[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]The World Taekwondo Federation has approved the membership application of the African country of Botswana at its Council meeting in Suzhou, China on June 9, 2012.

With Botswana, the WTF has expanded its global membership to 202 members, ranking among the top 7 International Sports Federations (IFs) in terms of affiliated member associations.

Botswana, with a provisional member status, will become a full member of the WTF, pending its final approval at the next WTF General Assembly to be held in Puebla, Mexico in 2013.

At the extraordinary WTF Council meeting, the participants also approved the change of the host city for the 7th WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships from the Colombian city of Medellin to Tunja, following the request of the Colombia Organizing Committee. The poomsae championships are scheduled for Dec. 6-9, 2012.

The WTF Council meeting took place on the occasion of the WTF Referee and Coach Joint Training Camp for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The camp, which opened on June 8 and ran through June 12, drew 30 international referees, who will officiate at the taekwondo competitions of the London Olympic Games, and 63 coaches from 39 countries. It marked the first time for international referees and coaches to have joint training sessions for the Olympic Games.