VETERAN sports administrator, journalist, and media executive Thomas Amos Ganda Sithole has added another remarkable achievement to his illustrious career.
In a move that has been celebrated across the sporting world, Sithole has been appointed Vice President of both the World Taekwondo and the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation for the 2025-2027 term.
This honour cements his legacy as one of Zimbabwe’s most influential sports figures, earning him international acclaim.
In an appointment letter dated 7 January 2026, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue praised Sithole’s extensive contributions to global sport, stating that his appointment followed Article 6.7.2 of the World Taekwondo Statutes.
“I am pleased to appoint you as a Vice President for the term 2025-2027. I believe that your vast experiences and insight into the Olympic Movement will be important contributions to our sport and organisation,” Choue wrote.
The appointment is widely regarded as a recognition of Sithole’s lifetime commitment to advancing sports and humanitarian causes.
In his new role, Sithole will participate in key decision-making meetings, both ordinary and extraordinary, for World Taekwondo. The flexible, hybrid format of these meetings reflects the modern, global approach of the organisation, ensuring Sithole’s expertise can be shared regardless of location.
Later this month, World Taekwondo will convene its first Extraordinary Council Meeting of the new term in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, alongside a special Council Workshop focused on charting the sport’s strategic direction for the future.
Fittingly, the World Taekwondo motto for this year is “Reborn Together,” symbolising unity and a shared vision for the sport’s ongoing evolution.
The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) also celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. As part of the milestone, it will host the Olympic Refuge Foundation Board Meeting during the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival in Jordan, highlighting the Foundation’s commitment to empowering displaced youth through sport.
Meanwhile, Sithole’s legendary career began with his presidency of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) in 1982, where he helped shape the country’s sporting landscape.
He went on to serve as Secretary General of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) from 1997 to 2017, forging partnerships and strengthening the Olympic movement across the continent.
Sithole became an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member in 1996 and joined its Executive Board from 2002 to 2003, where he played a pivotal role in global sports administration.
In 2003, he was appointed Director of International Cooperation and Development for the IOC, a post he held for over a decade, contributing to the spread of Olympic values worldwide.
Most recently, in July 2021, Sithole took on the role of Senior Adviser on Sports and Culture for the African Renaissance Diaspora Network (ARDN), championing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the “Red Card Campaign” against discrimination and violence.
Hailing from Mutare in Manicaland province, Sithole’s journey in sport began as a basketball player before he made his mark as a pioneering sports journalist. Covering Olympic Games, World Cups, and Commonwealth Games, he has witnessed and chronicled some of the world’s greatest sporting moments.
