World Taekwondo is currently the only taekwondo body recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), led by North Korean Ri Yong-son, is the older body having been founded in 1966 by Choi Hong Hi in Seoul.

A North Korean demonstration team from the ITF performed alongside the World Taekwondo Demonstration Team during the Opening Ceremony of the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships here on Saturday (June 24), and is due to do so again at the Closing Ceremony this Friday (June 30).

It has been described as a "show of taekwondo unity and sportive goodwill", but Ricci Bitti feels clear differences still exist between the two bodies.

"Obviously from an IOC perspective, we'd like to have one body in each sport but this looks very difficult," he told insidethegames here.

"Not because of the personalities, I think the problem with taekwondo is a little bit different from other problems that we've had.

"I think it's more, one party is more linked to the tradition, is more conservative, and the other party is looking to the future due to the fact that it's an Olympic sport and it has to be alert.

"So it's a little bit different culturally.

"They're both very good sets of people and they do a good job, but it looks to me that it's more political because there is not so much animosity."

Basic rules and techniques are the same across ITF and World Taekwondo competition.

The major difference is a cultural one, with ITF events geared more towards self-defence and World Taekwondo's more focused upon competitive sparring.

Following his exile from South Korea by the Park Chung-hee administration, Choi moved to Canada and established the ITF headquarters in Toronto, before moving them to Vienna in 1985.

North Korea's IOC member Chang Ung was elected President of the ITF after Choi's death in 2002, but was replaced by Ri in 2015.

In August 2014, Choue and Chang signed a Protocol of Accord during the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.

One year later, a 22-member ITF demonstration team, including 13 North Koreans, performed at the Opening Ceremony of the World Taekwondo Championships in Russian city Chelyabinsk.

Chang, Ri, Choue and IOC President Thomas Bach, who himself is due to visit these World Taekwondo Championships for the Closing Ceremony, have all been closely involved in negotiations for continued cooperation.

Ri, Choue and Bach are all due to meet here.  

It is now hoped that the World Taekwondo Demonstration Team will perform at the ITF World Championships in North Korea's capital Pyongyang in September.

"I think they should keep going," Ricci Bitti added regarding the drive for unity.

"They should keep trying."

Choue was re-elected for a new four-year term at the World Taekwondo General Assembly on Friday (June 23).

The South Korean, who stood unopposed, was first elected to the role in 2004.

He replaced the controversial Kim Un-Yong following his arrest on embezzlement and bribery charges in South Korea, which ultimately led to him being expelled from the IOC.

Choue completed the year that Kim had left on his term and was re-elected in 2005 for a four-year mandate, before he reclaimed the position in 2009 and again in 2013.

A total of 183 countries are competing at these World Taekwondo Championships, where much attention is on the newly-adopted rules.

A series of rule changes were approved at the World Taekwondo General Assembly in Canadian city Burnaby last November in order to address a number of issues raised following the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Choue admitted that "many members of the global taekwondo family had complained" following Rio 2016.

The sport’s membership highlighted the over-use of front leg kicks and the protector scoring system as two of the main problems.

As a result, it was agreed to implement a number of alterations, including competitors being awarded an extra point - from one to two - for kicks to the body.

Ricci Bitti, who presented the medals during yesterday’s men’s 54 kilograms category ceremony, said he believes taekwondo is in "good health" under Choue’s leadership.

"Taekwondo was in a difficult time around 15 years ago," the Italian said.

"I think now it’s going in the right direction for many reasons such as participation and changing of the rules.

"They’ve tackled all these factors and I think that they’re doing a good job.

"They are on the right track.

"I think it’s a sport going in a good direction."