2015 Miss World Brazil Catharina Choi Nunes has been appointed as a goodwill ambassador of the World Taekwondo Federation ©WTF

This year's Miss World Brazil Catharina Choi Nunes has been appointed as the latest goodwill ambassador of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) to help promote the sport in the country ahead of next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, it has been announced.

Nunes was presented with a special plaque at a ceremony held at the Brazilian Taekwondo Federation headquarters attended by WTF President Chungwon Choue.

It is hoped her appointment to the role will help spread taekwondo across the country, as well as encouraging gender equality in the sport, as Rio de Janeiro prepares to become the first-ever South American city to host the Olympics and Paralympics.

“Sport presentation and spectator engagement are key objectives of the WTF,” Choue said.

“She will play a great role in this effort, together with the WTF Demonstration Team during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.”

Nunes is currently training in taekwondo in São Paulo and hopes to become a black belt in the sport by the time the 2016 Olympics are due to get get underway on August 6.

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Catharina Choi Nunes follows 2014 Miss USA Nia Sanchez in being appointed as a goodwill ambassador for the World Taekwondo Federation ©WTF

Her appointment sees her become the fourth non-Korean goodwill ambassador after Nia Sanchez, the 2014 Miss USA, took up the same position in July.

Sanchez was the third non-Korean to have been appointed following Pongchaok Kanklab, winner of Miss Thailand in 2009, and Dave Mustaine, leader of American thrash metal band Megadeth.

Before the ceremony, Choue met with Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman, who praised the development of taekwondo across the globe.

“Taekwondo is dynamic and fast, and it works well under the well managed refereeing system and the advanced technology,” he said.

“Taekwondo is doing what other martial arts have not done, and many others are now following the success of taekwondo.”

Choue went on to thank Nuzman for his support for his sport and reiterated his commitment to producing a successful taekwondo competition at Rio 2016.

“After a great success at the London 2012 Olympic Games, taekwondo has been further evolved for positive changes such as the new shape of the competition area, gender equality in technical officials and the introduction of electronic headgear," he said.



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Former Miss USA appointed goodwill ambassador by World Taekwondo Federation