The World Karate Federation (WKF) gathered the members of its Executive Committee, the chairpersons of the federation’s commissions, and delegates from its affiliated national federations this week for a meeting to analyze the sport’s efforts to regain a position on the Olympic sports program.
Karate made its debut as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Local organizers included the sport on the official sports program in reflection of karate’s importance and popularity in Japan. However, karate was left off the sports program for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
The sport was subsequently left off the initial sports program for the LA28 Summer Olympics as well. Nonetheless, officials from the WKF continue to push for the sport’s inclusion in 2028.
WKF President Antonio Espinós commented, “after our exclusion from the Paris 2024 Games, we will continue fighting to earn our well-deserved place in the Olympic program.”
He argued, “karate brings great added value to the Olympic Movement, from our strength in social media to our economic prospects; from our life-changing ideals to the popularity of our sport among youngsters; from our financial and logistic efficiency to the outstanding impact of karate in the United States; from the well-established gender equality of our competitions to our universality.”
“Millions of karate fans around the world are hoping that our Olympic dream continues to be a reality. The support of our National Federations, as it was plainly stated today, together with the full commitment of the karate family make us more convinced than ever that our goal is fair and clear: karate is an Olympic sport.”
The gathering, headed by Espinós, saw the introduction of the LA28 Commission.
WKF General Secretary Toshihisa Nagura, manager of the working group within the LA28 Commission, highlighted the process of inclusion for additional sports to the LA28 sports program for those present at the gathering.
Meanwhile, Elisa Au, a three-time world champion and member of the WKF Athletes’ Commission, detailed the timeline and main requirements for sports looking to earn a place on the Olympic sports program.
The American karateka, elected to the WKF Athletes’ Commission in 2021, was chosen to chair the practical unit of the LA28 Commission.
Karate may have to wait longer for Olympic inclusion, but it’s clear that efforts to see the sport re-introduced to the Olympic Games are well underway.
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