The 16th Taekwondo World Championship 2003 took place from September 24th to 28th, 2003 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen . This was the second time that a world championship took place in Germany after 1979 in Stuttgart . A total of 16 competitions were held in different weight classes, eight each for men and women. With 107 participating nations and more than 1050 accredited athletes, the tournament set a new record.
From a German point of view, the World Cup was a sporting success. For the first time in 16 years, German athletes won three medals again. Organizationally, however, there was some harsh criticism. As a result of the bankruptcy of the marketing company founded especially for the tournament, many hoteliers were left with the costs of accommodating athletes and officials. The choice of a hall with a capacity of only 4000 spectators as the venue and the lack of advertising in the run-up to the World Cup were also points of criticism.