport competition, having enabled refugee athletes to showcase their talents and inspiring stories during the biggest edition to date.

 

There were nearly 1,250 participants throughout the festival, with more sports involved and more refugee athletes than ever before. This year’s event truly fulfilled World Taekwondo and the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation’s (THF) aim to unite the global sporting community behind empowering refugees.

 

Today’s sport competition in Amman was dedicated to Baseball5, Basketball 3x3 and Handball – the latter making its debut at the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival. Weightlifting was the other sport involved in the Festival for the first time through the donation of equipment while Taekwondo and Badminton featured in activities throughout the week.

 

Among the distinguished guests in attendance joining World Taekwondo President and THF Chairman Chungwon Choue and World Taekwondo Council members were WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, FISU President Leonz Eder, THF Board Member Claude Marshall (UNHCR refugee sport Coordinator), Richard Barnor (WT Taekwondo for All committee member) and Maher Magableh(WT Council member).

 

The participating organisations each hailed the success of the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival.

 

 President Choue said: “This has been the biggest and best edition of the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival so far, and we are deeply grateful for the support of our partners in delivering this event.

 

“The resilience of these young athletes is truly remarkable, and it has been emotional and inspiring for each of us to witness their talents during these past few days.

 

“As the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation approaches its 10th anniversary, we are determined to work with even more International Federations to empower even more refugees during next year’s Hope and Dreams Sports Festival.”

 

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said: “I was really excited to watch the Baseball5 games today! The joy of the team was certainly the highlight. I felt that the Azraq Refugee Team has become very close with the kids of the other teams from neighbouring villages, and this means a lot to me since one of the main goal of this project is to create integration and harmony between refugees and local communities. This is an incredible achievement!”

 

FISU President Leonz Eder: “I was very grateful to receive an invitation from WT President Dr Choue to attend the 3rd Hope and Dreams Sports Festival and visit the refugee camps. I am deeply impressed by the humanitarian idea that Dr Choue brought into action and what I have seen. This is a concrete help to the kids living in the camps, as they get an opportunity for hope and dreams. This initiative is worthy of being supported by many organisations.”

 

BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund commented: “The Badminton World Federation is deeply committed to supporting humanitarian efforts, and our partnership with THF at the 3rd Hope and Dreams Festival 2025 is truly special.

Since our involvement in the 2nd festival, we’ve worked to grow the badminton program to include 80 players who are not only improving their badminton skills but also gaining essential life skills. Witnessing young refugees embrace badminton, with sport transforming their lives and igniting hope, is incredibly rewarding and we will continue to support such initiatives.”

 

Gonzalo Barrio, project manager of the Refugee Olympic Team, praised the work of World Taekwondo and the THF in uniting sports organisations behind humanitarian initiatives.

 

“More than anything it’s how World Taekwondo and the THF brought together other International Federations to work together. It’s always been seen as a partnership that benefits everyone - the athletes, and the IFs from implementing the sport where it didn’t exist before,” he said.

 

“Inclusion within the local society is one of the key goals of the Refugee Olympic Team as a whole. The more they compete, it breaks the stigma and helps create relationships which will be important for those athletes in the future.”

 

Following the huge success of the 3rd edition, World Taekwondo aims to integrate even more International Federations and refugee athletes into next year’s Hope and Dreams Sports Festival.