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Latest updates to the 2020 WKF Calendar

We would like to inform you about the latest updates to the 2020 WKF Calendar, with the necessary cancellation of events due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

June-July 2020 / WKF Youth Camp & Youth League in Porec, Croatia: CANCELLED
Despite the proposal to postpone the event for a later date, the activities foreseen in Porec have now been cancelled for this year 2020 as the current circumstances still do not make the organization of this event possible.

September 2020 / Karate 1 – Youth League in Monterrey, Mexico: CANCELLED
November 2020 / FISU World University Karate Championships in Brasilia, Brazil: CANCELLED by the International University Sports Federation (FISU)

WKF

Postpone the next edition of the World Championships to 2021.

The Executive Committee of the World Karate Federation met Monday via videoconference to streamline the roadmap of the organisation amid the current challenging circumstances caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus.

The Executive Committee of the World Karate Federation met Monday via videoconference to streamline the roadmap of the organisation amid the current challenging circumstances caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus.

Far-reaching decisions were taken in the meeting which was chaired by WKF President Antonio Espinós. The Executive Committee decided to postpone the next edition of the World Championships to 2021. Karate’s biggest event, which had been scheduled to be held later this year in Dubai (UAE) will take place in the same venue in November 2021 due to the uncertain situation produced by the COVID-19 epidemic. WKF’s governing body agreed to reschedule the tournament in order to guarantee the well-being and safety of athletes, staff members and fans. Consequently, the WKF Congress which was planned to be held in Dubai in November will also be postponed to 2021.

The current status of the 2020 competition calendar was reviewed after the cancellation of the last events, while the tentative proposal for the 2021 and 2022 calendars was revised.

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic were also analysed. The Executive Committee approved a health and safety protocol to adapt the sport to the new conditions caused by COVID-19. This protocol aims at providing a set of guidelines for national federations and clubs to ensure the best environment for the practise of the sport amid the after-effects of the global pandemic. The new health and safety protocol will be published shortly.

Updates on the progress of the Karate competition at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022 were presented. The reorganisation of the Referee Commission and amendments to the ranking regulations as proposed by the WKF Ranking Commission were discussed. Additionally, the prospects of organising the WKF Youth Camp later this year were also addressed.

Karate’s governing body took time to honour the memory of WKF Executive Committee member William Millerson who passed away on Saturday.

“The Karate family is doing incredible work to make the best of these difficult times. We are looking forward to continuing maximising the many values of our beloved sport, and we hope that we can keep on celebrating the outstanding effects of our discipline in society. While the moment of going back to normal arrives, I am sure that the Karate world will continue to be united and working in the same direction, as we have demonstrated in the past months,” said WKF President Antonio Espinós.

WKF News

The 25th edition of the Karate World Championships will be held in November 2021. The World Karate Federation decided to postpone the biggest event of the sport due to the uncertain situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

The 25th edition of the Karate World Championships will be held in November 2021. The World Karate Federation decided to postpone the biggest event of the sport due to the uncertain situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

After much consideration and analysis, the Executive Committee of the World Karate Federation approved Monday the postponement of the next Karate World Championships. The 25th edition of the global event had been scheduled for November 17-22, 2020; the championships will be now celebrated from November 16 to 21, 2021.

Following intense negotiations and discussion with the local organisers and the local authorities, Karate’s managing body decided to reschedule the upcoming World Championships as the well-being and safety of competitors and fans could not be ensured amid the ongoing epidemic of COVID-19.

“It has not been an easy decision, but an event of the magnitude and relevance of our World Championships could not be celebrated with enough guarantees as scheduled, due to current circumstances. It is the first time in the 50 years of history of our World Championships that we will not celebrate one edition of our biggest event in its running season. However, I am sure that the tournament in 2021 will continue the outstanding progress of our World Championships, and that a new and thrilling chapter of our history will be written next year in Dubai” said WKF President Antonio Espinós.

The decision to postpone the 25th World Championships to 2021 implies that the 12th World Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships which were scheduled to take place in 2021 in Turkey move now to 2022. Subsequently, the 2022 World Championships in Hungary are transferred to 2023, thus relocating the Senior World Championships to odd years and the World underage Championships to even years. The upcoming edition of WKF General Congress which had been slated for November 2020 in Dubai will take place next year in the Emirate city on the eve of the 2021 World Championships.

“I want to thank the Karate Federation of the UAE and its president Major General Nasser Alrazooqi for their cooperation in these difficult times. With their hard work and commitment, I am convinced that the event next year will be a huge success,” added Espinós.

