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New WKF referee commission

WKF referree appointments Tokyo Olympic games

Mori insists Tokyo 2020 “a must for humanity” as he hails WKF ahead of karate’s Olympic debut

Tokyo 2020 President Yoshirō Mori is “fully confident” karate will overcome the “difficulty” of the COVID-19 pandemic to make a successful Olympic debut next year.

Mori also reiterated that staging the postponed Games in the Japanese capital is a “must for humanity” and represents a “beacon of hope for all the world”.

The former Prime Minister of Japan’s comments came in a letter to the World Karate Federation (WKF), which congratulated the organisation on its 50th anniversary.

Karate was set to make its first appearance at an Olympics this year only for the global health crisis to force the Games to be postponed to 2021.

However, Mori insists the “excitement remains unabated” since August 2016 when karate was approved as one of the additional events for the Tokyo 2020 programme.

“The flame of Karate will not go out and will continue to burn in our hearts until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games next summer,” Mori wrote.

“I am also honoured and privileged that we will host the first Olympic Karate tournament during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Nippon Budokan, 50 years after the first World Karate Championships was held in 1970.”

Karate is set to make its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

Mori stressed the necessity of hosting the Games as organisers continue to formulate a plan to limit the spread of coronavirus during Tokyo 2020.

“I remain fully confident that the passion, hard work and dedication that everyone has put into preparing for the first Olympic karate tournament, including all karate athletes’ training and their efforts for what they have achieved so far towards participating to the Games, will overcome this difficulty,” Mori continued.

“I would like to reiterate that staging the Games next year is more than ever a must for humanity. 

“Its success will represent a beacon of hope for all the world, and show that through unity and solidarity we can overcome any challenge.”

Mori also highlighted karate’s strong roots within the Japanese culture in his letter to the WKF and called the sport’s Olympic debut a “historic moment”.

“Japan is the birthplace of karate,” added Mori.

“Joining the Olympic Games in Tokyo, along with the spread of global excellence, with strong ties to Japan and Japanese culture, will ensure a positive legacy for Japan, the Olympic Games and karate.”

The karate competitions at Tokyo 2020 are scheduled to be held at the Nippon Budokan from August 5 to 7.

INSIDETHEGAMES.BIZ

About postponement of the World Masters Games 2021 Kansai

Since the decision of postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were announced, we have been exploring the possibility of holding the World Masters Games 2021 Kansai in May 2021 as originally scheduled up until today, with the assumption that the situation of the new Coronavirus infectious disease to be under control.

The sequence of consideration up until today

Under the circumstances of many sporting events being cancelled, athletes and sports enthusiasts were looking forward to the Games holding. We are eager to meet these expectations, therefore we requested expert’s advice in order to hold the Games as scheduled under the severe infection circumstances. As a result, we have reached the conclusion that the competition are able to be conducted by fulfilling two conditions, one complete measure against the new coronavirus infectious disease and two ease the restriction of immigration regulations. We expect that those two conditions are able to be realized.

Challenges in case of holding the Games in May 2021

　At this time, it is not possible to determine whether we are able to establish a system which we can be operated with confidence. In addition, even if the system has been established, there is a possibility that we must impose severe restrictions on the participants, and that will create conflict with the philosophy of the World Masters Games ①Sports enthusiasts will gather from all over the world and enjoy lifelong sports, ②to enjoy interaction between participants and local residents, ③participants enjoy tourism with family and friends.

Decision on postponement

　In light of the above, we have been conducting much careful discussions with host municipalities, co-organisers, NFs, sponsors and International Masters Games Association (IMGA).As a result, we held an Organising Committee’s board meeting on October 28, and reached the conclusion of postponement policy; to postpone the Games to the time which we believe it would be the most practical time to hold the Games. We will propose that to the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) at its General Assembly held on November 4th.

Initiatives for the Future

　We apologize for any inconvenience which may cause to more than 14,000 participants who have already registered to the Games, however above all, we will make a decision on the necessary matters as promptly as possible in order to respond with full consideration to those participating in the Games. In addition, we would like to make our best effort to resolve various challenges in cooperation with the host municipalities, NFs, and sponsors who have worked hard to prepare for the Games.

In response to the expectations of sports enthusiasts around the world, we will make our best effort to achieve the success of the festival of “do” sports, which will connect the legacy of the Games to the spread of lifelong sports.

Public Interest Incorporated Foundation
The Organising Committee of the World Masters Games 2021 Kansai
President Toshizo IDO
President Masayoshi MATSUMOTO

World Masters Games

WKF joins Virtus to further develop Para-Karate

The World Karate Federation has partnered with Virtus: World Intellectual Impairment Sport

The World Karate Federation has partnered with Virtus: World Intellectual Impairment Sport to jointly promote and develop Karate for people with intellectual impairment.

Following the memorandum of understanding signed by the two organisations, WKF and Virtus agree to work together to implement strategies to further develop the sport of Karate for people with intellectual impairment. The promotion and development of programmes tailored for Karate athletes with an intellectual impairment will be implemented at both national and international levels. In addition to different awareness activities, both organisations agree to conduct clinics and seminars for coaches and staff members.

“The development of Para-Karate is very important for the WKF. Ever since the Para-Karate categories were created, and Para-Karate competitions were included at our World Championships, the modalities of Para-Karate have registered exponential growth. I am sure that our agreement with Virtus will be a step forward in our intention to maximise opportunities in the development of Karate for people with intellectual impairment, and that it will set the foundation for greater recognition of the modality of Para-Karate,” said WKF President Antonio Espinós.

“We are excited to welcome World Karate Federation into Virtus family. We value and appreciate our growing collaborations with International Federations and the partnership work to grow sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment,” said Virtus: World Intellectual Impairment Sport president, Marc Truffaut

Para-Karate was first launched at the 2012 World Karate Championships. The first-ever Para-Karate World Championships was held in Bremen (Germany) in 2014 along with the 2014 Senior World Championships. Three categories are currently included in Para-Karate: Wheelchair Athletes, Visually Impaired athletes, and Intellectually Impaired athletes.

WKF

European Karate agreed to postpone the 2021 EKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships.

The Executive Committee of the European Karate Federation met Thursday via videoconference to take far-reaching decisions regarding the next major events of the sport in the continent. 

Karate1 Youth League – Venice – Jesolo 2020

COVID 19 SANITARY PROTOCOL
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Japan considering ways to lift entry ban for foreign tourists

The government is considering ways to lift its entry ban on foreign tourists with the coming of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, which were postponed to the summer of 2021, according to government sources.

Japan is expected to set up an exclusive consultation center for foreign tourists who are suspected of having been infected with the new coronavirus and ask tourists to provide information on their health condition via a smartphone app, government sources said.

The government may start these measures as early as next spring, the sources said.

Currently, Japan refuses entry from 159 countries and regions in principle in response to the global spread of the coronavirus, although it has lifted the ban chiefly for business travelers.

If Japan lifts its entry ban on tourists in general, it would mark a turning point for its border control measures that were introduced as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus crisis.

Read the full news here

Grand Winners award postponed to 2021

World Karate Federation one of three IFs to join Global Esports Federation

World Karate Federation (WKF) President Antonio Espinós has expressed his desire for the sport to undergo a “digital transformation” in a bid to reach a “larger audience” after joining the Global Esports Federation (GEF).