The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) has set Sept. 4 as the official day to celebrate the Korean martial art of taekwondo, the organization announced on Tuesday (July 25).

Taekwondo was approved as a formal Olympic medal sport for the first time at the Congress of the International Olympic Committee in Paris on that date in 1994. The date therefore holds great significance to the federation, the organization said during a general assembly held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

At the general meeting, the federation also accepted a West Pacific island country, Kiribati, and Zambia in Africa as its new member states. The Isle of Man, a British territory, was also granted associated member status. With the new entries, the federation has 182 states as members, including associated members.

The meeting also chose Manchester, Britain, as the venue for the preliminary competitions in September for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Taekwondo grew into a global sport after the launch of the WTF in 1973. The WTF was recognized by the IOC in 1980, and the Korean martial art debuted as an official Olympic sport at the 2004 Athens Olympics.