EKF Executive Committee reviews situation of Karate in Europe in meeting via videoconference

The Executive Committee of the European Karate Federation met via videoconference Monday to discuss the roadmap of Karate in the continent, and to analyse the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in the sport.

The meeting was attended by all the members of EKF’s decision-making body who participated in the gathering remotely. EKF and WKF President Antonio Espinós headed the discussions as the Executive Committee members were briefed on different updates regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the continent. The guidelines to organise Karate events amid the coronavirus pandemic which were distributed by the World Karate Federation and its implementation in EKF activities, as well as the celebration of the first Karate tournaments in European countries after the lock-down were discussed.

The EKF competition calendar was also reviewed with the Executive Committee confirming the 2021-2025 tentative schedule of events. In this sense, the EKF Executive Committee approved the celebration of the 2025 Senior European Championships in Baku (Azerbaijan).

While the positive progress of the upcoming EKF tournaments was confirmed - namely the EKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships to be held in Tampere (Finland) in February 2021 and the EKF Senior Championships scheduled to take place in Gothenburg (Sweden) in May 2021 - the EKF Executive Committee was briefed on the next edition of the European Games in Poland in 2023. European Karate’s governing body also decided to endorse the participation of the sport in the 2021 EUSA Games scheduled for July 2021 in Belgrade (Serbia).

"The European Karate Federation and its national federations have demonstrated tremendous resilience and strength during these difficult times. We have shown that together we can overcome all the obstacles in our way. As Karate activities are starting to be held again in some countries in Europe, we continue taking steps to make sure that we can go back to the normal development of our activities with the well-being of our athletes, staff members and fans absolutely guaranteed. I want to thank all the members of the Executive Committee for their hard work and committment in these troubled times," said EKF and WKF President Antonio Espinós.

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