The International Martial-Art Games Committee (IMGC) was inaugurated on September 2, 1999 in Buenos Aires of Argentina on the initiative of Choi Hong Hi who was the President of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).
The first Chairman of the IMGC was Choi Hong Hi, who said in his inaugural address: Martial arts are aimed at cultivating moral and cultural traits to conquer oneself, rather than defeating his or her rival, and training one’s body to prevent any type of fight on the strength of justice. … It is a great honour for me to found the IMGC together with martial arts practitioners for the sake of our contemporaries and the rising generations as well.
The IMGC took its first step with over 20 delegates from 19 countries, including the DPRK. At present, it has developed into a nongovernmental and nonprofit international martial-art organization involving the ITF, 14 international federations (IFs) and 34 national martial-art games committees.
It is headquartered in Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK. It consists of organization, competition, public information and other departments.
Its supreme leadership organ is the general assembly, which is convened every two years. It holds an executive committee meeting more than once every year.
The IMGC has a logo, flag, anthem and torch tower as its symbols.
The torch tower stands in Pyongyang, the DPRK, the native country of Choi Hong Hi. The ceremony of kindling the torch takes place here in the lead-up to the International Martial-Art Games (IMAG).
The torch kindled at the tower is relayed to the host nation.
The torch was lit for the first time at the opening ceremony of the First International Martial-Art Games held in Pyongyang in September 2004. Seven rounds of the IMAG have been held in Asia, Europe and Oceania.
Today, the IMGC organizes international or regional martial-art games to provide all martial-art organizations across the world with an opportunity for flaunting their own skills and values. It also makes a tangible contribution to preserving and enriching the martial arts, which have been developed along with the social progress, regardless of differences in political views, religious belief, sexes, races and forms of martial arts, as a wealth common to mankind.
The IMGC has made proactive efforts to promote friendship, cooperation and development among martial arts practitioners throughout the world.
This year marks its 20th founding anniversary.
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