The last edition of the Karate World Championships was held in Madrid (Spain) in 2018. Nearly 1200 athletes from 131 countries took part in the event in a record-breaking tally of participation in the most anticipated event of the sport.

Tokyo 2020 chief says Olympic Games will be simplified after postponement

Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshiro Muto has said the rescheduled Olympics will be a “simplified Games” with the official claiming 200 ideas are being considered on how to achieve this and reduce costs.

Tokyo 2020 presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board virtually today, with the meeting billed as outlining its positioning, principles for re-planning, and a roadmap to the Games in 2021.

Read more

Positioning, principles and roadmap to the Games following postponement

MORI Yoshiro, Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President and MUTO Toshiro, Tokyo 2020 CEO at a press conference in Tokyo, 10 June 2020

Read more

Final decision on Tokyo 2020 to be made in spring, senior IOC official claims

A final decision on whether the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games can go ahead will be made “in the spring” if questions over the coronavirus crisis persist, according to high-ranking International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant.

The Belgian claimed in an interview with L’Avenir newspaper that he was confident the Games would take place and played down suggestions over the event being staged behind closed doors.

Beckers-Vieujant, the head of the Belgian Olympic Committee, also echoed comments from International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach that Tokyo 2020 would be cancelled if it cannot be held in 2021.

He said it would be “unthinkable to keep such a project on the go for any longer considering the enormous costs and all the thousands of people involved”.

“We are convinced that the Games will take place in 2021 or they won’t take place,” Beckers-Vieujant, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for Paris 2024, said.

“All the sporting federations have to adapt to the Games’ postponement.

“We can’t envisage a similar upheaval a second time.”

Read the full article. inside the games

Reaction to Tokyo 2020 qualification system

German karate chief understands mixed reaction to revised Tokyo 2020 qualification system
German Karate Federation (DKV) President Wolfgang Weigert has admitted he feels sorry for athletes who may be forced to re-qualify for Tokyo 2020, but claimed the revised system was fair to all competitors.

The World Karate Federation (WKF) announced its updated qualification process for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games last week.
It supersedes the previous process, under which 40 karatekas secured their spot at the Games.
Weigert, a vice-president of the WKF, said “two hearts beat in my chest” regarding the impact of the revised system on German karatekas.
World champion Jonathan Horne was among the qualifiers in the men’s over-84 kilograms kumite division, but he will now have to re-secure his Olympic berth.

Read more

Japan to “redo” Olympic qualification for Tokyo 2020 in two karate divisions
Two Japanese karatekas are set to be forced to rebook their places at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics after the World Karate Federation (WKF) revised its qualification process for the Games.
According to Kyodo News, a senior official at the Japan Karate Federation (JKF) said the organisation would “redo” Olympic qualification in two kumite categories following the announcement from the WKF.
Masao Kagawa, chairman of the JKF Development Committee, said the men’s under-67 kilograms and women’s under-61kg divisions would be affected.
It means Naoto Sago, who qualified in the under-67kg class, and women’s under-61kg athlete Mayumi Someya will have to qualify again for Tokyo 2020, postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Both had been selected for the Japanese team after events which contributed to Tokyo 2020 qualifying were cancelled.
Read more

Bach acknowledges Tokyo 2020 would be cancelled if not held in 2021

By Michael Pavitt
Thomas Bach has acknowledged that Tokyo 2020 would be cancelled should the Olympic Games not be held in 2021, while the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President confirmed that different scenarios are being considered over the potential impact of coronavirus on the postponed event.

Read the whole story

Revised Qualification System (QS) of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

CLICK HERE to go to the updated Olympic Qualification System.

CLICK HERE to go to the revised Qualification System document.

RELATED: WKF Athletes Commission backs revision of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualification System

56th EKF European Senior Karate Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden 2021

Webb

Youth Camp & Youth League in Porec – Durban Series A

We have been timely informing you of the updates in the WKF Calendar, closely monitoring the worldwide situation and in close cooperation with the hosts of each event. In line with this we would like to now give you an update on the following events:

a) WKF Youth Camp & Youth League in Porec – POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
with the information that we have gathered as of today, it is necessary to postpone the event. We will continue to monitor the overall developments of the ongoing impact of COVID-19. On a later stage, the situation will be reevaluated and, if possible, the event will be rescheduled in 2021. More information will follow when available.

b) WKF Karate 1 – Series A in Durban – CANCELLED
The host of the event has informed us today of the cancellation of this event, which we hereby confirm to all of you

Please note that, as usual, these updates will also be reflected on the WKF Calendar on our website for easy access.